Charles Goodwin Bickham received the Medal of Honor for “distinguished gallantry” on May 2, 1902, in the Battle of Bayang, during the Moro Rebellion. Lt. Bickham carried a wounded soldier across a “fire swept field.” His medal was awarded by Theodore Roosevelt on April 28, 1904.
He served on the staff of Ohio Governor William McKinley. During the Spanish-American War, he served in Company G, 3rd Regiment, Ohio National Guard, and later in the Ninth Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Infantry. He served during the Philippine-American War in the 28th Regiment, U.S. Volunteer Infantry, under Col. William E. Birkhimer. After receiving his commission in the regular army as a Lieutenant, he served again in the Philippines with the 27th U.S. Infantry under then-Captain John J. Pershing. Lt. Bickham was honorably discharged from the army in June 1910. He never married.
Charles G. Bickham was born in 1867 and died in 1944. He is located in Section 101, Lot 1420. The bronze marker decorating the grave of Charles Bickham was placed there by a gentleman who traveled across the country visiting graves of Congressional Medal of Honor winners, personally paying for the honor of doing so.
Woodland Cemetery, founded in 1841, is one of the nation’s five oldest rural garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Ohio as you will see as you read through this new MostMetro.com series. Visit the cemetery and arboretum and take one of the many tours Woodland offers free of charge. Most of Dayton’s aviation heroes, inventors and business barons are buried at Woodland.
Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum is located at 118 Woodland Avenue off of Brown Street near the UD Campus. The Woodland Office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday 8 am to 12 pm. The Cemetery and Arboretum are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. The Mausoleum is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. For more information, call 937-228-3221 or visit the Woodland website.
