The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-07
G. A. x. ANNIVERSARY.

The twenty-ffth anniversary of the or
ganization known as the Grand Army of
the Republic, was commemorated in this
city last evening in the Garfield opera
house.
Post Commander DR.. Furley presided
over the meeting. The Ell Dorado Glee
club was on hand and sang numerous Sc
lections during the evening. a circular
letter from the commander-in-chief was
read by j. D. Caldwell. Prayer was offer
ed by Chaplain Harrison. An address by
c. E.. Jones on "The Birth of the G. A. R., u
was followed by neat speech from NJ. >.
Rochelle on 1.-THE First Wichita Post"
Col NJ. Stewart then spoke upon Gar
field Post" which is given below. The
camp fire closed with the doxology and a
benediction.
Every post in the Union celebrated the
event on the day that this large organiza-
ton became 25 years old. The order was
founded in Decatur. Ills, on april 6, 1866.
An address delivered by Past Department Com
mander N. Stewart. 1T the quarto-celebratlon of
the G. A. r.. Garfield hail. April 6. 1881
Possibly may be encroaching on the
preserves of some comrade of Garfield
post, who, in the year 1906, will be enter
tanning an audience with the recital of the
history of the once famous and powerful
Garfield post on its twenty-tifth or silver
anniversary. Should however, accident
befall its early archives, with what avidity
will other sources of information be ex-
plored Hence, this brief recital may not
be all in vain.
As tonight we trace back the paternity
of the Grand Army Of the Republic to
Comrade Stephenson, so after lapse OF
twenty-five years or more, the paternity OF
Garfield post will be traced back to one
who, regret to say, is not with US tonight.
allude to Comrade Jesse 4. Ask. l. re-
member with what undagging zeal he car
ried around a petition in those blazing
og-days trying to secure an array OF sig
natures that would entitle them TO be
mustered as post. Comrade j. &. Wal
kinshaw at this time was department com
| nander with headquarters at Leaven-
worth He was railway mail agent, and
| arranging to muster this post when oil
duty, put in an appearance on Saturday
morning, August 80, 1881. In tue after
noon sufficient number to fill the chairs
met in the old Eagle hall and went through
certain secret preliminaries. That even
ing the following named comrades, VINO
are the charter members of the post, as
sembled at the same place and were form
ally organized into full-1edged post, VIZ:
j. NJ. Balderston, NJ. Stewart, w. =.
Campbell, H. G. Ruggles, j A. Ask. 5. L.
Jocelyn, L. n Woodcock. Jonathan
Fisher, r L. Walker. j. NJ. Carr, G. a.
Van Ness, John Tucker, George l.. Harms,
Murray Myers, s. 5. King, AbIam Smith,
and Alexander Hunt.
It was the fortune Of the reader to be
selected by the charter members as their
first post commander. This was during
that period when the nation was plunged in
grief over the assassination of its beloved
Chieftain. When his demise finally oc-
Cured, Sept. 49, Wichita Post No. p was
honored by having his name bestowed
upon It, Henceforth it should be Garfield
Post, and whilst other cities less pre-
tentious than Wichita have maintained
two and even three posts, the love for the
name of Garfield and the fear of failure
under any other has stood as flaming
sword in the pathway OF kickers and
seceders. Hence Wichita with all her
ability to spread" has had but one post
of the Grand Army, and in all human
probability will never be called upon 10
share its houors with another.
There is perhaps bond that has
cemented this organization together, rarely
found in all the wide domain of the Grand
Army. it is a bond without coupons,
but il has sufficient money valuation TO
afford an attraction for some comrades
who, aside from their interest. financially
considered, give the post but lukewarm
support and but for this bond would. 10
ali likelihood, be numbered with the other
50. 900 old soldiers in the state OF Kansas
who are outside the fold or who have fallen
by the wayside. The first post commander
served out his term and was reelected
without opposition. The progress OF the
post in it's increase in membership at this
period was not tiattering- On more tnan
one occasion the post com mEnder was pre-
h. no in ri form
bv reason of no quorum. and one regular
meeting night in particular when q popu-
lar show was in progress IN the old opera
house he was jauitcr, oCtSlde and INSIDE
sentinel and filed all the chairs himself.
He lacked but one thing TO MAKE MN
happy and that was some one 10 second
| the motion
Then his choler waxed warmer II
other words, more modern, he grew hot
under the collar. IL was near election
/ time and on the first meeting night II
/ December about twenty OF the post assem-
bled 10 elect officers for TIE third time n
the history OF the post, and for the third
/ time was the original Z. I. placed n nom.
| ination without opposition But he had
grown tired OF presiding over empty chairs
I and declined to accept any further honorS,
unless every comrade would swear %
support him in his efforts 70 build up the
Dost. aud pledge themselves TO be always
y
present or accounted for have always
/ battered myselt that that vas the turn
| ing point IN the history OF Garfield Post
| As one who perhaps has contrib
uted as much OF MS personality "a
shaping the destiuies OF the post
as any comrsde that could BE- named
| have always contended for that which
/ would rebound TO the best Interests OF
/ the post. [ have always favored raising /;
| 10 high standard OF responsibility AID
usefulness Hence have urged the reces-
slty of discipline When tie reader turned
over Garfield post 10 Comrade B2lcer-
/ ston, be welded the gsves over body Of
/ men rs wide-awake and united as any the
+ department contained During the third
I term of the former the meetings OF the
/ posi- were held il Russell hail OF Main
street between Doueia and First. Suose-
Quently they were removed 10 Odd keE
+ lows hall where Corcrace Il D. Eesser
man YVES elected pest commander. Daring
/ his incum bency Garfield hall was erected
I by an incorporated body known a. Gar
/ field Post association
! ComrAde Johnathsn Flsher succeeded
(. Comrade He.seruan, who n tine was sue
ceeded by Comrade B Il Downing The
next p. C. elected was Conr2de c. +
Martin who was succeeded by Conracs
| " S. Rochelle, Comrs3e John Il Nsllsss
i WAS ssler him called TO Lhe ehA4- and be =