The National tribune., 1892-12-29

served Sergeant in Co. F, 9th battalion, OF TIN
District volunteers. For number of years he hH
held an important position in the War Depart
ibent. lie takes "a lively and active interest III al
matters affecting the welfare of the Grand Army
and his administration as Commander was market
with great success. He Is also Secretary OF tit
Employment Committee Department OF the POto
mac. The Pas; Commanders who now mem
bers of the Post are r. j. Beal, George c. Harris
aud Peyton Scrivener.
RHODE ISLAND
McGregor Post H. Pbenix, celebrated its eighth
| well filed with friends of the comrades, and the
| company wa. most enthusiastic in reviving old
| times and ncquaintances very attractive lit
| erarS and musical program was followed out. The
| address of the evening was made by William V.
| Slocum who spoke at length of the present excel
lent standing of the Post, and the charitable work
done by the members who now constitute one ol
the most popular and highly-recognized Posts IN
| the Stale. Rev. Mr.. Adams's remarks were listened
| To with great interest. and the readings OF Miss
| Briggs were loudly applauded hop closed the
| affair.
George II. Browne Post %, Providcnce-Com
| BENZ. +. Nicholas; 8. v. c.. Charles Larkham
| j. V. c. Robert Carlisle: O. NJ. Chas II. Nottage ;
Surg, Elijah Carwell; Chap, Edwin r. Knight
o. d.. John S. Groves; o. g., VIM. NJ. No.tage.
| SOUTH DAKOTA
Ga Jan. T. exactly 10 years ago. the first Post was
organized II was known rs George A.. Custer
Post, organized at Fort Yates. and attached to the
the honor of mastering this first Post and in the
same year he mustered in nine new Posts, situated
| ut Fort Abe Lincoln, Bismarck. Huron: Redfied,
Sankton, Vermillion, Elk Point. Sioux Falls, and
Canton. All fthese charters were granted by the
Department of Iowa, and Dakota was constituted
| Provisional Department Thomas 9. Free was
the first Department Commander Alex. Hughes.
Senior Vice Commander; w. A. Bentley, Junior
Vice Commander; w. f. Potter Assistant Adju-
tant.G eneral N. c. Mast, Assistant Quartermaser-
General and the Council of Administration was
composed of c. A. Lounsbury, J. A. Wallace j. II.
Alexander, A. S. Curiiss and s. f. Hammond On
Feb. "a 1888, Dakota was made separate Depart
ment. The ceremonies were held at Ynnkton, and
Thomas Free was again elected Commander Dur
ing his term Of Commandersbip Comrade Free also
held the office Of Adjutant General of the territory
militia
Tho Encampments were held regularly until
1852 when two States were formed. For tho pur-
pose of the Order the State is divided into IL Divis
ions. each containing certaiu number of Posts.
and each commanded by Colonel, with Major.
Adjutant, and Quartermnster all under him. This
is found TO be good scheme to keep up the inter
esis of the Posts in the Department. Altogether
there nearly los Posts In the Suite and they are
all in prosperous condition. The Department
Commanders have been Thomas s. Free. deceased
Sioux Falls; Vim. V. Lucas. Hot Springs; s. r.
I Hammond now of Minneapolis MINI; George A.
Silsby, Mitchell; Z. t. Langley, Huron; &. ..
Palmer, Sioux Falls and JAS. b. Holt. Aberdeen.
r. L. McCook Post, "a. Brookings-Com., v. w.
Norton; s. v. G., H.; g. Moffat !. y. G.. T ".
s. G. Maryland; 0. g., A. Wagner; @. NJ, A. Ii.
wintermute; Adj't, H. v. Hicks
TEXAS
John C. Bigger was born at Massillon, o., on the
11th day OF April. 1884, and moved to Freeport Ill,
when nine years of age. where he resided until the
Fall of 1865. At Freeport he received a common
school and academic education. On the 10th of
August, 1852 he enlisted in the Union army, serv-
ing during the in Co. r 92d Ill. Md Inf, First
Brigade. Fourth Division. Fourteenth Corps In
September, 1865. he entered the University of
Michigan, and graduated therefrom on the 25th OF
March, 1866. He commenced the practice OF law
at once in st. Louis, where hs remained until
March, 1875, except one year when he was the law
partner of Leland J. Webb. Past COMMANDMENTS
Chief of tho Sons of Veterans at Winfield, Kan,
when he went to Texas, and has ever since been
engaged in the practice Of the law at Dallas. He
was twice the Republican candidate for Congress In
the Dallas District aud United States Attorney of
the Northern District Of Texas during the Arthur
Administration. He is serving his second term
Assistant Adjutant-General, and Is an active,
jealous. Grand Army man. He Is candidate for
the position of Junior Vice Commander in Chief.
The Department of Texas organized March
% 1885. Fer several years prior to this the five
Posts of Texas had been attached 10 the Depart
ment of the Gulf" but upon the organization of
the Department of Texas was established, with six
Posts and total membership of 240 1t now has
some 60 Posts and about l,700 members in good
standing
The growth Of the Department has been thor
ougbly steady and satisfactory and Is particularly
encouraging under the administration of Depart |
johnson County, H., and at the age of Is enlisted
as drummer boy in Co. G, 10th III. He served |
with this regiment from its organization In August.
1862. until Sept. 10. 1865 when il mustered out
at Memphis, Tenn. He At the siege of Viczs- |
burg. and at Milliken's Bend Guntown Ripley, |
and Esstpor, and received high commentator |
from his officers After the war he attended school
and taught for three years, and was then elected
Assessor of his County. position which he held for |
one term. After studying medicine and practicing |
for two years in Illinois lie removed to Texas, |
where he has high reputation physician. He |
now resides at SpringtowD, Parker County. Tex,
where lie instrumental in organizing of |
A K.
public spirit and enterprise he has always been
Of the prominent men of his comm unity.