Ceremony to include new name

The marble figure facing north on a Civil War monument on Central Square in downtown Youngstown has no name. He is simply referred to as the "Man on the Monument."
The monument, formally dedicated in 1870, honors Civil War soldiers from the Western Reserve area who died in that war or who succumbed from war-related illnesses. That is the criteria for being included on the monument.
More than 100 names are chiseled into the monument's concrete base. It will have another name added later this month -- a name omitted for 135 years.
The name belongs to Jacob Robinson, a black man from this area who died in the War Between the States.
The efforts of two historians -- one black, one white -- and a white community activist are responsible for finding out about Robinson and his history here.
A ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. May 28 to include his name on the monument.
When he firstcame to the city
Tony Feldes, a white veteran who now lives in the city, said when he first came here to see his girlfriend (now his wife) in 1969 after leaving Vietnam, she showed him the city's sites, including the Man on the Monument.
"I asked her, 'Where are the names of the black soldiers?'" Feldes recalled. He said she didn't know. Feldes said there were different designations for black and white soldiers who fought in the war, so it was easy to see the omission.
He later inquired of city leaders about the lack of blacks on the monument when he returned here in 1972. The city owns the monument.
The leaders at that time said there were no names of blacks on the monument, and there was no plan for them to ever be included.
Feldes said every time he marched in a downtown parade as a veteran and went past the monument, "I was upset there were no black men on it."
Enter Steffon Jones, a black Youngstown man who is a historian and Civil War buff. Feldes met Jones and the two began discussing the monument, among other things. Feldes said he bet Jones a steak dinner that Jones couldn't find the names of blacks on the monument. Jones lost.
The two, along with community activist Tom Anderson of Youngstown, began the painstaking process in 1997 of getting blacks' names added to the monument who were omitted and who met the criteria for inclusion. It took more than three years to complete the research.
Significant factsabout Robinson
According to Jones, Jacob Robinson came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1830. He was about 30 when he joined the first black regiment raised in Ohio -- the 5th U.S. Colored Troops of Ohio. He enlisted from the Youngstown area, and the 5th fought in the Civil War.
"The 5th earned more [Congressional] medals of honor than any other colored unit that fought in the war," Jones said.
Jones said Jacob's brother, Paul R. Robinson, came from Pennsylvania and eventually ended up living in Warren. Paul also served in the 5th. Jones said Paul survived, but Jacob died of fever while serving. Jacob Robinson is buried in Hampton, Va.
Jones, 43, said his grandfather fostered in him a love of history. But it was his mother who started him in doing historical research, and his girlfriend also encouraged him to continue finding out about black Civil War soldiers.
Jones and others also do Civil War re-enactments showing how black soldiers served their country.
Jones also has found out that several black men who fought in the war are buried in Oak Hill Cemetery on the city's South Side. They will receive honorable mention at the May 28 ceremony, Jones added.
Several city officials will join Jones, Feldes and Anderson at the ceremony at the monument and possibly some of Robinson's descendants.
I encourage all residents to attend this historic event and thank the men who spent their time finding the information to correct this glaring omission.
ebrown@vindy.com