A local hero who was killed in the line of duty 141 years ago and went for many decades without public recognition will be honored on several fronts during the next month, both on the local and national levels.
From the left, Logan County Sheriff Randall Dodds, Andrea Wrocklage of the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and George W. Rockwell’s descendent, Choyce Earick, gather Tuesday at the new headstone that was put in place at the Zanesfield Cemetery in honor of the sheriff’s deputy who was killed in the line of duty in 1878. (EXAMINER PHOTO| MANDY LOEHR)
George W. Rockwell, a deputy sheriff for Logan County and also a Civil War veteran, was shot April 30, 1878, by a suspect in Zane Township while serving in his law enforcement role. He died the following morning, May 1, 1878, at the suspect’s home.
Last year, former Bellefontaine Examiner reporter Reuben Mees uncovered the information about the deputy sheriff and his ultimate sacrifice during research for Logan County’s bicentennial celebration and brought the information to the attention of local law enforcement officials.
Tuesday, the first of the honors for the part-time deputy began with the placement of a headstone memorializing his service at his grave site at the Zanesfield Cemetery. The headstone was made possible through a project organized by the Logan County Sheriff’s Office and a donation by the Logan County Sheriff’s Office special deputy auxiliary fund.
The back of George W. Rockwell’s headstone features a description of events in 1878, when the sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed by a suspect who snuck up behind him in Zane Township.
His great-great-grandaughter, Bellefontaine area resident Choyce Earick and her husband, Chuck, visited the cemetery Tuesday with representatives from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office to be the first individuals to see the newly installed memorial, which was secured with the help of Buckeye Monuments and Eichholtz, Daring and Sanford Funeral Homes.
“It is a gorgeous stone and a momentous honor,” Mrs. Earick said while admiring the memorial installed in honor of her relative.
“I am so appreciative of everyone’s help for making this a possibility. I never knew of my greatgreat-grandfather’s sacrifice until Reuben (Mees) contacted me last year.
“He was temporarily working as a deputy to support his wife and three small children as jobs were scarce at that time. After reading the information Reuben’s research provided, I know he was an honorable and honest man and I am proud to be his descendent.
“I was an only child and my mother was an only child, so I think the story must have just gotten lost somehow in our family’s history. My mother would have been so proud of him if she had known.”
Read complete story in Wednesday’s Examiner.
CLICK HERE to subscribe today!
WEB EDITION STARTING AT $9.50 FOR 5 WEEKS!