Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-08-04
THE OLD SOLDIERS WERE HERE.
They Were BeldIng's Guests of Honor Yes
terday Threatening Morning Turned
into "a beautiful day-Eysrybody
Pleased and Happy.

occurred In this city their eighth annua
reunion and picnic. 1t is composed o
all the G.. A. II. Posts in Ionia county
? ten in number. located at Ionia, Lyons
Saranac, Palo, Sebewa, Hubbardston
: Pewamo, Portland, Lake Odessa ant
Belding. The members Of Dan >
Root Post of this city set out to make
the gathering one of the best ever hello
and in conjunction with our citizens
they carried IL out To the letter. The
a better day, the refreshing rain OF the
night before and early morning laid
the dust and made nature and human
" look bright and smiling. Head
quarters in the Bedding block was
finely decorated with colors that al
ways inspire patriotism, and the beau
tiful large oil painting of Gen. Grant
belonging TO Maj. +. II. Chase was
placed in the corner window which
was much admired. Muskets, sabres
and battle-fiags lent decidedly mill
tary aspect TO the scene Many bust
ness places were decorated and the
guests were given a hearty welcome.
When the excursion train drew in
from the south the visiting posts with
colors flying and bands playing were
escorted to headquarters. The lonia
and Lyons cornet bands accompanied
them and later the Saranac drum corps
arrived, heading long line of carriages
from that direction. The music Of file
and drum is always an attraction, and
they played SO well as to draw large
crowds whenever they struck drum.
After dinner a parade was formed by
the Posts, w. II. G. and citizens with
banners flying and all the bands, in
Guiding the Bedding Shoe Factory band
and marched to the lawn of David f..
Wilson, where seats had been provided
in the shade Of trees and house. The
porch was gaily decorated and con-
verted into speakers stand. The
Bedding band opened the exercises
with music and after prayer by Rev.
w. L. Munger, Mayor A. l.. Spencer
gave the old soldiers, the w. r. c.,
and guests generally, a royal welcome
in one of his best speeches. Major
Chase acted as chairman and related
vivid "reminiscences OF how the boys
were received in some of the cities in
the south 80 years ago. The Ionia
band gave a selection in which the
features of leaving for the war, the
camp and battle-felds were brought
out in a realistic manner. Speeches
were made by Gen. j. II. Kidd, c. V.
Il. Pond, of Lansing, Department
Commander A. l.. Patrick, of Detroit,
and Capt. f. NJ. Allen, of Portland, all
of which were full of nicknacks sea-
soned to suit the taste OF all. Miss
Cora Blanchard, of Portland, one of
Ionia county's best elocutiouists rem
dered two selections in. n style that
captured the audience which went
almost wild with applause. Hon. A.
b. Morse and f. S. Hutchinson, of Ionia
and G. G. Ellsworth, of Greenville
were on the list of speakers for the
campfire in the evening but the for
mer was called away and the latter
b ad to return home.
The Opera House was filled to over
flowing and Department Commander
Patrick headed the program by relat-
ing humorous story, Prof. A. j. Hills,
OF lonia, sang "A couple of solos, "The |
Old Canteen" and THE Army Bean"
Col. d. S. Wagstaff, of Detroit, gave a |
fine paper on the "Custer charge and |
and Mrs. j. f.. Dodson, of |
this city, recited war "Reminiscences
with piano accompaniment by Mrs f. b.
Lapham. She did it so we'll that the
audience called her back for another
selection. Comrade HIM. Brown gave
a good recitation and the meeting
closed by all singing America
During the day many Of the visitors
went through the silk mills and took
IN other points of interest here. The
w. II. G. served supper to about 500
persons in the evening and had pro-
visions left. The Relief Corps also
an association auxiliary to
he Battalion with 65 members, elect
ng Myrtle English, of Boston, presi-
lent; Mrs. NJ. A. Filkins, OF Belding,
senior vice president; Mrs. Perry, Of
Ionia, junior vice president; and Mrs.
Herbert, of Hubbardston, treasurer
The Battalion elected the following
officers: w. j. Just, Ionia, president;
w. w. Hitchcock, Hubbardston, first
'ice-presldent; Thos. Leak, Lyons,
second vice-president; b. f. Tower,
Disco, adjutant and quartermaster.
The next meeting will be held in
-onla.
Herb Elkerton is doing quite trans
Dortation business with his steamer.
He has fitted up one of his fiat boats
With an awning and seats for passen-