USA > Nebraska > Adams County > Past and present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. I > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Mr. Leick directed the Hastings Band at the Fourth of July celebration in 1915, and this led to the organization of the municipal band, with Mr. Leick as leader. Mr. Leick has organized a boys' band, which made its first appearance in the spring of 1916. The account of the formation of the ladies' band will be found in the sketch of the Hastings Y. W. C. A. Under the arrangement made the salary of Mr. Leick is paid by the Chamber of Commerce and the other band members are paid by the city. During the summer of 1916 a series of fifty free concerts was given by the band.
315
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
GRAND OPERA
To William M. Lowman, manager of the Kerr Opera House goes the honor of bringing grand opera to Hastings for the first time. The San Carlo Grand Opera Company, Fortune Gallo, impresario, presented Verdi's Rigoletto at the opera house on the evening of November 29, 1916. At the matinee the following day the company presented Cavalieria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, and in the evening Il Trovatore was presented. In the cast of these presentations were Pietro Corallo, Angelo Antola, Evidge Vaccari, Pietro Dibiasi, Stella Demette, Natale Cervi, A. Canova, Alice Homer, Luciano Rossni. Madelena Carreno, Anna Haase, Salvatore Sciaretti, David Silva, Luigi Dellemole, Lucia Darclee, Emanuel Salazar, Giuseppe Battistini, Ada Paggi, Luciano Dossini.
CHAPTER XX
CHRONICLE OF COMPANIES K AND G
When on April 23, 1898, President Mckinley called for volun- teers to enforce the resolution of Congress that it was the duty of the United States to demand that the Government of Spain relinquish its authority and government of the Island of Cuba and that the people of the island are, "and of right ought to be, free and independent," Adams County for the first time in its history experienced the thrill of excitement attendant upon a people whose country faces war. As we look back and recall the comparative ease with which the enemy country was overcome, and remember that the onee prond kingdom of Spain had at this time dwindled to a point where it was the most tot- tering old grandma of Europe, it is difficult to understand how the prospeet of war with her could arouse even a ripple of excitement. There was no doubt of course in the mind of anybody in the county concerning the outcome, but the situation was new and it was not known that the victory would be so easily won.
On April 6th Governor Holcomb, anticipating hostilities, had tendered to the President the organized military forces of Nebraska, and on April 23th the chief executive through the secretary of war, Russel A. Alger, called on Nebraska to furnish two regiments. This quota, 2,114 men, represented 1.6909 per cent of the 125,000 volun- teers ealled for. In accordance with General Order No. 9 the First and Second regiments reported for duty on April 27th.
At that time there were no organizations of the national guard or the state militia in Adams County. There were many, however, who expressed a desire to assist in the impending struggle and the Hastings Band were successful in being enlisted with the Second Regiment on May 10th. Later there was a second call, this time for 1.268 men, and it was directed that 600 of that quota should be enlisted and mustered into the First and Second Nebraska regiments, raising them from the minimum to the maximum formation. After deduct- ing that number, it left practically about two battalions to be fur-
316
317
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
nished by the state. Instead of furnishing two battalions to make up the quota Nebraska was granted the privilege of furnishing an entire regiment, and over 1,800 men reported for enlistment. Out of this number 1.326 were mustered in and the command became the Third Regiment under Col. William J. Bryan.
When the second call for men was made the spirit which had been apparent in Adams County from the beginning was given an opportunity to express itself in action. Harry S. Dungan, then a young practicing attorney at Hastings, and now judge of the Tenth Judicial District, lost no time in getting the permission of the gov- ernor to raise a company of volunteers. In this work he was assisted by William J. Ohlheiser, of Hastings, and Carl L. Shuff, of Lincoln. Dungan and Ohlheiser kept a sharp lookout as to the physical eon- dition of the applicants, and as a result the company had the lowest percentage of rejected men of any in the Third Regiment.
The earliest enlistments were made on May 27th. The recruiting camp was located on the old East Ward school ground, between Sec- ond and Third streets and Minnesota and Kansas avenues, at Hast- ings. The company was known as Company K. The officers elected were: Captain, Harry S. Dungan; first lieutenant, Carl L. Shuff, Lincoln: second lieutenant, William J. Ohlheiser; first sergeant, Carl L. Jacobson: quartermaster sergeant, Walter G. Garver; ser- geants, Merl E. Palmer, Adam Rutherford and Fredrick Gundel, the latter from Spring Ranch, and Jay L. Benedict; corporals, Guy M. Brown, Lincoln, Walter M. Burr, Juniata, Edward Me- Cartney, Juniata, David W. P. Sinclair, Hastings, Francis N. Foun- tain. Hastings, George B. Roberts, Hastings, Charles Criswell, Hast- ings, Robert M. Decker, Prosser, Cyrus A. Abbott, Algiers, Indiana, Lloyd Cline, Juniata, Bartholomew W. Parks, Holstein, and Frank E. Dickson, Clay Center; wagoner, Peter C. Werner, Hastings: musicians. John D. Honser, Hastings, and George T. Israel, Juniata; artificer. George Frisch, Glenville. These elected officers were snb- sequently appointed by the governor, and the company was mustered into the service at Fort Omaha July 13, 1898. The company had left Hastings the latter part of June and recruiting was completed after they reached Omaha, Captain Dungan and Lieutenant Ohlheiser returning to Adams County for that purpose.
Following the signing of the peace protocol on August 12th Colonel Bryan resigned at Savannah, Ga., Lient .- Col. Victor Vifquain being promoted to his position. Capt. Harry Dungan of Company K was promoted to major of the Third Battalion to rank from December 12, 1898. First Lieutenant Shuff became
318
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
captain of Company K upon the promotion of Dungan, and later was raised to regimental quartermaster; Walter Garver was raised to regimental quartermaster sergeant. Following the promotion of Ohlheiser First Lieut. Oscar H. Allen of Company B was promoted to the captaincy of Company K and Second Lieut. Mills of Com- pany M was made first lieutenant. R. R. Damerell, who had mustered as a private, but had from the first been at headquarters at the adju- tant's office, was promoted first to sergeant and then to second lieuten- ant of Company K. The latter position had become vacant when Ohlheiser was promoted to first lieutenant, vice Carl L. Shuff, resigned.
Mobilization of the Third Regiment having been completed they were ordered to Jacksonville, Florida, and entrained at Omaha on the 19th of July, and arrived in Jacksonville five days later. The train carrying the regiment was in three sections, the section bearing Company K being the one upon which the headquarters officers traveled.
All along the route throngs gathered at the stations to indicate their good wishes to the soldiers, and upon several occasions they experienced material demonstrations of the hospitality of the South. The train carrying the Adams County company arrived at Nashville, Tennessee, at noon, July 21st, and the men were gratified to find that the ladies of that city had provided a substantial dinner for every man in the battalion. Not only that, but every man was given a neat lunch- box containing an ample supply of delicacies for the next meal, and to make the items complete a large number of the baskets contained the name of the young woman responsible for that particular basket. It was of course incumbent upon every young soldier to acknowledge the courtesy of the fair donor. Many friendships were thus begun and in due time a number of marriages were solemnized as a result of this incident. Company K demonstrated its appreciation of the women of Nashville when later Max W. Hadden married the young lady whose name graced his basket. For several years Mr. and Mrs. Hadden made their home in Nashville.
The battalion was again the recipient of marked courtesy at Atlanta, Georgia, on the 23d of July. Here the Veterans of the Confederacy were holding their annual reunion and lined the streets to salute the men on the way to the seat of war. The officers were conveyed, amid a cheering throng, to the Kimball Hotel, where they were entertained at lunch. The dining room was on the third floor of the hostelry and here before the lunch was finished came the sound of great cheering. The crowd below was calling for Bryan. Colonel
319
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
Bryan at once arose and going to a window acknowledged the cheers of the assemblage that packed many squares. They were largely the confederate veterans.
After lunch the officers were presented to the sponsors of the Southern States. This was a group of young women, each one chosen to represent her state at the reunion, and the group representing the flower of Southern beauty. General Longstreet also was presented to the officers and Mrs. Pickett, the widow of the leader of the famous charge at Gettysburg, came and graciously greeted the officers. When it was time to leave the hotel so great was the pressure of the throng that it was necessary for the police to clear the lobbies.
The next day, July 24th, Company K and their fellow soldiers reached Jacksonville and after inspection by Inspector-Gen. Cur- tis Guild, afterwards governor of Massachusetts, were made a part of the Seventh Army Corps under Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, and quar- tered at Camp Cuba Libre in Panama Park. The red, white and blue seven-pointed star was the insignia of the corps.
Panama Park was a sandy plain with no shelter from the sun, and under the sweltering rays drill and camp life took on the rigors of war. "It's 120 in the shade," was the desperate remark of a per- spiring private of Company K as he threw off his hat.
"Yes," returned "Count" Lepinski, "and no shade." "Count's" fame for aptness at repartec and ability at vaudeville spread through- out the regiment and his sense of humor was regarded as a regimental asset. The Adams County men were located in this camp at a dis- tance of about seven miles from Jacksonville and for that reason were deprived of the pleasure of social intercourse with the city which a nearer position would have supplied. Many suffered from dysen- tery and the illness incident to torrid heat, but none was lost.
Near the camp stood the pavilion in which the Mitchell-Corbett . championship battle had been fought disastrously for the former not long before. Near by was the St. John's River in which the men found great comfort in bathing until one day a huge alligator four- teen feet in length was caught in the stream. The river at once lost its attraction and would not be used for bathing again, not if the men were forced to use a shaving mug for a bathtub.
At Panama Park the Third Regiment was brigaded with the Second Mississippi and the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana.
The men welcomed the change when on September 9th they were ordered from Panama Park to Pablo Beach, a small summer resort about twenty miles from Jacksonville and on the Atlantic Coast. Camps were pitched here near one of the best beaches in the country.
320
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
It was, however, the season for the severe storms of the equinox, and one of these furnished excitement with some actual danger for the regiment.
The camp was behind high sand dunes and also close to a small creek. When a terrific wind and rain storm broke in the night the creek soon swelled to river proportions with a strong current. Many of the tents were blown away and a dangerous confusion impended for a time. The executive ability of Ohlheiser was at this time marked. He was acting regimental quartermaster and with great coolness and ability assisted in getting the men out of the danger zone and into the town without loss of life, although they waded in water to the waist.
On October 4th they moved to Fairfield, Florida, where they remained until October 24th, when they were ordered to Camp Onward near Savannah, Georgia. This time Company K was fortu- nate in being located near the city. The people of Savannah were most hospitable and men and officers were provided by them with many social pleasures, not the least appreciated of which was a turkey dinner which was served to men and officers on Thanksgiving Day. At Savannah the Third Regiment was brigaded with the First Mis- sissippi and the Second Louisiana. Here, too, a review of the force was made by President McKinley and Secretary Alger. It was at this camp that Colonel Bryan resigned and many of the promotions were made. After the signing of the peace protocol the War Depart- ment reduced the force and twenty men of Company K were dis- charged, being mostly those on sick furlough.
On December 31st the men embarked on the United States trans- port Michigan and sailed for Havana. Morro Castle was sighted, according to the diary of Lieutenant Damerell, on the morning of January 3, 1899, and the transport entered the harbor of Havana at 9 o'clock A. M. The regiment went ashore January 4th and marched through the city to Camp Columbia near Ceibia. The location was an elevated place overlooking the sea.
April 7. 1899, at 5 P. M. the regiment left the harbor of Havana homeward bound and the next day arrived at the Dry Tortugas off the Florida coast. Here the facilities for landing were poor and a high sea was rolling so that a landing could not be made without danger. Accordingly they were ordered to the detention camp on Daufaus- kie Island off the coast of South Carolina, where a landing was made on April 12th. On the 18th, after medical inspection on the island, the men embarked on the river steamer, Santie, and reached Gordon Wharf, at Savannah, that evening. Many were looking forward to
321
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
a renewal of the acquaintances they had made at Savannah, where they expected to be mustered out, and were disappointed when ordered to proceed to Augusta, where they arrived the next day. They were here quartered in Camp Mackenzie, where they were mustered out May 11, 1899.
It was while at Savannah that an incident occurred illustrating that while the Southern people received their fellow countrymen from the North with the greatest cordiality, yet underneath remained some feelings reminiscent of the great civil struggle. Captain Underwood, of Company I. once connected with the English army and very sociable in nature, had become acquainted with a family in the city, and was entertained in their home. The captain was fond of singing and the family, too, was musical. Captain Underwood was invited by them to bring some of his friends who could sing, and acting upon this invitation he brought with him among others Captain Dungan of Company K and Major Scharmann of North Platte.
When the major was presented to the family the visitors noticed that the social atmosphere cooled perceptibly, in fact, the evening threatened to become a social failure, and the guests were at a loss to account for it. In the course of the evening Captain Dungan found an opportunity to speak privately with one of the gentlemen of the house and frankly communicated to him that something had gone wrong and that the guests were very desirous to be put right. At first the young man insisted that all was well, but presently made an admission.
"The ladies of the house," he explained, "consider that it is a little inconsiderate to bring here a nephew of General Sherman's. You see," he went on, "the estate belonging to the grandparents of these young ladies suffered at the time of Sherman's march through the South."
It was Captain Dungan's pleasure to explain away the error that had arisen because of the similarity of the names, the clouds were at once banished and the social pleasures were from then on unmarred.
While the Third Regiment was entraining at Pablo, Florida, just before moving to Fairfield a little incident happened which serves to show some of the qualities of William Ohlheiser that led to his promotion from second lieutenant of Company K to regimental quar- termaster.
As the conductor was about to signal the train to go ahead he was accosted by Ohlheiser.
"On whose authority are you going to move this train?"
"On the orders of the railroad company."
Val J-21
322
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
"We are not ready to move. Hold the train until you get orders from me."
"Can't do it," persisted the railway official.
"Sergeant," said Ohlheiser, addressing Walter Garver, "with your squad arrest this man if he attempts to move this train without my order." Similar instructions were given relative to the engineer. The train men attempted to carry out the railroad's order and were promptly arrested.
The railroad complained of this conduct to the War Depart- ment and subsequently Ohlheiser was called upon to explain to Colo- nel Vifquain. ITis explanation was that no provisions nor camp equipment had yet been put aboard and he did not purpose to land the men in Fairfield without provender.
The War Department endorsed Ohlheiser's action. The men of the Third still speak of the efficiency with which their quartermaster saw to it that they were properly looked after in the matter of food and clothing and camp equipment.
Sergeant Jay L. Benedict, of Company K, continued his mili- tary career, seeing service in the Philippine Islands. He received appointment to West Point and was graduated from that institu- tion in 1904. Subsequently he was instructor at West Point and now, 1915, is a first lieutenant in the regular army.
The Hastings Military Band enlisted May 10. 1898, and were assigned to the Second Regiment. The members were as follows: Chief musician, Theodore A. Miller; principal musician, Bert I. Brown. Theodore F. Knapp; regimental band musicians, Waldorf A. Baker, Edd. F. Barnhouse, Harry Bohnet, William Bohnet, Walter F. Boyd, Florus H. Cassel, Ed Cushing. Edward Chaloupka, R. Ralph Ferguson, Alfred R. Giffin, Fred Grass, Otto Grass, William B. Hartigan, Frank Herman, Boyd C. Littlefield, William S. Mc- Gintie, Newton Pratt, Roy S. Work, Charles R. Yocum, Ernest E. Yocum.
The following is the roster of privates in Company K, as given in the adjutant general's report of 1897-98:
Oliver Anderson, Hastings: Otto H. Arnold, Denver, Colorado; Ray A. Baratt, Ashland: Samuel L. Bowling, Hastings; Charles F. Behr, Wood River; Alfred F. Brookhoven, Hastings: Frank Butler. Juniata; Daniel P. Carrol, Verona; Charles A. Cockrall, Red Cloud; Chester A. Cofield, Juniata; Charles R. Colford, Maryville, Cali- fornia; William A. Copley, Goudy: George F. Clawson, Bladen: Louis D. Culy, Oak; Ray R. Damerell, Hastings: William H. Dean. Pauline: Charles F. Dodd, Hastings; Hays C. H. Dool, Aledo, Illi- nois; Lawrence M. Douglas, Hastings; Arthur J. Edgerton, Ilast-
323
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
ings; C. Charles Eppler, Centerville, I. T .; Stephen L. Fitzgibbons, Fairfield; Charles A. Galer, Clay Center; Lyman Gray, Hastings; Henry C. Gress, Bladen; Max W. Hadden, Trumbull; Jesse A. Hansen, Hampton; Glenn II. Hanna, Juniata; Howard W. Hare, Prosser; Edward H. Hanbrock, Hastings; John Herberg, Hastings; Harry A. Hightower, Omaha; Herbert Hunt, Georgetown; Fredrick L. Huford, West Liberty; Robert E. Jessup, Clay Center; Frank J. Jordan, Waterloo; John F. Kealy, Hastings; James HI. Kendall, Hastings; George H. Kennedy, Ranch City, Mo .; Clinton D. Kank- right, Juniata; Jacob F. Kostum, Hastings; William Kruger, Wabash: Frank J. Lampman, Culbertson : William Llewellyn, Glen- ville; Frank B. Lepenski, Ilastings; Casper E. Liston, Hastings; Fred Magner, Grundy Center, Iowa; Harry E. Marian, Hastings; Francis W. Masters, Springgreen: Fredrick E. Masters, Spring- green; Stanley Matthews, Fairbury; Donald G. McCarty, Juniata; William G. McCanlley, Seward, Iowa: Philip S. McCormick, How- ard; William B. Meade, Dawn, Mo .; James S. Mines, Hastings: Bert M. Minnix, Stamford: Wilbur E. Morse, Juniata; Joseph E. Max- well, Valentine; Troy Nicholson, Omaha; William C. Painter; James R. Porterfield, Fairfield; Patrick J. Reardon, Omaha; Charles C. Reynolds, Hastings: James W. Roberts, Hastings; John L. Roff, Hastings: Fred Sands, Wagner; William S. Sidwell, Juniata; Edgar F. Siegner, Juniata; William Small, Hastings; Albert I. Smith, Prairie View. Kan .: Charles Snider, Nebraska City; Mitchel Sonlig- ney, Hastings; Samuel Stamp, Hastings ; Daniel O. Stockton, Grant; Abram W. Thomas, Cowles; James B. Thompson, Kearney; Harry W. Vance, Glenville; Orpha A. Van Mater, Hastings: Cyrus Van Sickle, Gothenburg; Clarence F. Ward, Kansas City; William M. Williams, Gothenburg.
Walter W. Weierschmidt, of Hastings, enlisted in the second Nebraska Regiment.
The roster of the First Regiment contains the names of the follow- ing from Adams Connty; Salem J. Hammond, Clarence A. Belknap, Roy O. Sutton, Thomas C. North, Joseph Edgar Jones and George W. Work.
In June, 1915, an organization of the Spanish-American and Philippine war veterans was organized at Hastings with Dr. C. K. Struble as president and Frank Kealy, secretary.
COMPANY G
Hastings has maintained a company of the National Guard since the summer of 1906, when Company D was formed. The company
324
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
was later designated as Company G. John P. Madgett was the first captain of the company. Others who have served a period in that capacity are G. E. Boggs, J. H. Riffe, Raymond Crosson, Leonard Brown, Will Crosson, and John G. L. Hanlen, the present captain. Raymond Crosson was particularly energetic in stimulating interest in the company, and in the spring of 1915 was promoted to major of the Third Battalion, Fifth Infantry, National Guard. The com- pany's armory is located in Brandes Hall on the northwest corner of Second Street and Burlington Avenue.
When the National Guard was called out by President Wilson in June, 1916, Company G entrained at Hastings for the mobilization grounds at Lincoln, June 23. They were escorted to the train by about 1,500 citizens, although the hour of departure was 7 o'clock A. M. All the steam whistles in the city loudly screeched their good wishes to the company who were soon to depart for the Mexican border. War with Mexico seemed to be impending. Bishop Beecher, bishop of the Episcopalian diocese of Western Nebraska, was chap- lain of the Fifth Regiment and took his departure with the company. One of the impressive scenes enacted in Hastings was witnessed that morning when the bishop addressed the silent throng and the attentive soldier boys. "Remember this, friends," closed the bishop, "so long as we have a God in heaven and a man on earth our flag will remain the symbol of liberty, truth and justice."
The following officers of the Third Battalion, Fifth Infantry, National Guard departed with Company G: Major, Raymond L. Crosson: First Lieutenant, John P. Madgett: Second Lieutenant. Marcus L. Evans. 'The latter was disqualified because of physical disabilities. Company G and officers were as follows:
Captain -- John G. L. IIanlen, Hastings. First Lieutenant-James Allison, Hastings.
Second Lieutenant-Floyd E. Eller, Hastings.
First Sergeant- Flavius Wood, Hastings.
Quartermaster Sergeant- Harry B. Fry, Hastings. Sergeants-Oscar Dykeman, Hastings: Elbert A. Dailey, IIast- ings: Paul Pottorf, Juniata: Clayton Gibson, Hastings.
Corporals -- Worley Daugherty, Hastings; Paul Walters, Omaha: William J. Sliger, Hastings; Lloyd Petro, Hastings. Artificer --- George H. Helmick, Hastings.
Musicians-Harry E. Kahl, Ralph Wiese, Hastings. Cooks-Harry Haines, Ed Duncan, Hastings.
Company Clerk-Ward E. Simpson.
325
PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY
Privates-William Arvanette, Hastings; Earl S. Adair, Spring- field; Roy Aiken, Hastings; Henry Burns, Hastings; Henry Brem- ser, Hastings; Ralph Butler, Juniata; Edward Brown, Hastings; Fred L. Bailey, Hastings; Fred G. Crawford, Hastings; Frank Dixon, Hastings; Mike Diedrick, Hastings; Ivan L. Gaddis, Omaha ; Arthur Holbert, McMinnville, Ore .; John C. Hedge. Hastings; Harold Hess, Harvard; Raymond J. King, Lowell; A. A. Lewis, Grand Island; Max Lepinske, Hastings; Nick Meges, Hastings; David Masters, Hastings; Jesse S. Manley, Oklahoma City, Okla- homa; Joseph L. McMinn, Exeter; Walter B. Nation, Wallace: Claire F. Newby, Hastings; Constantine P. Papageorge, Hastings; Linn Potts, Harvard; Glenn C. Pope, Gretna; Charles Quick, Hast- ings; George W. Stout, Beatrice; Ernest Smith, West Frankfort, Illinois; Chester A. Taylor, Exeter; Bert Van Meter, Hastings; Ralph Versch, Roseland; Albert Wingert, Hastings; Percy C. Win- ters, Hastings: Ralph M. Wells, Fargo, N. D .; Brandon G. Wheeler. Hastings.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.