Medal consisting of three parts: At top is a pin of cast bronze with a spread eagle clutching a saber against two cannons & cannon balls; middle section is a suspended American flag silk ribbon which in turn suspends a cast bronze star replete with military symbols on front and back. On front side within a centered circlular band are the words: "GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC." and "1861 - VETERAN - 1866." Inside circle is a scene of a soldier's return from war. Reverse side has numerous symbols portrayed within a compartmented, scallop-edged circle.
Medal consisting of three parts: At top is a pin of cast bronze with a spread eagle clutching a saber against two cannons & cannon balls; middle section is a suspended American flag silk ribbon which in turn suspends a cast bronze star replete with military symbols on front and back. On front side within a centered circlular band are the words: "GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC." and "1861 - VETERAN - 1866." Inside circle is a scene of a soldier's return from war. Reverse side has numerous symbols portrayed within a compartmented, scallop-edged circle.
Eagle's proper right wing tip is broken off and bent back. Bronze is very dark with tarnish and soil. Ribbon is extremely faded on both sides with some soil on back.
World War I medal consists a cast bronze pentagonal medallion suspended from a silk ribbon of green and white, pinned to an oblong buff colored card printed with "WELCOME HOME / BOYS!" at the top and "LANCASTER, PA. / MADE BY J.F.A.Co." at the bottom.
Medallion hangs from ribbon via two brass rings. Raised detail on face is "WELCOME HOME" written in a banner at top. At center is the Lancaster seal flanked by the date "1919". Banner at bottom reads "LANCASTER PA." Ribbon has a safety pin stitched to upper back side, and is mounted by pin onto printed card.
Inscribed in ink on card to right of medallion is "$6.50". Struck on reverse of medallion is "JFACo."
Bronze is very dark with tarnish and soil. Ribbon is in poor condition with losses of green threads at left and broken and separating threads at right side. Card is worn and darkened with bottom right corner missing.
Small ear of corn in a cylindrical Alka-Seltzer lidded bottle. Note inside states corn was raised by William Henry Alexander in 1861 in the Keylor Garden close to Hope School, near Kirkland in Colerain Township, during the summer he enlisted in the Union Army. Presented by Alexander's niece or nephew [Nibbis] L. Book.
Provenance
Corn in a bottle donated by niece? or nephew? Nibbis? L. Book.
Evidence of insect activity with holes, frass and missing kernels. Residue of tape adhesive on side of bottle.
Object ID
1942.007.2
Notes
The U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles has a record of a William H. Alexander, private, enlisting in Company 1, Pa. 12th Infantry Regiment on 25 Apr 1861. Mustered out on 05 Aug 1861 at Harrisburg, PA. Dates coincide.
