River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-06-09
ST. Croix Valley Veterans.

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casions of this kind, was all that could
possibly have been desired, the village
was in holiday attire, and her public
spirited citizens had completed ample
preparations for entertaining their
guests in the most hospitable manner.
The fair grounds there afford fine ac-
commodations for gatherings of this
kind, and the management of the
Fair association is liberal in its per-
mission for the free use Of its proper
ty for such purposes.
Wednesday was occupied in receiv-
ing visitors and assigning them to the
quarters which had been provided for
them in the homes OF residents whose
latch-strings'' were out. The regu-
lar program was opened at Floral Hall
in the evening After Emusic by the
band" and the invocation an address
of welcome was delivered by Hon. J.
w. Hancock, followed by an appropri-
ate response in behalf of the boys in
blue by j. S. Rounce Of Ellsworth.
Mrs. E. B. Armstrong of Clifton de-
liyered an address upon the noble
work being done by the Women's
Relief Corps, after which came an ora
tion by Miss Merl Bennett of Els
worth, and singing by the Ellsworth
school.
The entire forenoon of Thursday was
given up to the registration of veter-
ans, the baseball game, and informal
gathering Of all who visited the
grounds where old acquaintances were
renewed and new ones formed. In
the afternoon, invocation and prayer
were followed by addresses by Post De-
partment Commander Col. e. B.
Gray, Rev. II. II. Owen and Rev.
Father Stephen Duren and poem by
Hon. ID. w. Woodwork. In the eve
ming addresses were given by Mrs. E.
B. Armstrong, Rev. w. M. Balch,
Major D. G. Fulton and Hon. j. Ii.
Agen. 1t seems hardly necessary for
us to say that the addresses through
out were able, entertaining, entirely
appropriate to the occasion, patriotic
and inspiring. In other words, to use
a slang expression, ''old glory was
right in it," The addresses were in
terspersed with enliyening and patri-
otto music by the Ellsworth Band,
Red Wing Drum Corps and the
Bryant Quartet from Minneapolis.
On Friday morning the Association
| convened for the transaction of bust
ness, and selected OsceOla as the place
at which its next reunion will be held.
Officers for the ensuing year were
elected as follows: President, II. 2.
Burdick: Vice President, Thos. Porter;
Secretary, S. Q. Benjamin; Treasurer,
U. Smith. The G. A. r. Post at Os-
ceola was empowered and instructed
to make all necessary arrangements
for the reunion next year, and pro-
vision was made for more complete
records Of the organization than have
heretofore been attempted.
As this Association has come to
stay until the old veterans pass lover
the river" brief sketch of its origin
and progress may not be out OF place
here. A reunion of Pierce county
veterans was held at Ellsworth in
1892, when it was proposed to hold a
like reunion at River Falls in 1893.
At the reunion held here, st. Croix
county was taken in, when the St.
Croix Valley Association formally
organized, ana New RICHMOND select
ed as the next place of meeting. AT
the New Richmond meeting in 1894,
Polk county was added, and the next
meeting fixed at Amery. AT Amery
in 1895, the scope of territory covered
by the organization was still further
enlarged by including the counties of
Barron and Dunn. In 1896 no re-
union was held because Of the as
sem bling of the National Encamp-
ment at st. Paul in August of that
year. In 1897 the organization met
at Hudson where Ellsworth was Sc
lected as the place for the reunion to
be held in 1898. At Ellsworth furth-
er conquest of territory was ventured
upon, and all counties between Lake
Pepin and Lake Superior are now
within the district covered by the AS
ISOLATION. This addition has so large
ly increased the number of places at
which reunions may be held that it
seems probable that some years will
elapse before Pierce county will have
another opportunity to entertain the
boys"
Much credit is due the officers Of
the organization for the past year,
and the enterprising people of Els
worth, who so cordially co-operated
with them for the complete success
of the reunion, which was an occasion
that will long be pleasantly remem
bered by all who were in attendance.