The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-09-13
OLD SOLDIERS IN
REUNION TO-DAY
MAHAsKA COUNTY VETERANS
SHOULDER ARMS AGAIN.
BLAZE WAY FOR OLD SETTLERS
Bigger Crowd Expected Tomorrow
Showers Add to Enjoyment of
the Day-A Big Time
For All.
(From Tuesdays Daily.)

(From Tuesdays Daily.)
The Oskaloosan who was not awak
ened in good season Tuesday morning
is open to suspicion. The man who
could go on dreaming when martial
music stirred the air, no doubt has q
good conscience or he would not sleep
SO soundly, but an enthusiastic patriot
well, we doubt it. 1t was the notes
Of the fife and the roll of the drum
that awakened most people about $3.50
o'clock and reminded them that this
is the day of the Mahaska County
Veterans reunion. The musicians OF
the occasion were G. G. Johnson, w.
p. Olcutt, w. P. Adams and D. d.
Downs, and as they played the years
of time rolled back and they were
boys again waking to day of strife
on southern battleields.
1t was ten o'clock when the veterans
began to assemble at University park
and the first sound greeting the ears
of the dusty walkers from the street
car line was the sound of martial
music. Three bands were there. The
Searsboro martial band was one, COM
posed of John Mitchell, fifer, E. F.
Downey, George Chamberlain and l.
c. Ward, snare drums; P. Smith, bass
drum.
The New Sharon band consisted of
w. P. olcott, snare drummer, and w.
p. Adams, bass.
The Oskaloosa band, G. c. johnson
and Taylor Duke, fifers; R. l.. Turner,
snare drum, and D. D. Downs, bass.
They joined forces in little group
outside the enclosure, and were heard
with much pleasure by all, while many
an old comrade was seen dropping
mechanically into step and furtively
wiping away the tear of recollection.
The refreshments stands, the din
ner and the decorations of the taber.
nacle were in the hands of the Ladies
of the G. A. r. The booth used for
ice cream during the Chautauqua was
utilized for the same purpose, anC
several long tables were spread with
IT. III thC fCbCAethS"
Inside the tabernacle, the committee
on decoration had done good work,
and the stage was gay with flags and
bunting and prettIly festooned with
asters, geraniums, ferns and the
greenery of the season. 1t is a big
undertaking to decorate so large a
stage, but it was effectively done.
General Weaver was among the ear
ly arrivals and he was the center OF
an interested group all morning. The
meeting was called to order at eleven
o'clock by Comrade ]. r. Gentry,pres-
ident of the Mahaska County Veterans
Association, who stated that he had
received a telegram from Dept. Com
mander Col Chas. A. Clarke, which
stated that the gentleman was una.
voidably detained and could not reach
the city in time. Comrade Gentry
also stated that as General Weaver
preferred speaking at one o'clock, the
part of the program held by the Lad
les of the G. A. r. would be carried
out. He called Rev. Corkey to the
stage and the exercises were opened
by an eloquent prayer offered by that
gentlman.
Mrs. Jas. Loughridge was then in
troduced and spoke on the aims and
objects of the G. A. R. Circle" She
stated that the Circle had its incep-
ton in Denver in 1883. At that meet
ing of the Woman's Relief Corps it
was proposed to admit to membership
any loyal woman. The question was
hotly debated, the proposition car
ried, but Ihen and there the G. A. r.
Circle was formed. 1t was composed
OF those women who believed that on
ly lineal descendants of soldiers
should be eligible to membership. The
national order now numbers 10000.
In Oskaloosa the G. A. r. Circle was
organized in April of 1905, in anticipa.
ton Of the state encampment. 1t was
organized by Mrs. T. w. Hyde, with
Mrs. Flanagan, the state president,
officiating. The membership number.
ed about forty. Mrs. James Tough.
ridge was elected president and serv-
ed until January, 1906. During that
time $50 members were admitted to
the Circle.
Mrs. Loughridge is very pleasing
speaker. She was distinctly heard,