Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-07-02
TO HONOR
VETERANS
MONUMENT TO IOWA SOLDIERS
WILL BE BUILT AT AMBER
soNvILLE.
COMMISSION is NAMED
Governor cummlns Yesterday Ap.
polnted Five Men Who Will Have
COMMISSION is NAMED
Governor cummlns Yesterday Ap.
pointed Five Men Who Will Have
Charge Of the Work of Locating
and Erecting the Monument.
[BY LEON BRowN.1


Des Moines, July I.
Governor Cummins yesterday nam
ed the commission to have charge of
the erection of monument to the
Iowa soldiers who died and suffered in
Andersonville military prison. For this
purpose the recent legislature appro-
priated $10.50O.
The commission is composed of the
following members:
Capt M. T. Russell, Des Moines.
M. v. B. Evans, Beaman, Grundy
county.
D. Z. Bishard, Altoona.
W. G. Tompkins, Clear Lake.
Capt. j. A. Brewer, Des Moines.
The ex-Prisoners Of War associa-
tion state organization of those who
suffered in southern prisons during
the war, urged the appointment of
Capt. Russell. Capt. Brewer and Mr..
Bishard, especially. This association
has annual reunions at the state fair
grounds and is thoroughly representa-
tive or the veterans Of the state.
Generally Approved.
The commission meets with the en-
thus1astic approval of all the soldiers
and will be endorsed by the legisla-
ture. The soldiers in the last assem-
bly, discovered that it would be i'm
possible to secure the passage of all
or the measures in which they were
specially interested. Through the ef-
forts of Captain Hart of the house
committee and other prominent mem.
bers of the legislature who, also were
soldiers, it was decided to concentrate
efforts, SO far as bills CARRYING appro.
priations were concerned, on the mea.
sure for an Andersonville monument.
This being done it was passed,
promptly. The other monument bills
will come before the next assembly.
They include propositions for the
kirkwood statue in the hall of fame
at Washington, monuments to Gener-
Crocker, General Stone, Governor
Stone, to General Street and Chief
Wapello and other similar PROPOSE
tions.
Commissioner Tomkins Of Clear
Lake was in Andersonville for eight
cen months. He enlisted at Clear
Lake for three years and served in
Libby two months, in Belle Isle, Sal
1sbury, Pemberton and Andersonville
prisons. 1t is probable that of all the
Iowa men who suffered in those awful
places, he had as thrilling and exact
ing an experience as any.
Captain Russell Of this city was
one Of the men who escaped from Lib
by digging out with Judge Conrad.
lately of this city, and being recaptur.
ed. He was nineteen months in Libby
and other PRISONS.
M. V. B. Evans Of Beaman enlisted
in Marshalltown in 1863 and was two
months in Ardersonville, was sent tn
Florence and served in Salisbury also.
Mr.. Bishard was nine months in An.
dersonville and Captain Brewer was
seven months in Libby and ether pris.
ons.
These are mere skeletons Of the
service and sufferings of the men who
have been famed on the commission
from the host of men who went
through that horrible experience.
Will Organize Soon.
The commission will meet in this
city at the executive Office, to organ
ize, soon, 1t is supposed, as that is the
custom of the commissions, and will
then undertake the work of suitably
marking the grave of the 21O more
Iowa men who died in Andersonvil,e
and Of the many more who were kept
here but escaped death.
The Andersonville prison grounds
are now owned by the national cout-
ell of the Women's Relief Corps and
many Of the states have erected mon
lments to their sons who suffered and
lied there.