The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-09-25
Important National G. A. R.
Appointments Made.
S.H. FOWLER, ADJT GEN.
He Will Be the Commanders Right
Hand Man.
Q. M. GEN. BURROUGHS RETAINED
Making His Fourth Term in That Of
Ace-W. A. Wetherbee In
NpectOr General.

Judge Ell Torrance, commander-in-
chief Of the Grand Army of the Republic,
has ANNOUNCED the following appoint
ments:
Silas H fowler, Minneapolis, adjutant gen.
eral
wilfred A Wetherbee, Boston, inspector
general.
Charles Burroughs, Rutherford. n. j.,
puartsrmaster general.
These three positions are the most i'm
portant on the executive staff.
Judge Torrance entered upon the duties
OF his position as head of the G. A. r.
singularly unhampered. He had made no
ante election promises. He had been
asked to make none; and consequently
his appointments come, as did his own
election, a tribute to recognized worth and
ability and not as a payment for value
received.
When Judge Torrance considered the
selection of an adjutant general he felt
that it would be courteous to appoint
member of his home post. Next to the
commander the adiutant general is the
highest executive official in the G. A. R.,
and of necessity must be in close touch
with his chief. The appointment, there
fore, was rendered to Mr.. fowler,
member OF Rawlins post, and a we'll known
and successful business man of this city.
1t came as complete surprise and, at
first, Mr.. fowler was doubtful as to his
ability to accept ii. His business inter-
ests demanded much of his time, and he
feared that he would be unable to give to
the position the attention it requires.
However, he appreciated that his appoint
ment was a high honor and finally ar
ranged his business affairs so as to permit
of its acceptance.
Mr.. Towler's friends, and they are le-
gion, believe 1t to be a peculiarly for
tunate thing for Judge Torrance that he
was able TO secure the services of such
man as as adjutant. MIR. fowler is a sue
cessful business man, stands high in the
G. A. R.. is president of the Minnesota
Soldiers Home board, and is an active
and efficient worker in the Park Avenue
Congregational church. He will unQues
tIonably fill the position to which he has
been appointed with honor to himself and
credit TO the organization.
Charles Burroughs, who has been named
as quartermaster general, has already
served three terms in a similar capacity,
and has administered the affairs Of the
office in most satisfactory manner. His
familiarity with his duties will be of i'm
mense benefit to the Grand Army, the po-
sition being one that requires an expert
enced man. Mr.. Burroughs is a promi-
nent banker in his native city Of Ruther-
ford. He has held his present position
under Commanders Goblin, Sexton and
Rassieur.
Wilfred A. Wetherbee, the new inspect
or general, Is past commander of the
Department of Massachusetts. and is very
popular in eastern Grand Army circles
He is successful business man Of Boston.
The New AdJutant.
Silas H fowler was born in Xenia. Ohio.
Jan. 3, 1916. He comes of old colonial stock
the first of the family in America, CHRISTOPHER
fowler, having settled in Virginia colony
about 1900 In 1904 Mr.. Towlers grandfather
becoming convinced of the evils of slavery,
freed his slaves and removed to Ohio where
he built house upon what is now the town
site Of Xenia. Thomas S. fowler the father
of the adjutant general acted as guide for
American troops during the war of 1912
Later he organized the Flee Soil party in
Green county, Ohio, and WIS so pronounced
in his opposition to slavery that a party of
Kentuckians once threatened to tar and
feather him.
In the spring of 1862 Silas H. fowler en-
listed in Company H, Eighty-ffth Ohio vol
unteers, organized to repel Morgan's raids
The enlistment was for three months only
but afterwards Mr.. fowler re-enlisted as the
first recruit in the Twenty-second battery
Ohio volunteer light artillery, serving
throughout the war. He was but 16 years Of
age at the time, and secured his fathers
consent to his enlistment by subterfuge.
He was placed in command Of the first lo+
of recruits, and in the following spring
enough men having been secured to man fonr
guns, the battery was ordered to West Vir !
ginia. Later they were sent to assist in
harrassing Lee in his retreat from Getty sbure