Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-06-04
MEMORIAL ADDRESS.
Delivered by Rev. J. s. Hardness
Decoration Day.

have come over your hearts and hearth
stones. Shadows have fallen upon
homes dear TO us. The speaker of the
day one year ago has passed from these
scenes of struggle and of triumph tc
eternal reward in the world above.
When Capt. J. @. Adams was jus,
about to graduate, Lincoln issued his
first call for volunteers, and j. G. Adams
enlisted in Company +. of the Ais,
Illinois volunteer Infantry as private
He served four years and three months
serving on detached duty during the
siege of yicksburg fsith the rank OF
captain. During the war he was
wounded several times. He was lover
OF his country and took an active inter
est in her welfare and became endeared
to all who knew him, and when the end
OF his earthly pilgrimage came OH
November 10, 1902, he left the evidence
to those with him during his last days
that he was going home to be with God.
Capt. ]. w. Granger, who SO often
graced this platform with his presence,
was seated here one year ago. He also
has joined the innumerable company
above. He enlisted in the eth Iowa
Infantry early in the war and served
his country with distinction and honor.
He made himself beloved by his cem-
rades and those under his command by
noble fearlessness that revealed the
character of true and patriotic soldier.
w. L. Colwell, commander of this
post one year ago and also at the time
of his death, was the leading spirit in
the last Memorial Day services. He
too has left us and gone to his reward
He enlisted in one of the Ohio regiments
and was soon after transferred to the
United States Signal Corps ON account
of his peculiar fitness for that branch of
the service, in which he served with
honor to himself and credit to his coun-
try. All who had the happy privilege
of his acquaintance whether in military
or civil life were grateful for it. He
lived a Christians life and died Chris
tian's death and has entered into the
Christians rest and reward
John Ruth was the victim of misfor-
tune. After he had honorably served
his country he returned to civil life but
appeared to be the easy mark of calam-
ity. Even the elements appeared to
conspire against him and accident repeat
edly met him when engaged in the dis
charge of life's duties. Patience and
cheerfulness, however, characterized
him and his memory is revered by all
who knew him.
OF George Mccartney we know but
little except that he enlisted early in the
war, was loyal soldier and served his
country well. As a citizen he lived
among us Tor many years, being one of
the pioneers of Day county, and was
most beloved by those who knew him
best.
Thus we have been conscious of great
changes to many homes during the past
year and the ranks of this post have
been thinned out and we are reminded
of the frailty of life and that we are all
journeying toward the end of time
The purpose of national holidays is to
keep alive and potent the ideals and
aspirations of heroic men and times
For the revolution-or birthtime-we
have July 18th and February 22nd For
the civil war--our rebirth and the dodi-
cation of our matured national life to
human hberty--we have February 18th
and May Both.
OF all the days of commemoration
this is the most precious to the patriot,
the most helpful TO orr country. 1t is
sacred to liberty and patriotism, univer-
sal liberty and unselfish ardent patriot
ism. There is a story for the American
mind which, like another but more
ancient story, never can grow old Time
intensifies the facination of its wonder
full incidents and adds TO the glory of
its countless heroes, its magnificent
conclusion appears more significant with
each coming year. Great deeds for life
and liberty, for country, for humanity,
for God, are an immortal heritage to all
the generations of men, Memorial Day
is the acknowledgement of the present
generation to the work of the past.
There is little of the inheritance of
today which we enjoy which has been
reared by our own toll and effort Men
who labor in one generation seldom
enter into the Inheritance of their own
toll. Posterity does that We are liv-
ing in land of plenty and peace, not
because we have gone through toll con-
ducive of such results, but. because
others have. Today recalls the events,
the soldiers, and numberless acts of
heroism of great civil war That
long, wasteful, bloody, heart breaking
conflict the flays of alternatiup hone