The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-02
VETERANS m DAKOTA.
Dskots q. A. r. Encampment Meet ut
WAtertOWu.

Ihe thlrd annual lneetinR OF the Dakota
encampment Of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public, at Watertown, il reported to have
been an enjoyable affair. A large number
of veterans were present, including many
distinguished officers. The emcampmcnt
was called to order by Commander Lucas.
Commander Lee was appointed secretary
for the session.
Gen. Dennis of Yankton introduced a res.
olution that the department OF Dakota
endorse tho selection OF Mason City, Iowa,
lat the site for soldiers' home to be estab-
fished by the State OF Iowa, which was re-
erred to q special committee and after
wards tabled. At the suggestion OF the off.
GERS o substantial sum was raised for the
treasury oil the woman relief corps.
Commander Lucas delivered his annual
address. Hecongratulatedt the department
on its aourishing condition. One year ago
he found it $3.50 in debt. By strenuous ef.
forts 1t hee now a caahbalance on hand OF
$427.37: Twenty.six new posts have been
posts, with membership Of 3, ,O46. Here
gretted the vigorous rule that requires the
suspension OF members six months in ar.
rears. Meager or no reports from many
posts render the statistical part OF com.
manders duties difficult. Posts make
grave mistake in changing yearly post adj
lutants and quartermasters. He paid
tribute to the Woman y Relief efcorps and the
Sons OF Veterans. Tho reports Of the ~.
sistant adjutant generaland quartermastcr
were then read.
Areception was rendered to the members
OF the G. A. r. and Woman's Relief corps
at Goss hall. The following, with several
selections by band, was the programme:
Welcome address. Mayor Thomas; army
song; response, Commander w. v. Lucas:
address, Hon. c. Williams; address, Hon.
A. G. Mellette, who cloqucntly rehearscd
the deeds Of valor the veterans had per.
formed in a clear and mastery manner.
He pointed out the dangers to which the
future OF our country may be exposed.
The attendance was immense. Theusual
manner oil holding camp fires obtained and
impromptu speeches were interspersed with
vocal and instrumental music, and at 10
o'clock the camp fire was broken up and
the veteran guests and their ladies repair.
ed to Goss' hall, where splendid banquet,
with plates laid for 600, was served by the
ladies Of the Watertown Relief corps. Mrs.
II. Il. Pease, president OF the Watcrtown Re.
lief corps. acted rs mistress OF ceremonies.
A grand parade took place, 400 veterans
being in line. The council of administration
selected Mitchell as the place for holding
the reunion OF the soldiers and sailors June
22 and %. 1t was decided to hold the
next meeting OF the encumpmcnt at the
time Of the reunion OF soldiers and sailors
Of Dakota, ut Mitchell next June. james.
town was selected ns the place Of meeting
next year. The following are the officers
elected for the ensuing year:
NJ. V. Lucas, Chamberlain. commander;
Gen. j. j.. Dennis Ynnkton, senior vice
commander; Horace G. w. Wolfe, Cavour,
junior vice commanders; DR.. w. c. Shirlock,
Fargo, medical director; Rev. ]. w. Bell,
silendale, council Of administration. A. II.
Kowley, Aberdeen; NJ. +. Moudy. Yankton;
=. E. Pay, Brookings; y. j. Anderson,
Plankington; N. h. Dent, Glendale; dele
gates to the national cncanlpment Mt San
Francisco, Gen. II. Allen. Fargo (lt large)
E. L. Wells, Col. L. W. Foster, Il. D. ROM
eny; altcrnates, Roger Darlum lat largc),
w. A. Shilbey, l. f.. West, Fargo, Comr,lde
Lee.
1t was resolved "That we, soldiers and
sailors OF the late war, representing over
1000 veterans, hereby memorable the leg
lslature oi Dakota to Immediately pass an
act establishing n soldiers and sailors
home or hones.''
The following were appointed n commit
tee on the soldiers home: First district, s.
NJ. Booth; Second, d. NJ. Gross. Yankton
Third, Q. T. Clement. Fargo; Fourth, Il. +.
Campbell, Sioux Falls: Fifth, A. G. Mcllette,
Watertown; Sixth, w. 4. Bentley, Bis
marck. Committee at large on home: j. Il.
Bennett, chairman; Is. L. Payne, Gen. j.
B. Dennis.
The following officers were elected by the
Woman's Relief corps: Lilia l.. Smith,
Huron, president; Bessie A. Carter, Canton,
senior vice president; Johanna Melton,
Fargo, junior vice president; Mary Il. Ioff-
man, Huron, treasurer; l.. Maria White,
Flandreau, chaplain; Emma S. Free. Sioux
Falls, secretary; executive board, Emma
$. Free, Sioux Falls; Millie Shufelt, Canton;
Mrs. Wait, Egan; Mary BERTRAND. Canton;
Mary A. Groesbcck, Watertown; Delegates
to the national encampment at San Fran
cisco, Mary Brown, Sioux Falls, at large;
Rose w. Peasc, Watertown; Mary T.. Elson,
Huron. Tho officers. elect OF both the &. A.
Il. and relief corps were installed in the eve.
ming at the court house, after which an
old.fashioned camp fire was held until II lato
hour.