The National tribune., 1882-07-01
A STRONG ENDORSEMENT.

Among the candidates before the Nationa
Encampment at Baltimore for the office o
Commander-in-Ch Chief none came with strOnge
Endorsement from his constituency than Com
luander John S. Kountz, of the Department o
Ohio. He was unanimously the choice Of tn,
representatives from that State to the Encamp
ment, and in a circular prepared by the Ohio
delegation they incorporated the following res
olutions of instruction passed unanimously a
the sixth annual Encampment of the Depart
ment of Ohio:
"ResoIred, That the heartfelt thanks and the
lasting gratitude of the G. A. K. of Ohio, col
lectively and individually, are due and hereby
rendered to Department Commander John S
K0untz for his energy, fidelity, and efficiency
during his administration, and that We cheer
fully accord him the full measure Of credit foI
the unprecedented growth in our organization
for the year Just closed.
" ResotJed, That d proper acknowledgement is
due to the heroism of the rank and file, and
therefore, in consideration of his record as a
soldier, his high character as a man, and his
invaluable labor in building up the Grand
Army of the Republic, the delegates of this
Department to the National Encampment OF
the Grand Army of the Republic are requested
and hereby directed to offer the name of our
esteemed Commander, John S. Kountz as a
candidate for the Office of Commanders in Chief
of the Grand Army Of the Republic, and to use
their best efforts for his election to that Office
The Delegates added the following graceful
tribute:
Commander Kountz has been an active apd
jealous member of the G. \. X. since the
founding of the organization, as comrade, as
Post Con nmander, as staff officer and finally as
Commander Of the Department. AS Post
Commander he reorganized Forsyth Post, No.
ID, Toledo, when with but sixty members its
affairs were at low ebb, and raised it, at the
close of three years, to a membership of over
four hundred, with $1,000 in the treasury
making it the largest and strongest Post in
Ohio. In 1865 he served as quartoTmaster-
general on the staff of the Department Com
mander, J. Warren keifer. With the record
made as Commander of the Department of
Ohio during 1881 you are not unfamiliar. 1t
is to his indomitable energy and his ability as
as organizer that we are indebted for the
proud claim of being the Banner Department.
The work accomplished during the year footed
up 100 new Posts organized, with total mem
bership increased from 1000 to $500.
Comradc kOuntz is a citizen of lofty charac-
ter, acknowledged ability, and the strictcst
integrity. He has held high elective Offices in
his county, including those of recorder and
county treasurer. He possesses the wisdom,
executive aDlllIy, resource. energy, ana zeal
which insure a prosperous administration
should you see fit to choose him as your Com
mander-in- n-Chef for the ensuing year.
His soldier record is equally worthy. Enter
ing the army in 1861, as a dTummer-bOy of the
Thirty-seventh Ohio infantry, he served in all
the campaigns and actions in which his regi-
ment participated until disabled by wounds
At the battle of Mission Ridge, in desperate
charge of his regiment upon the enemy, he
threw down his drum and seized the gun and
accoutrements of fallen comradc and joined
in the fight until stricken down with Shot
which deprived him of a leg.