Telegram-herald., 1888-08-05
HISTORY OF CO. B"
OFxsaixsd ia ts7z-ImportAss Ksssa a
AEs HissoEy ase Who
n4ss BssE neue bsrs 0f
Ss3Pssy -B.

n@ss fsssE Members u
Cs@P.sy b
~HERE existed ia thls city before the
war miitsFy 0sgsnlzstioo kB0wn
Nss tbe Valley CITY Guards. sst dariss
th4l struggle most Of ihs Company
wsnt 70 the front and Al tie close Of the war
il as aot rsoEganizsd
In sfss ysars. however Ia - or II. al
attempt sas made by some gentlsmsn e
org2nizs = company 70 De known as the
Valley City Guards. but after lingering
aloag for ssy erzl years the company sx pired
withoaG ever being mustered into the STATE
seKyise.
IL was during the lifetime OF this orgsni.
ration that the present Grand Rapid.
Guards. Company -B." the veteran CON-
psny OF this city, was organized. In 1872
June q. The company. al the insligsuon OF
Capt. J. b. Judd. Gen. l. c. Smith aad
others who were interested ia res ns1itGres.
was formed.
The irst Captain of the company was J.
b. Judd.
Al hrst it was thought that the company
owing To the organization already IN exist
enee by that nsms tney decided 10 call
themselves the Grand Rapids Guards. They
were mustered into the State service Nov.
70 following their organization. In 1874 l..
L. saith was elected Captain of the Com
psny and be was followed Dy J. Q. Herkinsr
in 1873. Herklner held the position four
years but during this time he resigned. and
William Bradley. BOW OF sAdrisn, Mich.
was elected ia his place Hefkiner Was re-
elected sf the next annual meeting OF the
Company. lie was succeeded by Henry
Caiklns In 1879. It Was under this Captain
that the Company made their memorable
trip 10 Yorktown. Virginia. and took part
In regimental prize drill held their In
1881. Caikins was succeeded by w. Il. Nc
Gurrin in 1884 he was follow ed by NJ. A
Heymsn IN 1887. Heyman resigned in
Dec. 1857 and w. 5. Kinney was elected 10
the Captaincy, position which he still
holds.
Ali the earlier captains Of this company
are now high ranking officers in the State
service. This company are justly celebrated
Tor their ability in msging their social en-.
tertsinments. hops and bszsrs successful
The bszsr OF 1886 being one Of the most
brilliant affairs which has ever taken place
In this city. The company ranks high in
the State service, having taken fourth
place at the prize drill at Jackson in Sep
tember. 1886. They attended the national
encampment at Washington in 1887. but
did not take part IN the competitive drill.
They have also made several expeditions
Independent of the State, the most mport-
ant OF which was their encampment at
Mackinac Island in August 1885. and their
trip TO Yorktown in 1881.
At the Yorktown expedition Capt. ID. l.
Rrogers, Capt. w, S Kinney and Major O.
II. Rose were all sergeants in Company
b; thus II Is seen that Company "B
might Justly be called the father ofthe com
panies here, and has, in fact, numbered the
highest officers In the State. The company
has always been noted for its social spirit
and the elegance and success of its social
undertakings, especially the bazaar befort
mentioned, AZ which the company cleared
5000. which was used to buy uaiform for
the Washington trip. The greatest feast OF
the company, however. ought to be the fol
lowing list of distinguished names. all OF
whom have been members Of the company:
Capt. J. Il. Judd, Brig. Gen. /. c. Smith
Adjt. Gen. Henry w. Calkins, Insp.
Gen. J. G. Herkiper, Lieut.. Col
w. I. NcGurrin. Major e. III. Rose,
Major Hake and Capt. Z. w. Jones all OF
whom are men holding high positions in
the State service. The troubles which dis
turbed the natural good fesling which has
generally existed, have all been peacefully
and quietly settled, and the com pany wa.
never in better trim than now. They have
one of the finest armories in the city and
have it arranged to suit them aud they will
have nothing TO draw their attention from
The regular drills. As soon as the hot
weather is over the company will begin
some service drilling which, il properly at.
tended to. may place them as high in the
matter Of drill as they now hold in SO cia
affairs. The present officers OF the compan nv
are, w. S. Kinney, Captain; Jacob Schrou-
der. First Lieutenant; John ID. KRONER,
Second Lieutenant
Next Sunday will be gwen a history Of
the other companies "I' and *"
SOUTH END NEWS.