Family dedicates first headstone for William Barklage, killed in Civil War clash in Warren County

WRIGHT CITY, Mo. (First Alert 4) - On Veterans Day, a local family is honoring William Barklage, a man who fought in the Civil War. A new headstone now marks his grave at Harmonie Cemetery near Wright City.

Barklage died at age 36 in an armed clash with guerrilla soldiers while defending the country in Warren County 163 years ago. The headstone is the first to mark his grave since his death.

Roger Nierman and Guy Shreck are two of his great-great-grandsons.

“There is a sense of pride about it too, that you had a great-great-grandfather who participated, defended the Union in the Civil War,” Shreck said.

Immigrant family settled in Missouri

Nierman said Barklage came to the United States in 1859.

“William Barklage came to this country in the fall of 1859 with his 7-week-old daughter and his wife Adelaide,” Nierman said.

The Barklages were among more than 100,000 German immigrants who settled in Missouri in the 19th century. After the Civil War began, Barklage signed up to serve.

“In 1862, he joined the Enrolled Missouri Militia,” Nierman said.

The Enrolled Missouri Militia was a state militia formed to protect against raids by pro-Confederate guerrillas known as bushwhackers. Barklage was killed in a clash with bushwhackers near Wright City.

Relatives pay for headstone

Nierman said the story of the clash was passed down in his family.

“I remember my grandmother telling me about this incident. After all this time, we figured he deserved a stone,” Nierman said.

Relatives pitched in to pay for the headstone. It was dedicated in a ceremony in October.

“His actions in the Civil War trying to defend the Union made it especially, I think, important,” Shreck said.

Ceremony draws friends and relatives

A crowd of friends and relatives attended the ceremony. The Rev. Dr. Kim Purl of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Wright City offered a prayer. The American Legion Post 180 Honor Guard closed the ceremony with the playing of taps.

“For one thing, I was impressed with the number of people that showed up for it,” Shreck said.

Militia and bushwhackers retaliated

Nierman said the militia retaliated for Barklage’s death by setting fire to three places known to be Confederate gathering places: a Baptist church, a saloon and a blacksmith shop.

He said the bushwhackers responded by setting fire to a train trestle to slow Union trains carrying supplies.