Abel O. Tavenner Recognized by the DOC

Abel O. Tavenner, the last Confederate veteran living in Pike County, Ohio, receiving a medal from the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1931. He had become aged and infirm and a local school teacher appealed to the UDC for relief. The teacher took it upon himself as AOT had been a longtime school board member as well as supporter of others in the the community. The UDC not only provided him with a small pension but gave a scholarship to his two granddaughters, Lorna and Catherine Reeves.



AOT served in Co. E, 8th Virginia Infantry from Loudoun Co., Virginia. He was captured at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863 during Pickett's Charge. He eventually ended up at Point Lookout Prison in Maryland where he remained for the rest of the war.

He came to Ohio after the war and settled in Pike county in the 1870's. He lived in Sunfish Twp. until he passed away not long after this ceremony on Jul, 16, 1932. He's buried at White Oak Cemetery along side his beloved wife, Martha.

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