George Coates Ashmun (1841-1929)

Ashmun became a medical professor and civic official as well as being an illustrious Civil War Veteran. He served as a musician in the 2D Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and then was recruited into a special Ohio unit charged with providing personal bodyguard services to President Abraham Lincoln. Ashmun was a lieutenant in this unit and took part in Lincoln's 2nd inauguration. He later served as a surgeon in the Spanish-American War with the 5th Ohio Infantry, and with the Case School unit of the Students Army Training Corps during World War I.

Ashmun earned his Medical degree at the Cleveland College of Medicine in 1873, which merged with Western Reserve University in 1893. Ashmun became a professor of children's diseases, then professor of hygiene and preventative medicine and finally professor of jurisprudence and medical ethics until his retirement in 1925.

Ashmun served as health officer for the city of Cleveland and is credited with ridding the city of backyard pig sties. He was a city councilman for two years and also served on the Board of Education for several terms.