The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-02-04
THE journal.


1uS AcpOI1
At the annual meeting Of the
Grand Army, for the Department OF
Ohio, held IN Dayton, my Comrades
elected me to the responsible position
of Inspector General.
It would have been improper for
me to have accepted the honor, or en-
ter upon the duties of the position as
signed me. had not the objects for
which 1 was TO labor presented relig-
ion in its most sacred forms, "pure
and undefled before God and the
Father" IN the special effort to af-
ford relief to the ''fatherless and the
widow in their Affections
The Comman6er-in- Chief Gen.
John A. Logan, in orders issued Dec.
30, 1868, ssdirecteds that 1in States
where Homes for Soldiers and Sail
ors' Orphans had not been opened,
steps should be at once inaugurated
for their establishment
The Department of Ohio having
no such homes, took such steps as
they thought necessary to secure the
homes through appropriations by
the Legislature. Failing in the at
tempt, orders were issued May 2S,
1863, assigning me to active duty,
with the instruction that l should
especially devose myself to the work
of raising funds, and providing
means for the establishment and
maintenance of one or more Sol
diers' Orphans Homes in Ohio
The Committee appointed by the
Encampment held at Dayton, to pre-
sent the claims Of the destitute chill
dren, and secure such legislation as
the case should require, found that
the absence Of information in refer
ence to the number, condition, and
wants of the children, was the prin-
cipal obstacle in the way.
The friends of the orphans in Wis
consin, Iowa and Illinois removed
the objection by opening pleasant
Homes, with good Schools, and asked
the people to redeem the pledge they
had made to the brave fathers, when
they left their wives and little ones to
make the country united and free.
The helpless mother, with her de-
pendent children, were assured that
they wanted to pay some part of the
debt by placing the children in a
well-appointed- '.Boardi1g School" :"
With this assurance from those
known to be the tried friends of their
husbands, the mothers kissed the
little ones, as they had their fathers,
and said, go to your friends, who
viii feed. clOthe and educate YOU for
me, and for your dear departed faith
er, who helped to make the country
free"
The presence of hundreds, of heal
thy, active, promising children at the
Homes removed all objections, and
with promptness and liberality the
appropriations were made.
The Semi-Annual Department En-
campment, held in Sandusky CITY in
July, adopted the plan which had
succeeded in other States, and ap-
pointed a Board of Control, who
were charged with all the prelimina-
ry work Of organizing a Home in
Ohio. Under the direction of this
Board, with the aid Of the Depart
ment officers and the Post Comman
ders and comrades l have been ac-
ting with, the Board of Control have
merited and will receive the appro-
val Of their comrades, and the good
people of the State, for their liberali-
ty, intelligence and sound Judgment
in meeting the vital questions placed
in their hands for decision
They have given their valuable
time, paid their own expenses, and
no meeting of the Board has been
without quorum to do business.
The comrades have uniformly Civ
en- me the soldiers welcome, and
have done all in their power to for
ward the noble work.
The ministers of the churches in
the cites and towns l have visited,
have cheerfully joined with their con-
gregations in a Union service; fl
ling the largest houses with intelE-
gent, liberal people, showing that
they had not forgotten those who
dared in their country's peril, and
died in their country's struggle.
The giving has been cheerful and
liberal; especially the warm, rich,
new beds presented by the ladies. |
Without distinction Of sect or par
ty, the people have said by their |
presence, and gifts. 1--WE will adopt
the children of the braves who fell |
defending the flag"
From the nature of nv position,
my comrades may have felt some
disappointment because I have not
given my time to the practical work
in the different parts of the State. 1t
will be remembered that in my as
signment to active and constant du-
ty, it was with specific instruction
from the worthy Democratic Com
mander, that the establishment of a
Home for the children of our fallen
comrades should mainly engage nv
attention. While the trinity Of Fra
ternity, Charity and Loyalty contain
the three golden links in the chain
that binds us together, vet "the
greatest Of these is charity" To JUS
tify the course that has been pursued !
during the seven months, We refer TO
the beautiful farm that hasbeen So
cured, the buildings that have been
commenced, furnished or finished: to
the children that have been collected
fed, clothed and cared for. With
these substantial evidences of labor
and success, we feel assured that all |
earnest comrades will endorse the
plan adopted as the best.
To scatter flowers upon the tombs
of our comrades, or to weave gar
lands for their monuments, or even
to plant trees that shall always be /
green, or roses with sweetest fra
GRANGE and brightest colors, which
shall bloom every month; all these.
however beautiful and appropriate
in themselves, will not cheer the wild
ow in her cottage, nor her child in
its poverty.
While we viii join with our COM
rades in the beautiful decoration ser
vice which has brought SO much
honor To our COmmander-in-C Chief
General John A. Logan. vet we be-