ALYSSA WOLFE/Zanesville Times Recorder Robert Black leads a color guard consisting of members of the Ohio Society, Sons of the American Revolution and the American Legion out of the covered bridge at the Perry County Fairgrounds during a ceremony dedicating an Ohio State Historical Marker in honor of Mariah Storts Allen.

NEW LEXINGTON -- When he was 13, John Jacob Storts volunteered to fight in the American Revolutionary War.

He became a patriot for independence. On Tuesday, his youngest daughter, Mariah Storts Allen, took her place in history.

An Ohio Bicentennial Historical Marker was dedicated to Allen at the Perry County Fair in a ceremony full of patriotic flair. Allen's distinction is that she was Ohio's last surviving real daughter of an American Revolutionary War soldier.

"These signs are time capsules that are being passed on to people who have yet to be born," said David Snider, with the Perry County Historical Society.

Allen was born on Aug. 4, 1842, in Bearfield Township, Perry County, and was the youngest daughter of Storts and his second wife. She died on May 2, 1933, in New Lexington, and was a descendant of Ohio's First Families and an honorary member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Keith Kaufman, of New Lexington, is Allen's great-grandson and had been spearheading the effort to get the marker. He got local residents and officials from Perry County and New Lexington to write letters of support to obtain approval for the marker.

"I'm really happy it's finally here," said Kaufman, who is also president of the Rufus Putnam chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He was also pleased to see several descendants of Storts and Allen show up for the unveiling.

"There is a guy here from Pennsylvania, who I've never met and he is the descendant of one of John Jacob Storts's brothers and trying document it," Kaufman said.

In Kaufman's speech for the dedication, he told a story of when, as a child, he wrecked his father's tractor. His father knew it was accident and told Kaufman not to worry about it because in 100 years, no one would remember. Kaufman said by dedicating this marker, they were guaranteeing that in 100 years, people would remember Allen and her place in history.

In addition to the many speakers on hand for the dedication, a color guard from the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution presented the colors and Robert L. Black, a Highland Bagpiper, performed "Amazing Grace." Many SAR chapters from around Ohio sent representatives to the dedication.

Several people wiped tears from their eyes when the Signing Patriots from New Lexington Middle School performed the Pledge of Allegiance in sign language.

The marker, which sits near the covered bridge on the fairgrounds, was unveiled by Allen's great-great-great-great nieces, Mariah Black, Caitlyn Black and Haley Black from Marcy, Ohio.

Marilyn Vaglia, state regent of the Ohio Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, traveled from Springfield.

She talked about how people like Kaufman can connect themselves back to American history through their ancestors.

"One of the things the DAR does is promoting historical sites," Vaglia said. "We try to keep the elements of American history alive for everyone."

tshipley@nncogannett.com

Originally published Wednesday, July 16, 2003