• Military Service Record
• "Maxwell And Kell Franklin Twp. Participants In Civil War" article by Dallas Bogan

Brig. Gen. O. C. Maxwell

Brig. Gen. O. C. Maxwell was born on his father’s farm about two and one-half miles southeast of Franklin, February 7, 1837. Craig, as he was familiarly called, came in early manhood to Franklin, and was engaged as clerk with his uncle, James Maxwell, in his grain house. He was also, for a time, himself a grain dealer, but finally entered a dry goods house and afterward entered into a partnership with M. V. Barkalow in the shoe trade. Here, at the age of twenty-four, he was when the war broke out. He had been Orderly Sergeant of the Franklin Grays, and, as Second Lieutenant, he went with his company at the call of the President. A vacancy occurring by the resignation of P. S. Turner, First Lieutenant, Maxwell was promoted to this and held the office until the close of the three months’ service. After the return home of the company, more soldiers being called for, he obtained a Captain’s commission, and re-enlisted many of the three-months’ boys. His company was assigned to the Second Ohio, and became Company B of that organization. His commission as Captain bears date of August 31, 1861. For gallantry on the field, he was promoted to the rank of Major, December 24, 1862, and, on December 31, 1862, was again promoted for gallantry to Lieutenant Colonel.

Receiving severe wounds, which disabled him, he was discharged, February 1, 1864. While at home, he was elected Auditor of Warren County, by over 2,000 majority, but, recovering from his wounds, he re-entered the service, March 14, 1865, as Lieutenant Colonel of the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to Colonel October 22, 1865, and was mustered out with his regiment October 24, 1865. He had, on March 13, 1865, been brevetted Brigadier for Gallant and meritorious service. After the war, he received a medal bearing the appropriate inscription, with the motto of the State of Ohio, “Imperium in Imperio,” which medal was given to but four other persons in the State. Upon recommendation of the best men in the district, he was appointed by the President Assessor of Internal Revenue for the Third District of Ohio, and he retained the office for eighteen months, when, not agreeing with the administration, he resigned. He was wounded in the leg at Perryville, and was crippled for life; wounded in the throat at Stone River and received several minor wounds, from the effects of which a naturally strong constitution brought him safely. He died on December 5, 1871, in his room at the Phillips House, Dayton, having, in a state of desperation, caused by financial difficulties, taken his own life by a shot from his revolver. Thus died, at the age of thirty-six, one of Warren County’s noblest soldiers and warmest-hearted citizens. His death was a sad shock to his friends, who were many, for, by his genial and courteous manners, he had endeared himself to all associated with him.