The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-07
THE RODMAN RIFLES.
The Banqnet--Postponed until Tues
day Night.--A little Sketch OF 4
the Company.
THE BANQUET.

Tine banquet which was to have been
given tonight at the Rock Island House.
in honor of the Rodman Riaes. has been
postponed until next Tuesday evening,
arrangements having beeh placed in the
hands of President Ferguson Of the Bus
mess Mems Association and grand sue
cess is therefore assured The affair will
be little more formal than it would have
been, had the boys been escorted to the
banquet board Immediately upon their re
turn, when the enthusiasm over their
welcome home was at its height, but
will not be in any yay devoid of the esti
nation our citizens wish to show them.
At this time when the company has
won real distinction, honor and praise, a
brief sketch of it will be of interest. The
Rodman Rifles were
FRS ORGANIZED
July 3. 1877. when a meeting was held.
with j. NJ. Montgomery, ESQ.,, as chair
man, and j. J. Parks, Esq, secretary. A
committee was appointed composed of
Messrs. Bowman and Parks TO request
Mr.. Browning. of Moline, who then rep.
resented this district in the legislature, to
procure permit to organize under the
state laws as company of the state nils
itia, and DR.. G. G. Craig. DR.. G., L. Eys-
ter and j. NJ. Reticker were constituted
committee to ask w. p. Butler to assume
command of the company. At subse-
guent meeting-August 3-the two COM
mittees reported, the first that Mr..
Browning had secured the privileges
asked for, and second that Mr.. Butler had
been notified and had accepted. Another
meeting was held August 10, when a com
mittee was appointed to suggest sixty
names for membership and at a meeting
in the grand jury room, August 10, con-
stitution and bylaws were adopted and
the association formed with W. P. But
Ter as president, L. + HarsoD, first vice
president, c. W. Halves, second vice
president, j. j. Parks, secretary, and J.
M. Reticker, treasurer.
On September 5. Col. D. o. Reid of
Moline, who was then upon the Cover
nor's staff, was present and administered
the prescribed oath to the following who
formed the company's
FIRST MUSTER
ID Drake, r W Latin, W L Eyster,
J M Reticker, Z W Boynton, G E Bailey,
r NJ Sweeney. G II Boynton, G L Eys-
ter, B J Perrin, G E Lambert. L F Har-
son, r Ii Curtis, w A Swiler, Z H Bow
man. Jr,, NJ G Mills, L II Thomas, G E
Barth, p W Crockett, Z d Folsom, John
Reimcrs, George A Solander, P J O'Con-
nor N Jacobson, James Johnston, T A
Johnston, r F Reid. c W Halves, Viii,
liam Don. S S Kemble, P Rice, Thomas
Yates, NJ G Reynolds, E E Parmenter j
d Bollman, W E Sweeney, G G Craig, G
w Lawrence, Fl L Schill, A E Wells,
Frederick Plummer, William Perkins, Z
B McKown, Oliver Olsen, W. A. Steele.
Z II Re9ua, II r Curtis, C C Webber, W
W Webster, w P Butler, J Parks.
Following were the
FIRST MILITARY OFFICERS.
Captain-W P Butler.
First Lieutenant-C. w. Halves.
Second Lieutenant. NJ. Reticker.
On September 10. the civil organiza-
ton was affected, and the same year,
II. M. Abel and W. T. Channon, the
present Captain and Lieutenant were ad-
mitted to membership, who with Private
Johnston form the only representatives of
the original company. In the fall of 1878
the foundation was laid for the elegant
armory building, which was completed
the following year
The company was organized as the
Rodman Rifles, named after General Rod,
man, Company d, of the 18th bataliorf,
but was afterward merged into the sixth
regiment as Company A. The captains
up to date have been, W. P. Butler, C.
W. Halves, A. E. Wells, C. W. Halves
again, and II. w. Abel, who was re,elec
ted to the Office this spring.
BLANK CARTRIDGES.
Tho rifles say their company was the
last to receive remembrance from home,
but when it did come, it '1ald over them
ALL"
Captain Abel says he was as proud of
his company as he could possibly be, and
that every member acquitted himself
honorably.
No IrIshman There
Says the Iowa Messenger. of Daven.
port: 1--WE wish to call the attention of
the dear friends of the cause to the fact
that not one Irishman or his descendant,
was among the anarchists or socialists in
the Chicago riot this week Most of the
police killed while trying to stop the riot
ers were Irishmen."