Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-06-13
GRAND ARMY ENcAMPMENT.
Col. Hathorn Of Ludlow Elected De-
partment mander-Slight De-
crease in Membership Reported.

crease IN membership reported
The S5th annual encampment of the
Grand Army of the Republic for the
department of Vermont opened at the
opera house in Montpelier Wednesday
with about 300 veterans in attendance.
The exercises in the morning were of
routine nature. In his retiring address
Division Commander J. III. Lucia said in
part: "a little more than A years have
elapsed since the beginning of the event
which gathered us into grand army for
the preservation of the Union and nearly
81 years since that work done we returned
to our homes and became the Grand
Army of the Republic.
I'VE hardly realize this and. reluctant
though we may be- we are beginning to
grow old. The element of time has
bearing on our membership. our ranks
are thinning. We had in good stand
ing December 81, 1900: Posts, 10; members,
1857: December 81, 1901: posts. 1906; mem
bers. 1906; showing losses: Posts. 4; MEM
bers. 231.
THE reported death loss for the period
is log. This loss is inevitable; II is idle
TO contend against the laws Of nature or
the laws of God. Some of our losses,
however, may be averted."
Officers were elected as follows: Com
mander, Col. r. Il. Hathorn Of Ludlow
senior vice commander George w. Flagg
of Randolph Junior vice commander,
Charles Van Steinburg of Burlington;
medical director X. II. Sherwood of st.
Adams; chaplain, j. f. Spring of Bellows
Falls; assistant adjutant and quarter
master general, f. y. Howe of Ludlow;
council of administration, Thomas Han
non of Brattleboro. c. NJ Root of Essex
Junction. r. .. SturteVant of Swanton,
w w. Spofford of Rutland and Frank
Kenfield of Morisville; representatives to
national encampment, j. e. Eldrldge Of
Randolph. Fred T.. Smith of Montpelier
J. y. Culack of Richford. George w. Jar
born Of Newport. Dennis Il. May of St
Johnsbury and G. Il. Beach of Burling-
ton.
The 30th annual reunion of the 18th
VT. regt association was held In North
Vt. regt. association was held In Mont
pelier Wednesday. a. G. Brown. Mont
Pres Brown of Swanton responded This
regiment has now a membership Of 375
During the past year four comrades have
died, the smallest number of deaths chat
has been reported at any OF the annual
meetings. These officers were elected {:
S. w. Benjamin % Montpelier pres; Geo.
Wright OF Colchester. vice president John
II. Lyon Of Colchester secretary II. w.
Allen Of Burlington treasurer. The next
annual meeting will he held a Swanton.
Col Ransom r.. Hathorn Of Ludlow.
the new department commander. was
born at Londonderry. VT. in 1873. He
was serving at the harness making trade
with his father when at is years Of age.
he enlisted IN Co. G. II VI regiment He
served one year In the defence Of Wash
ington and two In the army Of the Poto-
mac, and was honorabiy discharged with
his regiment. After his discharge he
went TO Ludlow. where he has since been
engaged In the harness and collar hus-
ness. Col Hathorn was an aid-de-camp
on the STAFF OF Gov. +. j. Ormsbee in
1856, and for nearly "A score of years has
been one of the leading trial justices OF
the peace in Windsor county In 1896
he was senator from that county. For
five years he has been commander of O.
O. Howard post of Ludlow and in 1855 was
senior vice commander Of the depart
ment of Vermont. representing this state
at the grand encampment at San Fran
cisco.
The officers were installed by Past
Department Commander j. H. Gouding
of Wilmington. \ rousing campfire in
the opera house Wednesday evening
brought the exercises of the 35th annual
encampment to "A close. Col \. c.
Brown of Montpelier presided and Wild
er's orchestra played old-tme army Sc
lections. The speakers were Col. John
Linnehan and Hugh Henry of Concord
y. H.. Col Joel c. Baker of Rutland
II. a. Huse Of Montpelier and r. O. Stur-
tevant OF Swanton.
The annual meeting Of the Woman's
Relief corps was held in the chuFch of the
Messiah. These officers were elected
Mrs. Hattie L. Putnam OF Underhin
president Mrs. Mary b. Goodwin of Wells
River, senior vice president; Mrs Mary
A. Perry of Bellows Falls, junior vice
president; Mrs. Dora \. Knight of Under
hill, secretary; Mrs. Edith Colgrove OF
Underhill. treasurer Several of the ma
tonal officers OF the Relief corps were
present.