Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-06-02

Appleton, Wis, May 27.-Milwau,
kee was elected by reclamation fol-
the Grand Army encampment mex
year. The following officers were
elected:
Commander, c. H. Russell, Ber-
| lin; senior commander, William Viii,
son, Appleton; junior vice command
er, J. H. Agen, Superior; medical di-
rector, J. C. Noyes, Ost ilosh; chap
lain, D. o. Sanborn, De Pere; trustees
of the Wisconsin Veterans home, J.
H. Woodwork, Milwaukee; A. J.
Smith, Amherst; trustee department
J. W. Thomas, Chippewa Falls. Rep
resentatives at large to national en-
campment, John M. Baer, Appleton;
alternate, II. C. Putnam, Brodhead
Delegate from state, George C.
Sutherland, Clintonville; alter
nate, E. K. Keyes, Madison. Con
gressional districts, first, delegate, H.
A. Smith, Racine; alternate, S. w.
Eager, Racine; second, George E.
Bryant, Madison; L. D. Hinkley, Wau-
pun; third, C. E. Morley, Babcock; D.
K. Noyes, Baraboo; fourth, Louis
Sholes and Henry Hase, Milwaukee;
fifth, W. NJ. Root, Sheboygan; M. l..
Snyder, Waukesha; sixth, Robert
Brand, Oshkosh; S. NJ. Scott, Stock
bridge; seventh, W. D. Gerad, La
Crosse; B. E. Scott, Whitehall;
eighth, D. E. Ensign, Weyauwega; O..
L. Harder, Green Bay; ninth, J. A.
Donlevy, Oconto; w. H. BIinn, Anti
go; tenth, Rudolph Miles, Chippewa
Falls; G. W. Chinner, River Falls.
Capt. Russell, whose home is in Ber-
lin, made a good record in the war
He did some hard fighting, and received
severe wounds on several occasions.
AS a prisoner in Andersonville he
gained the knowledge which he after
ward impaired in the famous investi-
cation of that notorious prison and
which resulted in the sentencing to
imprisonment of the commissary. He
served with credit throughout the war.
His candidacy for department COM
mander was announced only few
weeks ago.
Soon after his election Commander
Russell appointed A. L. Tucker OF
Berlin assistant adjutant general
and J. E. Jones of Kilbourn chief of
staff. The council of administration
is composed of F. A. Copeland, La
Crosse; J. W. Bruce, Merrill; J. w.
Hudson, Madison; F. A. Arson, Mil
waukee; and Stephen Thomas, Hard
vile.
The Woman's Relief corps elected
Libbie G.. Baer Of Appleton, president.
Mrs. Anna McGregor of Platteville
was elected senior vice-president;
Mrs. Laone Bentley, Milwaukee, junior
vice-president. The Relief corps at
tendance was the largest ever known.
The annual report of the Relief
in the state with q total membership
I 1894. There have been 1854 families
Of soldiers assisted during the year.
The corps has $6,161.37 in the gen
eral fund and $1,3S741 in the relief
fund, while the department has $345. 81
in the general fund and $42467 in the
relief fund, making a total of $S,31S-
70. There has been a cash expendi-
ture of $2,44SS5, other relief of 1928 81
given to posts; $1,177.67 and a balance
| in the department treasury of S677. so,
making total of $7,530.23. The Relief
corps has property valued at $22,SS6.80.
Governor Scofield made an address
before the G. A. R. yesterday. His
remarks were intensely patriotic and
were heartily received.
Shortly after the election of Cap.
tain Russell as commander, Col. E. B.
Gray was presented with a handsome
diamond badge. The presentation
speech was made by Benjamin F.
Bryant of La Crosse. The badge was
made by Davidson Of Philadelphia and
cost over 5000. 1t bears this inscrip-
ton: "Presented to P. D. G. Col. E.
B. Gray by his Staff and Grand Army
Friends, May, 1898" Above the sta1
and crescent are three gems represent
! ing the red, white and blue-a ruby
diamond and sapphire. A brilliant
diamond marks the center Of the star
above which is the crescent bearing
the words "2Sth Wis.," the colonel's
regiment. The badge was made oil
virgin gold at the Philadelphia mint
1t is by far the finest thing of the
kind in existence especially in Wis
consin, where only six of the sixteer
/ past department commanders have
been so honored