The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-06-15
IN ANNUAL REUNION.
Nearly Two Hundred Grand Army
Men at the Home of z. G.
Simmons Monday Night
GEN. BLAcKMAR A GUEST
Grand Commander is Given Rousing
Reception by the Boys who Wore
The Blue-Reunion Was a
Most Successful One.

Shouting the Battle Cry of Free
| dom" nearly two hundred of the old
soldiers Of the civil war gathered in
Kenosha Monday night to attend the
annual reception and banquet given
by z. G. Simmons in honor Of the men
who fought to defend the Union. It
was the greatest of the long list of en-
! tertainments given by Mr.. Simmons
in honor of the boys who wore the
blue and the appreciation of the sol
diers was shown by the fact that they
stood for hours and shouted them
selves hoarse in praise of Mr.. Sim
mons and his work for the Grand
Army.
The reunion Monday night was held
under the most auspicious circum-
stances. Not a cloud passed over the
scene and the merriment of the old
soldiers was held under the most fav-
orable conditions.
The entertainment for the evening
began with the arrival of the 6:15
train when General w. S. Blackmar,
Commander in Chief Of the Grand
Army of the Republic, arrived attend
ed by Former Adjutant General
Charles HI. Partridge of Waukegan.
The general was taken in carriage
to the home of Mr.. Simmons and with
his coming the old soldiers began to
gather about the house for the an
nua1 reunion.
The beautifully decorated lawns
and gardens at the home of Mr.. Sim.
mons attracted hundreds of visitors
during the evening and long before
the tramp of the old veterans was
heard on the pavement the lawn was
crowed with people.
At 7:30 O'Clock the members Of the
Fred S. Lowell post, a hundred
strong, met at the post room
on Main street while the members OF
the drum corps marched to the sta.
ton to meet the members of the Mil.
yankee and Racine posts who arrived
on the 800 train. Then the long line
of veterans marched through Main
street. The street was lined with
people and at every corner hats went
off and rousing cheers were given for
Kenosha guests of the evening.
There were many old gray haired
veterans IN the line and sprinkled
here and there we're half dozen OF
the veterans of the Spanish-American
war. It was cosmopolitan crowd.
Ex-govenors and United States Judges
kept step with men in lowly ranks OF
life, while along the center of the line
came a negro from Racine who had
the honor of being the only negro in
the Grand Army in this section.
AS the line of marching men APP
preached the residence of Mr.. Sim
mons thousand incandescent lights
rejecting the national co1ors of red,
white and blue flashed forth a well
come to the guests, hundreds of Japa-
nese lanters hung among the trees
had converted the lawn into a sum
mer garden and out IN front of the
porch hung magnificent American
flag which had been completely cover
GU Will C1COl11O LIZ I1LSs w I'LL d ing
cheer the old soldiers invaded the
lawn and the home of Mr.. Simmons.
Mr.. Simmons stood at the door and
grasped the hand Of every man in
the party. He was assisted in receiv-
ing by his children: Mr.. and Mrs. "A.
H. Lance, Mr.. and Mrs. z. G. Sim
mons, Jr., Mr.. and Mrs. A. r. Towne
of Evanston, Mrs. q. NJ. Simmons
and Miss Simmons, Mrs. and Mrs
Charles c. Brown, Mr.. and Mrs c. E.
Rener, and host Of others.
This army of entertainers saw to it
that every one of the old soldiers had
a comforta BILE chair and one of Mr.
Simmons favorite cigars and was
comfortable. Before the speeches of
the evening began the guests were
entertained with music by a quar-
tette and Comrade Starkweather, al
ways on hand, was ready to lead the
great chorus in the old army songs.
Among the more distinguished OF
the visitors who greeted Mr.. Simmons
/, during the reception were General
Blackmar, Former Governor George
w. Peck, General Wink1er, Past
Grand Commander A. G. Weissert,
Postmaster E. R. Stillman, United
States Judge Seaman, Past Depart
n1ent Commander ]. P. Rundel, and a
| host of others.
The reception was one of those jolly
times SO pleasing to the members of
the Grand Army. There were no
formalities but the members of the
different posts went about the yards
and gardens and enjoyed themselves
TO the fullest extent
: Long about O'Clock Past Grand