IDFirstMiddleLastDOBDODCOD
145FrankL.MordenN/A3/30/1877Consumption

veteran
exhumed
purchaser
cemetery
TRUEFALSEN/AAdams Street

lot
plot
206R10 G6 military marker
relations
Wife two small children

military branch
date served
war
U.S. NavyN/ACivil War

rank
medals
unit
N/AN/AN/A

military comments
N/A

military sources
Inscriptions from the Old Berea Cemetery 1904, Berea Historical Society "Heres a List of Soldiars Dead", May 30, 1930, Berea Historical Society "City Cemetery" small ledger copy, Berea Historical Society

comments
Frank Morden was born c. 1848. He served in the U.S. Navy during the civil war and may have been drafted by the Confederate Army earlier in the war. What we know of Frank Morden is found in the Berea newspapers. Frank Morden was nominated to fill the recently vacant position of Marshal of Berea, perhaps a testament of the towns high regards to his character. On 1 April 1875 the Grindstone City Advertiser announced “Marshal- A.B. Akins, Marshal has resigned, and the Mayor has issued a proclamation for the election of his successor without disparagement to any candidates, we suggest that no better selection could be made than Mr. Frank Morden, who has been employed for some months by the business men as night watchman, and has also acted as policeman. He is fearless, yet judicious in the discharge of his duties, and would make an active and effective officer. The suggestion is made without consulting Mr. Morden.” By the next week it was clear that Morden was who the citizens of Berea trusted as the city’s Marshal. In a decisive election, Frank Morden toppled the second place finisher John Snowden by a grand total of 188 to 30. In the same election, Morden tried his luck at running for constable of Middleburgh only to finish second. (8 April 1875). The 15 April 1875 paper reported that Frank Morden “presented his bond which was accepted. Mr. Morden took the oath of office, and is now fully qualified as marshal.” (15 April 1875) It was reported on 27 May 1875 that Frank Morden had been recommend by the Mayor to become Berea’s Night Watchman, however the Village Council could not agree and the motion was “declared lost.” (27 May 1875). By 24 June 1875 the mention of Morden’s name as night watchman was brought up for consideration. The measure was confirmed and earned Frank a salary of $500 starting from the first day of June. (24 June 1875) The 15 July 1875 Grindstone City Advertiser reported the story of drunken Polanders and Marshal Frank Morden. “The most serious affair occurred between eleven and twelve at night. Marshal Frank Morden, and Night Policeman, J. Freeman, being both on duty, heard a loud noise in the direction of the cemetery and walked up Bridge street to the alley near Mrs. Clarks, and saw three men coming, apparently intoxicated, making a loud noise and appearing to want to fight. As their conversation was Polish, it was not understood. The policemen stepped aside and let them pass. Freeman then walked by them on the other side of the street, and Morden kept close behind them. When opposite North Seminary street, on the opposite side of the street from council Hall building, in which the jail is located, the policemen attempted to arrest the whole three. One of them escaped after giving he officers a few blows. Morden took charge of Michael Gorlesky, a stout Polander, who threw his arm around a lamp post and refused to move, but being pulled away from that, began to claw for the officers throat A few persuasive blows with a heavy cane, caused him to decide to move along. Upon reaching the door of the prison, Morden laid his cane on the step to unlock the door, the prisoner caught it up and began striking him over the head in good earnest. Morden then drew his revolver but failing to make it go off, struck his antagonist at random in the dark with it, hitting him about the right eye so as to make the blood flow as if a bullock was being bled. The prisoner then gave up and was put behind the grates. In the mean time, Freeman had been attacked by his prisoner, and was compelled to bring him down with a blow with his cane and draw him by main strength to the lockup. On Monday the examination was held before Mayor. Gorlesky was obliged to view the scnee with a single eye as the other was completely closed, that part of his face resembling a piece of freshly pounded beef, ornamented with stripes of court plaster G.A. Hubbard, Esq. appeared for the defendants Michael Gorlesky was fined $5 and costs for making the noise and $15 and costs for resisting an officer. The other man, Josephy Kosinsky, was fined $3 for disorderly conduct and $5 for resisting an officer. The friends of the prisoners rallied to their aid and paid the expenses amounting to $46.20. So much for a Sunday night drunk. It is very evident that our night police are hard men, for roughs to deal with. Morden always comes out ahead and Freeman, who only commenced service the first of this month, has shown that he has got the nerve.” Around the 12 Aug 1875 Frank Morden was involved in a scuffle with Edwin Richards. The paper stated “Did not the Marshal forget the dignity of his position last evening?” Then described the incident: “A Personal difficulty occurred last evening on the steps of the Nichols House, between Frank Morden, Marshal and Edwin Richards, during which some blows were struck. Richards went before Mayor Brown and made affidavit charging Morden with assault with intent to kill. Morden was arrested and gave bail for his appearance today.” (12 August 1875) By 19 August 1875 Frank was on trial. In an attempt to keep the streets of Berea clean of hooligans, Frank reported to the Grindstone City Advertiser on 7 October 1875: A word to the wise. Night Policeman Morden, informs us that a company of young ladies and gentlemen, who are considered respectable, were rambling about on some of the principle streets Monday night between one and two o’clock, making more noise than their position in society would seem to justify. Had the amount of noise been created by drunken men on the streets, every good citizen would have expected the police to arrest them. Be a little more considerate young friends. IT is not only the quiet of the town that is at stake but your own reputation. A thoughtless act may do you just as much injury. 16 December 1875 “Marshal Morden, armed with a search warrant, made some investigations on Tuesday, in regard to the burglary of Wm. Carman’s shoes shop but failed to develop anything satisfactory. By 9 March 1876 Frank was well enough after a bought of sickness to resume his duty as Marshal. The Grindstone City Advertiser reported that “Marshal Frank Morden has resumed duty as night police, after being obliged to employ a substitute for over three months, on account ill health” His time as Marshal was short however, as on 6 April 1876 Frank lost his bid for reelection as Marshal. On 6 July 1876 Frank relinquished duties as night policeman to N.J. Fuller. (6 July 1876). 27 July 1876 was the beginning of the end for Morden. It was reported that “Mr. Frank L Morden, while taking care of Dr. McBride on Thursday night last, suffered from a violent attack of hemorrhage of the lungs, and became very much reduced. Dr. Coates was sent for and relief obtained. ON the following night and again on Tuesday night of this week he suffered severely from the same cause. He is now apparently improving . Mr. Morden has suffered from the same difficulty for a year or more.” The last few mentions of Frank Morden chronicle the ups and downs of his health. 17 August 1876: Deputy Sheriff Frank L Morden, has sufficiently recovered from his attacks of hemorrhage of the lungs to be out again. He will spend the times between now and the opening of next term of court in Ashtabula County. 14 December 1876: Frank Morden, who has been suffering from disease of the lungs for several months past is now able to ride out. He is staying at his mothers in this village. 8 February 1877: Mr. Frank Morden is again very low, and requests us to say that he does not expect to be able to receive calls during the next two weeks. The last mention of Frank before his death was 15 February 1877. The paper reported that “Two bills of F. Morden for sundry services, were referred to the Mayor.” The 5 April 1877 Berea Advertiser carried the news of Frank’s passing. Obituary "Frank L. Morden, after an illness of nearly a year, died at his residence in Berea, early last Friday Morden held the office of Village Marshal for a number of years previous to his last illness. During his long sickness he was carefully attended and ministered to, and everything possible done to mitigate his sufferings, by Rock River Lodge, I.O.O.F., of which he was a member; and on last Tuesday morning his remains were consigned to their last resting place, with the solemn and impressive rites of that order. The deceased was twenty-nine years of age. He leaves a wife and two small children to mourn his early demise." Mrs. T. Morden purchased ½ lot 206. Transcription of a tombstone was recorded in 1904 and 1934. In 1904 the transcription was listed as Frank Morton U.S. Navy. In 1934 “Morden- Frank Mordem, U.S. Navy Marker” 1934 The Berea Enterprise mentioned that he was:"either night watchman or villiage marshal,[and] lived where armory now stands" Today his grave marker only states, "Frank Morden, U.S. Navy." His stone is marble. Frank Morden had a medium grain marble military and personal headstone. A fizz test was performed and a magnifier was used to examine the grain. It is grey with dark and light discoloration on the top, sides, back, and lettering. The lot number is 206, the row number is 12, and the grave number is 6. The marker is 23 inches high, 11 inches wide, and 2.5 inches thick. The marker faces West and the inscription is only on the side facing West (the front side). The marker commemorates one person: Frank Morden. There is nothing on the gravestone except, “Frank Morden, U.S. Navy.” This is inscribed inside of a badge symbol which represents a Civil War veteran. The marker is chipped and discolored. The inscription is mostly legible and was incised. The badge background is incised into the tombstone leaving the lettering. The digital photograph file is SSPX035, SSPX036, and SSPX037. "Frank Morden, U.S.V.N. Response by_____, "He was pressed into the Rebel service, being a Union man he watched his opportunity to enter the U.S. Navy, and fought nobly to crush the Rebellion. It was there the germs of the disease that ended his life.'"

sources
Berea Enterprise, 24 June 1932, p.1 c.1-2, p.6 c.5-6 E. S. Loomis and D. T. Gould, "Inscriptions from the Old Berea Cemetery," 1904, Berea Historical Society "Cuyahoga Cemetery Inscriptions," Vol. I, compiled by the Western Reserve Historical Society, 1934 "Number of Burial lots and prices," Adams Street Cemetery folder, Berea Historical Society. Grindstone City Advertiser: 1 April 1875, 8 April 1875, 15 April 1875, 27 May 1875, 24 June 1875, 12 August 1875 7 October 1875, 9 March 1876, 6 April 1876, 6 July 1876, 27 July 1876, 17 August 1876, 14 December 1876, 8 February 1877, 15 February 1877 Frank Morden picture, Jeremy Feador, 2008. Baldwin Wallace College History Dept. Cemetery Documentation Project, Frank Morden, Tyson Meikle, 12 September 2007. The Berea Advertiser, Frank Morden, June 1874.