Monday, October 10, 2011

Monument To Col. Wentz

Messrs. McCosh and Donahue, marble cutters, have just finished a beautiful monument to the memory of Lieut. Col. Wentz, which is to be placed over his grave in Oakdale Cemetery.  It consists of two bases supporting a die and obelisk, the latter crowned with a cap and surmounted by an urn.  On the front to the obelisk a sword and laurel wreath are appropriately sculptured.  On the die is the epitaph, as follows:

“AUGUSTUS WENTZ,
Lieut. Col. of the 7th Iowa Regiment, born
August 22, 1827, in Koenigsbach, Grand
Dutchy of Baden, Germany; was kill-
ed in the battle of Belmont, November 7, 1861.”

On the base are a few lines – the offering of a companion in arms.  The whole work is elaborately executed, and indicates that we have artists here fully capable of commemorating in enduring marble the virtues of our friends and neighbors.  There is no need whatever of going abroad for any work of this kind, for our marble cutters, especially those mentioned above, evince as much taste in their choice of designs, and skillfulness in executing as those of any part of the country.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 31, 1862, p. 1

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