Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-09
ILLINOIS HONORED,
James A. Sexton Chosen Commander
fn-Chief of G. A. r..


in-Chief of G.. A. II.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
CINCINNATI, Ohio, September 9-The
election late last evening of Colonel James
A. Sexton of Chicago, ILL.,. to be command
er-in-cnief of the G. A. r. for the ensuing
year and the choice of Philadelphia as the
place of meeting of the next annual en-
campment were followed this morning by
the election of the following: Senior vice
commander. w. c. Johnson of Cincinnati;
junior vice commander, Daniel Ross of Del
aware whose nomination WIS seconded by
General Burdette of the Department of the
Potomac; surgeon general, DIR. A r.
Pierce Of Nebraska; chaplain-in-chie
Rev. d. r. Lucas of Indiana. All the Of
ficcrs were unanimously elected, though
previous to last night there was bitter
fight among Cincinnati posts for the office
of senior vice commander.
The encampment will, it is expected adj
journ finally this evening, previous to
which General Sexton will appoint a quar-
termaster general, an inspector general,
Judge advocate general and senior aid.
Many of the Washington people will leave
for home today and the rest will go to-
morrow.
By Associated Fress.
CINCINNATI, Ohio September 9.-When
1OT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS were
called for yesterday Gen. John c. Black of
Illinois placed in nomination James A. Sex
ton of Chicago. lie called attention to the
fact that Illinois was the fostering mother
of the organization, and in that way had
the first commander, subsequently that
typical American volunteer soldier, John A.
Logan, been twice elected commander,
but for tWenty-fi years Illinois had seen
the scepter of authority placed in the hands
of comrades from other states. He then,
in most forcibly eloquent manner, pre-
scented the claims OF his candidate.
Commander Pugh of Ohio announced
that Isaac f. Mack of Ohio had directed
him to say that he declined to have his
name mentioned as a candidate, because
the senior vice commander was to be
chosen from the city where the encamp
ment is held, according to the usual GUS
tom.
A delegate from Kansas explained that
the of Thomas j. Anderson of To-
peka, Kan, which had been mentioned as
a candidate, would not be presented to the
encarnpment.
The roll of states was then called, and
the vote announced, showing the election
of James A Sexton, who received 424 votes,
while Albert D. Shaw, who had been named
by New York, received 241. Comrade Shaw,
in a we'll worded speech, moved the unani-
nous election of Sexton, and the motion
was carried. Sexton being called, returned
his thanks in a very brief form, and me
encampment Immediately ADJOURNED I'LL y
o'clock.
Col James Sexton of Chicago, the new
comma nder- in-chief of the Grand Army of
the Republic was born in Chicago January
5, 1914. When Lincoln, in April, 1851, issued
his call for 1000 volunteers, Col. Sexton
enlisted on April 10, 1861, as 4 private SOL
der. He was then seventeen years old
After three months service he re-enisted
in the 9th Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and
was commissioned q first lieutenant. He
later transferred to the I'D Illinois
Volunteers and was made captain of Com
pany d. He served in Ransoms brigade,
McArthurs division, 18th Army Corps of
the Army of the Tennessee, and partici-
pated in its campaigns, SlegeS and battles.
AS a regimental commander he fought his
regiment in the battles of Columbia, Duck
River, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville
and throughout the Nashville campaign. In
1865 he OH the staff of Mai Gen A. J.
Smith, the commander OF the 18th Army
Corps, and remained with Smith until the
end of the war.
Upon the assault and capture of the
Spanish fort, Mobile, Ala, April s, 1860 he
had his left leg broken below the knee, be-
ing struck by a piece of shell weighing sew
enteen ounces. He was wounded at the
battle of Franklin and at Nashville. After
the war he remained two years in Alabama
working plantation near Montgomery. In
1867 he returned to Chicago and founded
the firm of j. A. & T. S. Sexton. In 1872,
after the Chicago fire, this firm was sue
ceeded by Cribben, Sexton & Co., and is
still manufacturing stoves, hollow ware,
&c
Col. Sexton has been prosperous and an
active citizen in every movement for the
public. President Harrison made him post
master of Chicago in April, 1889 Col Sex
ton gave himself up to his duties as post
master and did much to make the office a
well-managed public concern.