Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-19


Kansas. is of Rhode Island Yankee stock. al
though he has lived in Kansas nearly all his
life. He served in the cavalry division OF the
seventh corps, Army Of the Frontier. under
/ Gems. Blunt, Schofield. Steele aud Reynolds
His regiment. the ninth Kansas. is claimed TO
have recruited more men. marched more miles
suffered less in battle and had a better time
than any other regiment from his state. II also
succeeded in getting itself disliked by bush
whackers. coppcrheadS and mugwumps.
| In 1865. after the surrender. Greene refused
a commission and an offer OF place in the reg
uar army and in July OF that year was mus
tered out and returned to his farm. He H. an
editor by occupation. but has served four wears
IN the state senate. two inspector of the gen.
eral land office under President Arthur, and is
now chairman of the board of railroad commits
sioners of Kansas lie has been advanced by
| regular promotion through all the grades in
| the q. 4. r.. from on side guard TO department
commander He is an enthusiastic Grand Army
man, deals in superlatiyes when speaking OF
| Its benefits. and is one of the most effective
campfire takers in his state. When it comes
TO singing he isn't in it. but respectfully refers
| the anxious inquirer to Tom Anderson and
| Andy Fuller.
HISTORY OF THE 'DEPAB -MENr.
| The department of Kans.s is ,ne Of the most
important departments in t. .-est Kansas is
noted as the soldier state, \ cause since the
war a large number of solo ers have settled
within her borders. and because during the
war and even prior thereto this state had a re-
maykable military history. This military his
tory and the broad fertile plains open for set
| Element made of this state an inviting field for
immigration to the soldiers who had fought in
the Union army, and after the close of the war
! they locked Ia great numbers FROM the east to
| Kansas. At one time il claimed there were
! in the state more than LOG. 600 ex-Union sol
diers, and ii Is said there not less than so 600
within the borders at this time. The original
| organization of the department was far back
as 1866. There was in the state at that time an
organization known as the Veteran Brother
| hood" This organization was represented
| in the Grand Army convention at
| Indianapolis in November, 1866, by Mai T. j.
Anderson. who is. perhaps. as well known in
| Grand Army circles throughout the United
| States any other man. In that Indianapolis
| convention be made motion that all camps of
the Veteran Brotherhood be received in the
Grand Army of the Republic without addi-
| tioEal expense to them. which motion was
adopted. Upon his return 20 Kansas the Vet
Gran brotherhood was called together at Topeka.
| and the following resolution introduced by
Maj. Anderson and was adopted by the conven-
ton:
Resolved. That the Veteran brotherhood OF
| TIE state of Kansas be- and is hereby, trans-
ferred TO the Grand Army of the Republic and
We hereby adopt the ritual and agree to be
governed by the rules and regulations of the
| Grand Army of the Republic.
There were then thirty-two camps in exist
ence. with about l.750 members. Col. John A.
Martin. afterward governor Of the state. now
deceased. was the first department commander
and Maj Anderson was assistant adjutant gen.
eral.
| VARYING FORTUNES.
The early organization did not prosper Very
LITTLE Interest WINS ma nifasfah in ,ba or1ar A.
ing the early years. No encampments were
held except in 1868, 1872 and 1876. and Kansas
was not recognized permanent department
until March l6. 1850. The recognition of the
department. at that time due in n great
measure to the untiring efforts Of Department
| Commander J. c. Walkinshaw. who was elected
| in 1879. Since then the department has had a
steady and rapid growth. In 1851 its member
ship was 104l, in 1882 its membership was G, 632
| in 1888 its membership was l6. ISL and its pres
ent membership is 20. 2S5, with 423 posts in good
standing. The department commanders since
1880 have been as follows: ]. c. Walkinshaw.
! Thomas j. Anderson, Homer w. Pond. Milton
Stewart, C. j. McDivitt. T. II. Seward. j. W.
Feighan, Henry Booth, I. Mccarthy and the
present department commander, Albert r.
Greene. The department Is in excellent condi-
ton every way. There are no disturbances of
any kind within its ranks. Its financial man.
agement has been SO good that it is entirely
free from debt and has a handsome
surplus in the treasury, and the
ties Of fraternity are not stronger
anywhere in the country than among the COM
rades of the Department Of Kansas, Grand
Army of the Republic. At the last state en-
csmpment held at Atchison permanent head
quarters were located at the city Of Topeka
where the general Offices of the department are
now located. The badge of this department
| which will be worn at the national encamp-
ment, is the grasshopper bar with the sun
flower pendant.
The officers Of the department are as follows:
| A. r. Greene. commander; Geo. K. Spencer,
s. V. commander; T. B. Gerow, J. " COM
mandcr; Z. H. Cooke, medical director; ]. E.
Brant, chaplain; A. B. Campbell, A. A. general;
S. H. Andrews, A. Q. NJ. general; r. A. Camp
bell. judge advocate; BENZ. Downing, A. /.
general; J. Il. Downing, chief mastering OFF,
| Ger.