Civil War Cane

Lebanon has one of the oldest Masonic Lodges in the State of Ohio.  Anyone who was anyone in this part of the state during the 19th century was a Mason. That statement still holds true today.

Our own Steve Kaiser (he's the museum's accountant)  is just completing his first term as Grand Master of the Lebanon Masons and stopped by on Tuesday to show us one of the artifacts on display at the Lebanon Masonic Lodge.

Durbin Wards Civil War Souvenir cane

After the Civil War veterans of the Union Army gathered together calling themselves the Grand Army of the Republic. They met for reunions at least once a year, marched in numerous parades and celebrated their service. We often see carved wooden canes commemorating  various Civil War battles.

General Durbin Ward, the first man from Warren County to volunteer for the Civil War, was also a Mason.  A man named Perce Reese presented him with this cane carved with Masonic symbols to commemorate Ward's service in the Civil War. Ward's widow donated the cane to the Masonic lodge in Lebanon.  General Durbin Ward was the second owner of our Glendower Historic Mansion. He and his wife Elizabeth Probasco Ward moved into the house in 1868. He died there in 1886.

From the condition of the tip, the cane appears to have been well used.
 

The Warren County History Center has several other Civil War commemorative canes including one for the Little Round Top offensive in the battle of Gettysburg.


Steve Kaiser shows the head of the cane carved like an animal paw.