Preserving Galion Honors Revolutionary War Veteran and Father of City’s First Settler Family

GALION, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW) — More than 200 years after his death, Benjamin Leverich, a Revolutionary War veteran and one of the earliest settlers of what would become Galion, is finally receiving public recognition near his historic burial site.

During America’s 250th anniversary year, Preserving Galion, Inc. has installed the first historical marker honoring Leverich. The marker was erected this past weekend along Harding Way West, Galion’s main street, on property belonging to First United Church of Christ.

Its location is especially significant. The marker stands just a few feet from Leverich’s historic burial site, which is believed to lie beneath Main Street itself.

According to early historical accounts and federal mapping conducted in the 1930s, Leverich was buried on a corner of his own farm. As Galion developed, the route of Main Street eventually extended directly over the location of his grave.

The unusual connection gives Galion a remarkable piece of American history: a Revolutionary War veteran whose final resting place lies beneath one of the community’s most familiar streets.

From Revolutionary War Soldier to Ohio Pioneer

Benjamin Leverich served in the 3rd Westchester County, New York Militia, under Colonel Samuel Drake, from 1778 to 1781 during the American Revolution.

After the war, Leverich and his wife, Mary Briggs, raised eight children in Westchester County. Between approximately 1805 and 1812, Leverich and members of his extended family began migrating west to Ohio.

By 1817, Leverich and his sons, James and Nathaniel, had arrived in the area that would eventually become Galion. They were accompanied by fellow New York settler George Wood, with the Gill family arriving the following year.

The 1880 History of Richland County, Ohio identifies the Leverich family as the first to clear land and build cabins in the settlement.

Benjamin established his cabin near a spring on what is now Atwood Street. His son James built a nearby cabin, while Nathaniel constructed his home near the center of what became Galion’s Public Square. Nathaniel also dug an early well near his cabin, which remained a feature of the square for many years.

The Leverich family played an important role in the community’s earliest development. Benjamin’s cabin even hosted the township’s first religious meeting, a Methodist service led by Reverend Russel Bigelow, an early circuit preacher who helped establish congregations throughout the region.

The family’s arrival connected Galion’s beginnings to a generation of Americans who had fought for independence and later helped build new communities in the expanding nation.

A Historic Burial Site Beneath Galion’s Main Street

Benjamin Leverich died in 1824. His will, dated May 20 of that year, provided for his wife, children, and grandson through the distribution of money, land, and personal belongings.

An early Crawford County historical account offers a particularly memorable description of his burial location:

“Good old Benjamin Leveredge lies beneath Main street, opposite this old grave yard.”

The nearby historic cemetery was eventually removed, with remains transferred to Union Green Cemetery. Leverich’s burial site, however, was located on privately owned property and remained undisturbed, according to the historical account.

Over time, the surrounding area developed into the downtown Galion familiar to residents today. The precise location of Leverich’s grave became an unusual but largely unrecognized part of the city’s history.

The newly installed marker now provides a visible public acknowledgment of his resting place and his connection to the community.

Preserving Galion Brings a Forgotten Piece of History Into View

The historical marker project was initiated by Preserving Galion, Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting and celebrating the city’s historic buildings and heritage.

The organization currently owns and is restoring the landmark Gill House, located approximately half a block from the new Leverich marker.

Recognizing the historical significance of Leverich’s burial site, Preserving Galion approached First United Church of Christ about placing a memorial on its property along Harding Way West, close to the historic location.

The church graciously granted permission, making the installation possible.

Clearly visible from Harding Way West, the marker gives residents and visitors an opportunity to discover a chapter of Galion’s history that has gone largely unrecognized in the public landscape.

The project also reflects the importance of partnerships between local preservation organizations, churches, property owners, and community members in protecting and sharing local heritage.

A Meaningful Tribute During America’s 250th Anniversary

The timing of the marker installation adds another layer of significance.

In 2026, communities across the country are recognizing the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The national semiquincentennial provides an opportunity to remember not only the founding generation but also the individuals who carried the ideals and experiences of the American Revolution into the communities that followed.

Ohio became home to thousands of Revolutionary War veterans who migrated west after the conflict. Many helped establish the towns and villages that would eventually shape the state’s identity.

Galion is among a relatively small group of Ohio communities, including Milford, Grand Rapids, Kirtland, Portsmouth, and Evendale, whose early settlement histories include Revolutionary War veterans.

For Galion, Benjamin Leverich represents a direct connection between the nation’s founding era and the city’s earliest days.

His military service helped shape the history of a young nation. His family’s migration west helped establish a new community in Ohio. And his burial beneath what became Galion’s Main Street provides a remarkable reminder that local history is sometimes much closer than it appears.

More than two centuries after his death, Leverich’s contributions are now recognized with a permanent historical marker along Harding Way West.

Preserving Galion encourages residents and visitors to view the new marker and reflect on the remarkable history beneath one of the city’s most familiar streets.

The organization proudly salutes Benjamin Leverich, Revolutionary War veteran, Ohio pioneer, and an important part of Galion’s story.