History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 56

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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"In spite of the worst financial panic which our country has experienced in many years, our order has enjoyed a substantial gain. This result I attribute to two causes : (1) The venemous attack on the Union soldiers by the administra-

CENTRAL FIRE STATION, SIOUX FALLS

LOOKING NORTH ON PHILLIPS AVENUE FROM ELEVENTH STREET, SIOUX FALLS. BOYCE-GREELEY BUILDING ON CORNER; CARPENTER HOTEL ADJOINING ON THIE NORTH.

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tion made the old soldiers stand together more than ever before since their muster out in 1865-66; (2) the competition to secure the prizes offered by the tenth encampment to the posts showing the greatest percentage of increase has stimu- lated the comrades to greater efforts. The prizes won this year are here and will soon be presented to the winners. Our order is in a flourishing condition."

Senior Vice Commander Clough reported the Grand Army of the Republic of the Black Hills in a prosperous condition. Though the surroundings in 1893 were unsatisfactory, a great change had come over the order in that region. There was genuine interest in every post, and Decoration Day was receiving more attention than ever before. The great event in the Hills was the separate independent annual reunion of the old soldiers.

In 1892, at the encampment held in Mitchell, the per capita tax was reduced from 40 cents to 30 cents per year. By 1894 this reduction had caused a great falling off in the receipts, without any other way to make up the deficiency. In fact the latter year showed that the income was being exceeded by the expense. At the Chamberlain encampment in 1893 the council of administration recom- mended an increase to 40 cents, but this advice was not followed. To remedy the defect the council in 1894 recommended an increase to 35 cents per year. It also suggested the reduction of the salaries of several of the officers or a consoli- dation of the offices. .

At this encampment (1894) the prizes offered the year before for the largest increase of membership of any post were awarded as follows: First premium, a $20 flag, to Silas A. Strickland Post, No. 127; second premium, a $10 drum, to Custer Post, No. 156; third premium, a $6 bugle, to John A. Dix Post, No. 30. A continuation of these prize offerings was advised. The following prizes were recommended: Fifteen dollars for a flag to the post gaining most in member- ship (the Strickland post barred) ; $7 for a drum to the post showing the second largest increase; $3 for a bugle to the post showing the third largest increase. On the motion to adopt the report of the council of administration, an amendment raising the per capita tax to 40 cents was carried. The report was then adopted. General Palmer made a motion to increase to 40 cents, and Mr. Blanchard was its chief opponent. Upon the election of Grand Army of the Republic officers for the year 1895 the vote for commander stood: G. W. Carpenter, 72; J. F. Elson, 36; John Ackley, 21. E. E. Clough was re-elected senior vice commander, and George S. Johnson, junior vice commander. The following is from the report of the committee on resolutions :

Whereas, there is a tendency to make Memorial Day an occasion for festivity and indulgence in games and sports wholly foreign to the purposes of the day and the sacred spirit which ought to characterize it; and

Whereas, such desecration of the day lacerates the feelings of those whose dear comrades and kinsmen are recalled, is an insult to the surviving veterans, and destroys the lessons of veneration and loyalty which the day ought to teach the young. Therefore,

Resolved, that the Department of South Dakota, Grand Army of the Republic, hereby expresses its disapprobation of indulgence in public sports, pastimes and all amusements on Memorial Day as inconsistent with the proper purposes of the day, and that the duty of vigorously opposing such practices be urged upon all posts and all old soldiers and their friends throughout the state.

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Resolved, that this department heartily endorses the bill recently introduced in Congress and entitled, "A bill to Insure Preference in Appointment, Employ- ment and Retention in Public Service of the United States to Veterans of the Late War."

Resolved, that besides the usual number of copies of the journal of this department, a sufficient additional number be printed to enable the assistant adjutant-general to send a copy to each Woman's Relief Corps and each camp of the Sons of Veterans in the state.

Resolved, that we demand for our disabled comrades a liberal and compe- tent provision to maintain them in their old age. We demand this in the name of justice and patriotism for the honor of the nation they saved, and do not ask it as alms. While we denounce every effort to defraud the Government under the guise of obtaining pensions, and unite and urge the strictest scrutiny of the pension roll, that it may ever be regarded as a "Roll of Honor," we denounce the evidently studied purpose of the present administration (Cleveland's second) and majority in Congress to stigmatize and belittle the pensioners of the Union army. We stand for our comrades and our rights in peace and war; and we rejoice that the patriotism of the American people will verily administer a stinging rebuke to such disloyal politicians, and that the alms home is not likely to be opened for the reception of those who gave the best of their blood and life for their country. If the Grand Army of the Republic had accomplished nothing more than its work in these lines, it would not have existed in vain. While we are ever ready to grasp those of our southern brothers by the hand who accept the results of the war and swear allegiance to the old flag, we strongly denounce those leaders who are poisoning the minds of the rising generation with their treasonable utterances and pernicious doctrines, and we view with some degree of alarm the boldness with which such treasonable sentiments are uttered and the approval with which they are received by the bearers.

The committee on resolutions were T. M. Shanafelt, John Ackley, J. M. Hobbs, H. P. Packard and W. L. Palmer. There was much contention over the site of the next encampment. Pierre finally won from Redfield by the vote of 53 to 44. One town receiving a large support was Hot Springs.

At the encampment held in Pierre June 5-7, 1895, the program carried out was elaborate and interesting. The Grand Army, the Woman's Relief Corps and the Sons of Veterans were well represented. Of the Woman's Relief Corps, Emma F. Robinson was president. Past presidents of this order were Lelia L. Smith, Louisa T. Hauser, Lucy P. Bryson, Ruth H. Thomas, Sarah E. Holmes and Carrie M. Cleveland. The division commander of the Sons of Veterans at this time was Col. R. S. Gleason. The past division commanders were Ham- ilton Kerr, E. E. Brown, J. R. Brockwell, C. C. Brass, C. B. Cook, L. D. Lyon, D. L. Printup and W. S. Carpenter.

In 1895 Melvin Grigsby delivered an address to the old soldiers at Yankton. He pointed out what he presumed were the dangers to the American republic, and said that the soldiers who freed the slaves in 1861-65 might be called upon to save the country from an evil more dangerous than slavery-corruption in politics.

The thirteenth annual encampment convened at Watertown, June 3, 1896, Commander S. R. Drake presiding. J. A. Pickler reported what progress was

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being made in Congress on the service pension bill, which provided for granting a pension to all old soldiers who served in the Union army. He declared that as it was now about thirty years since the Civil war, all old soldiers, in his opinion, should have a pension, and that it was merely a question of time when in any event this would be done. The original plan was to give $3 a month to every soldier for the act of enlisting and a cent a day per month for the time he served. Thus if he served three years, or 1,095 days, the latter amount would be $10.95, which, added to the $3, amounted to a pension of $13.95 per month.

In this annual address the commander noted the effects of the hard times on the posts ; also the growth and development of the Woman's Relief Corps and the Sons of Veterans; referred to the prosperity and necessity of the Soldiers' Home; extolled the due observance of Decoration Day; spoke of the national encampment at Louisville, the first time on southern soil, and dwelt upon the good work being done on the pension laws.

The president of the Woman's Relief Corps, Eppie McMillan, showed how the order had grown, revealed the obstacles in the way of a large membership, described how they had observed Memorial Day at every post in the state, ex- plained how children were instructed to honor the old soldiers living and dead, and said: "We have whispered into the youthful ears. There are still Grand Army boys among us; wait not for death to claim them ere you. honor them. Year by year as we stand beside the mounds covering fathers, brothers, sons and lovers, or recall that silent city in some distant state where lies the loved form of his dear one, we resolve anew to help make our nation worthy the awful sacri- fices they suffered." She said that at the close of 1895 the books had 996 mem- bers in good standing, and that by the close of the first quarter in 1896 the number was 1,097, not including four new corps, which added ninety-five more members. She recognized that one of the legitimate duties of the Relief Corps was to teach patriotism to all men, women and children of the country, and recommended "That the department president appoint a committee on patriotic teaching and that every corps have a similar committee." She further said: "As you are all aware, it was decided at the national convention held at Indianapolis in 1893, to affiliate with the National Council of Women. This has brought the object of our organization before the other great organizations of women in the United States. The knowledge of our work in patriotic teaching has been largely ex- tended, and the co-operation of hundreds of thousands of women in other asso- ciations has been secured."

Division Commander Z. C. Green, of the Sons of Veterans, said that owing to the hard times and the intense heat of summer, the camps had fallen off and many had suspended, until on September 30, only eleven camps, with a member- ship of 147 members, were in good standing. By hard work until the following June the camps in good standing numbered twenty-four, with a membership of over four hundred. Seven new camps were organized. He said: "Never before during the history of our division has so much interest been taken in our order by the Grand Army of the Republic. There is a better feeling existing today between the two orders than ever before." He further stated that a new camp of Sons of Veterans had been organized at Arlington wholly through the efforts of Mrs. Annie Nelson, president of Divine Relief Corps, No. 7.

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Senior Vice Commander W. T. Palmer reported that with the assistance of others he "was able to decorate our car to Louisville with a fine assortment of grains, grasses, fruits and vegetables, the products of South Dakota, and on the arrival at Louisville the display was nicely arranged in a vacant store building and attracted great attention and aroused many inquiries regarding the resources of South Dakota."

During this encampment memorial services were held in the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Watertown by the G. A. R., W. R. C. and S. of V. Chaplain H. M. Springer delivered the memorial sermon or address.

John Ackley was elected department commander by acclamation. J. F. Baker was chosen senior vice commander, and R. P. Hall was elected junior vice com- mander, both by acclamation. E. W. Foster was re-elected medical director. S. A. Wheeler, A. B. McFarland, Thomas Reed and O. E. Dewey were chosen delegates to the national encampment. Among the resolutions passed on this occasion were the following :

Whereas, we regard with pride and satisfaction the interest that has been taken by officers, teachers and scholars of the public schools to aid us in the proper observance of Decoration Day. Therefore,

Resolved, that we extend to those officers, teachers and scholars our heart- felt thanks for their aid, sympathy and patriotism and hope that this spirit may increase from year to year; and

Resolved, that we cordially endorse the provisions of the general pension bill, known as the Pickler Bill, to facilitate the allowance and to prevent the reduction of pensions, which passed the House April 28, 1896; and that we also endorse the service pension bill which was favorably reported to the House on May 26 last by the committee on invalid pensions.

The women of the Relief Corps accepted the invitation of the G. A. R. to meet them at Redfield at the next annual encampment; and also accepted the invitation of the G. A. R. to joint installation on the present occasion.

The state encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic for 1897 was held at Redfield, and was well attended. The citizens decorated the principal streets and made every provision for the entertainment of the guests. The Woman's Relief Corps and the Sons of Veterans were likewise represented. The annual address of the commander reviewed the condition of the Army in South Dakota and made many suggestions for the good of the organization. C. B. Clark of Huron was elected as the new commander. R. R. Courtney was chosen com- mander of the Sons of Veterans. Of the Woman's Relief Corps, Mrs. Moulton was elected president ; Mrs. H. C. Walsh, senior vice president ; and Julia Grogen- geser, junior vice president. Canton was selected as the place in which to hold the encampment for 1898.

The fifteenth encampment assembled at Canton June 7-9, 1898, there being present six hundred to eight hundred members of the Grand Army of the Re- public, Sons of Veterans and Woman's Relief Corps and their friends. The proceedings were very important and entertaining. Among the speakers were General Lucas, of Chamberlain ; Chaplain Cole, of Iowa ; Major Morris, of Red- field; General Pickler, of Faulkton ; General Palmer, of Sioux Falls, and General Van der Voort, of Omaha. Music was furnished by Colonel Kimberley, the "Wis- consin soldier singer," the Grieg Sangforening, and two or three cornet bands.

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The proceedings of the second day were probaby never surpassed in the history of the organization in South Dakota. Three rousing campfires were attended by several thousand visitors who listened to eloquent and patriotic addresses from Paul Van der Voort, General Silsby, Major Dollard, Major Anderson, Robert J. Gamble and Chaplain Cole. The encampment was elegantly enter- tained by the city. The principal streets were a maze of banners, emblems and colors. The grand parade was a brilliant affair, with bands, banners and mottoes. On the third day the three organizations elected their new officers, as follows: Grand Army of the Republic, commander, E. P. Farr, of Pierre. Woman's Relief Corps, president, Mrs. Violet Murphy, of Yankton. Sons of Veterans, commander, W. A. Morris, of Redfield. All agreed that this was one of the most successful, brilliant and enjoyable encampments ever held in the state.

In 1899 the Grand Army of the Republic met at Hot Springs for the annual state encampment. It proved to be one of the most interesting sessions in the history of the organization. An annual address of Commander Farr and the reports of the committees were of great moment. The commander recommended the return to the tax of 40 cents per capita, declaring such a step necessary to meet current expenses. The encampment was formally welcomed to the city by Major Harges, to whose address response was made by Commander Farr. The Canton and Rapid City bands furnished the music. W. L. Palmer, of Carthage, was chosen as the new commander; A. B. Conver, senior vice commander ; W. A. North, junior vice commander. Mrs. Pickler was elected president of the Woman's Relief Corps, and W. A. Harris commander of the Sons of Veterans. Mitchell was named as the place for the next encampment.

The condition of the Soldiers' Home was considered in detail and several rec- ommendations concerning its management were offered. On the second day the encampment marched in a body to the home to pay their respects to the old soldier inmates and enjoy the scenery and the prospects of the institution. While at the home the whole encampment formed a hollow square into which Commander-elect Palmer advanced with Commander Farr and on behalf of the order presented him in an appropriate speech with a magnificent gold badge set with diamond stars and with emblems of organization. A feeling response was made by the retiring commander. On the same day the Women's Relief Corps presented its retiring president with a fine gold watch and chain as a memento of her efforts on behalf of the corps.

At a joint meeting of the representatives of the G. A. R. and the Union Vet- eran's Union held at Sioux Falls May 29, 1900, the two independent organizations, after discussing the whole subject finally agreed upon the following resolution :

"That by the joint committee of the G. A. R. and the Union Veteran's Union, we regret beyond expression the evident misunderstanding between our respective organizations regarding Memorial Day exercises, and while we do not wish to pass censure on Joe Hooker Post for the responsibility of this misunderstanding, we at this time join as comrades in a program to fittingly observe Memorial Day ; and we duly agree that the program mapped out by the Grand Army Post, so far as it concerns the agreements for speakers, music and hall, be accepted, provided a call be promulgated inviting the Union Veteran's Union and Relief Union to join in the ceremonies and subsequent line of march under a marshal to be appointed." Vol. III-20

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The joint committee were Greenleaf and Barrett of the G. A. R. and Smith and Ludlow of the U. V. U. Captain Ludlow was appointed marshal of the day. The day was honored with unusual solemnity and devotion. Present were the G. A. R., W. R. C., S. of V., and U. V. U., S .- A. members. After the exercises in the audi- torium they went to the cemetery to place wreaths of flowers on the graves of the dead soldiers. It was a memorable day in Sioux Falls.

In June, 1900, Mrs. George E. Upton, commonly known as Mather Upton, died in Hermosa, aged sixty-three years. She was called the mother of the town and was widely known in the Black Hills. She was a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, was greatly beloved for her universal charity and had been a nurse in the Union army during the Civil war.

In June, 1900, Mrs. George E. Upton, commonly known as Mother Upton, erans' Association with a delightful program of attractive exercises. There were present 180 veterans and their families, who encamped in the grove and while there were visited in two days by over two thousand people. Sioux Falls secured the next encampment of this association in a sharp contest with Egan, the vote standing : Sioux Falls, 38; Egan, 31. George A. Ludlow was elected commander ; W. H. Loucks, vice commander ; W. H. Smith, quartermaster ; C. H. Van Slyke, adjutant.

On June 19-21, 1900, the G. A. R., W. R. C., S. of V. and S. A. V. held their annual reunion at Mitchell. Elaborate preparations for their reception were made by the citizens. The unusual features were the grand parade through the streets, the trip on the railroad to James River three miles away, where, in a grove, refreshments were served. One table was 1,000 feet long. The campfire late in the afternoon and the sports given for the entertainment of the visitors ended the ceremonies. The big grain or corn palace at Mitchell was turned over for the campfires, concerts and patriotic presentations of the veterans and their auxiliaries. A splendid concert was rendered at the corn palace on Wednesday. Usually the speeches were made in the evening. The last day of this encamp- ment was spent by the four orders in business transactions, the other two having been devoted to sociability and pleasure. Congress was highly commended for the passage of the new pension law. Sioux Falls was chosen for the next encampment. Philip Lawrence was elected department commander, Mrs. Emma Cook was chosen president of the W. R. C. At this meeting a state organization of the Spanish War Veterans was effected by the election of the following officers: Corps commander, O. L. Sues ; senior vice commander, Paul McClelland ; junior vice commander, C. P. Van Houten; chaplain, C. M. Daley ; adjutant, E. E. Hawkins; quartermaster, O. R. Amole; delegates to the national encampment, Melvin Grigsby, A. D. Sessions and R. C. Warne. This first meeting of the Spanish War Veterans was a great success and preparations to organize com- mands throughout the state were made. By the latter part of March more than twenty organizations of this society were formed or being formed throughout the state. Maj. O. L. Sues was mustering officer. It was decided that the Span- ish war soldiers should meet at the state fair at Yankton in September. Twenty- five new members were initiated into the Sioux Falls camps; their homes were scattered over the state. The Sons of Veterans elected the following officers : Commander, Virgil Boyles; senior vice commander, F. D. Powers; junior vice commander, S. A. Fuller. The next annual meeting of these orders was also fixed at Sioux Falls.

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In June, 1901, the G. A. R., W. R. C., S. of V. and S. A. V. and their helpers assembled in the auditorium at Sioux Falls. About sixty were present the first day. The W. R. C. met at the Masonic Temple; the Spanish War Veterans in the local G. A. R. hall, and the S. of V. in their tent on Seney Island. The wel- coming speech to all was delivered by S. E. Young and the response by Com- mander Lawrence. Miss Emma Cook responded for the W. R. C. Gen. O. S. Clark of Minnesota made the first address. He explained how important was the work of the above societies and advocated liberal pensions. This occasion was one of the gayest, most brilliant and enjoyable and the most active for good that had ever been held in the state. There were present three or four bands and almost hourly parades came off with spirit and music amid the enthusiastic cheers and greetings of the thousands of men, women and children who lined the streets. Thousands visited the tent encampment on Seney Island. At the auditorium 2,500 people listened to the exercises. Musical clubs rendered patriotic airs.

The Spanish War Veterans elected the following officers: Corps commander, Clayton Van Houten ; senior vice commander, Paul D. McClelland ; junior vice commander, Boyd Wales Howard; surgeon general, R. C. Warne; judge advo- cate, Melvin Grigsby. The G. A. R. officers elected were: Commander, G. A. Snow ; senior vice commander, J. M. Preston ; junior vice commander, J. J. McIn- tyre ; medical director, A. H. Daniels. The delegates to the national encampment were B. D. L. Dudley, Charles Gurnay, L. A. Drake and C. S. Blodgett.

Memorial services were held over the veterans who had died during the past year-thirty-eight or forty of them in the whole state. W. V. Lucas and Com- rade Nash pronounced eulogies on the departed heroes. During a heavy rain the orators held forth to a large audience in Germania Hall-Clough and Dollard, with Colonel Grigsby as presiding officer. Clough's speech on "Who Survives?" was a masterpiece of rhetoric, patriotism and logic. He declared that the law of the survival of the fittest still ruled the world. General Dollard confined his remarks to the conduct of the soldiers on the field of battle. He spoke again in the afternoon on the island. Willis C. Bower also spoke. The splendid singing was immensely enjoyed. At the Spanish War Veterans' ball in the evening 250 couples participated. The speakers that evening were Lucas, Clark, Silsby and Palmer. Over three hundred of the soldiers were present. Among the closing exercises were two notable speeches by Coe I. Crawford and Col. Lee Stover. A flag drill by the pupils of the public schools was much enjoyed, with Mrs. Helen Holt manager. The Criterion quartette supplied inspiring music. The big event of the last day was the parade in the morning when all swung into line to the martial music of "Marching Through Georgia." The U. V. U. were present. The W. R. C. rode in carriages. A conspicuous fact was the attention received by the visitors from all the citizens of the city. Everything was done for their comfort and enjoyment. One old soldier died while there-answered the last roll call.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 56

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146