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


John Ackley, assistant adjutant general OF
the Department Of South Dakota, G.. A. R., was
born in Geneva, v. Y, September 1, 1912 In
1855 removed to Iowa with his parents. In
June, 1862. he went to Cairo Ill, and after sew
eral weeks spent on the receiving vessel enlisted
as seaman in the Mississippi naval squadron.
Was discharged for promotion to masters mate
in February, 1868. but stricken with ma
larial fever and was unable to accept commits
sion. After convslescing he came TO this city,
where he was for a short time in the employ of
paymaster in the army In July, 1853. went
to Philadelphia and went out as a private in
company ID, forty-fourth Pennsylvania militia,
to serve three months. In May, 1864. went out
as first lieutenant of company X, forty-fourth
Iowa infantry volunteers, and was ustered out
with his regiment the latter part of September,
1864. He Is now practicing attorney of Aber-
deem, S. ID.
THE O. A. n. IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
The first post in Dakota territory was organ
lied at Fort Yates January Z, 1882. under the
name of Geo. A. Custer Post, No. l. and was
Horace G.. Wolfe was the mastering officer.
Subsequently in the same year Comrade Wolfe
mustered posts ut Fort Abe Lincoln. Bismarck
Huron, Redfeld. Yankton, vermillion, Elk
Point. Sioux Falls and Canton. The charter
for these posts were issued by the Department
of Iowa.
Dakota was constituted provisional depart
ment of the G. A. r., with Thos. s. Free, de-
partment commander; Alex. Hughes, senior
vice commander: W. A. Bentley, junior vice
commander: W. E. Potter, A A. e.: n. c.
Nash, A. q. NJ. G., and the council of admins
tration was composed of C. A. Lounsbury, J.
A. Wallace, j. II. Alexander, A. S. Curtiss and
s. F. Hammond
Dakota territory was merged into a perma-
nent department at Yankton February 81, 1883,
and 1hos. 5. Free was elected department COM
mander. He served also during his term as
adiutant general of the militia of the territory.
The annual encampments with the territory
"a one department were regularly held each
year until 1889. during which year the division
of the territory into North and South Dakota
took place. since which time South Dakota has
constituted a separate department.
The department commanders of South Dakota,
G.. r., have been as follows: Thomas s. Free
deceased, Sioux Falls; VIM. v. Lucas, Hot
Springs; s. T. Hammond, now Of Minneapolis,
Mimi; George A. Silsby. Mitchell: E. L. Lang
ley. Huron; C.S. Palmer, Sioux Falls, and
James B. Holt, Aberdeen.
The state Of South Dakota il. for G. A. R.
purposes divided into seventeen divisions. each
division comprising q number Of posts. being
commanded by a colonel having under him q
major, an adjutant and quartermaster. This
arrangement has been found to work well in
keeping up the interest of the posts in the order
j he department contains l0l posts and Is, gem
orally. In prosperous condition.
Following are the department officers, in
Guiding personal staff Of the commander, dele
gates and alternates. for the current year: De-
partment commander, James B. Hoit senior
vice department commander, E. E. Clough;
junior vice department commander. Philip
Lawrence; department medical director, E. W.
Foster; department chaplain, c. b. Clark; coun-
Gil of administration. L. u. Shanafelt, C. s.
Deering, Charles sheldon, William Loucks, N.
c. Nash; assistant adiutant general, John Ack-
ley; assistant quartermaster general, n. c. John
son; Judge advocate, John E. Bennett; chief
mastering officer, l.. ID. Lyon; assistant in
spector general. c. s. Blodgett. The following
named delegates and alternates were chosen to
represent this department at the twenty-sixth
national encampment at Washington Delegates,
W. l.. Palmer, j. A. Picker, J. NJ. King. John
+. Bennett; alternates, J. C. Adams, H. E. Pei
tod, A. III. Daniels. George W. Carpenter. The
department headquarters are established at
Aberdeen. 5. ID.