Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-26

the length of time required to count the
ballots. the election of delegates and alter
mates was deferred until I:3O o'clock this
evening. when the meeting will be resumed,
Commander Entrikin having declared re-
cess until that time.
Words of praise for the retiring COM
mander. B. p Entriken, were heard on all
sides last night, and it was the consensus
of opinion that his administration had been
marked by noteworthy recults accom-
plished in behalf of the organization and
the individual members.
Youngest in Years.
The record of Capt. Newton Ferree, the
department communicated, is also a his
tory of the Department of the Potomac, G.
A. R. He is in point Of years one Of the
youngest but in point Of service one Of the
Oldest, members of that organization, hav-
ing Joined Post No. 1 of this department
Immediately after it's organization in 1866
and having taken an active interest in the
order from that date to this. During this
long period he has held many positions of
trust and honor in the organization, which.
his comrades state, came to him without
his solicitation, as did the present honor,
for he was never known to seek Office. He
was a conspicuous figure in the early his
tory of the Grand Army of the Republic Of
this department, and had much to do with
the organizing of the Department of the
Potomac. In 1869 he was elected as a rep
resentative of Post No. 1 to assist in organ
iZing permanent department. but when the
representatives assembled for that purpose
they found but eight posts represented in
stead of ten, the number required by the
rules and regulations. To aid in the COM
pletion of the department, Capt. Ferree
volunteered to organize another post-Post
No. (Which he did in quick time. ana was
elected its commander. Other comrades
organized No. 10 soon thereafter. and the
Department of the Potomac was estab
lished.
First Inspector General.
The commanders and representatives Of
the ten posts assembled February Is, 1869,
and elected their first department officers,
and Gen. Samuel A. Duncan, the then COM
missioner of patents. was elected depart
ment commander. Capt. Ferree was elected
assistant inspector general. The latter, as
chairman, drafted a code of rules and by
laws for the government of the department.,
and upon his motion the first department
employment and relief committee was ap-
pointed. At the second annual encamp-
ment held January 10, 1870, he was elected
senior vice department commander, and at
the same encampment he was appointed
one Of a committee of fifteen to arrange
for the reception and entertainment of the
officers an. representatives of the national
encampment of the G. A. r. which was to
meet in this city In the month of May Of
that year.
The first memorial services at Arlington
were originated and carried to successful
conclusion by Mr.. Ferree and others two or
more years prior to the dedication OF the
3Oth of May as Memorial day by Conn.,
mander-in-Chief John A. Logan, and from
that time he has devoted each recurring
Memorial day to the memory of his de-
parted comrades.
In 1874, when the Grand Army throughout
the land commenced to disintegrate and all
Of the fourteen posts of this department ex.
cept Nos. !, and surrendered their char
tiers, Capt. Ferree rejofned Post No. I,
greatly aided In keeping ii alive and in
building 1t up to its original strength and
usefulness, and In 1855 was elected its COM
mander.
In 1889, he was designated to represent
Post No. on the board of managers OF the
Soldiers and Sailors Temporary Home.
then just organized. and for a period OF
seventeen years has continued to give the
home such time and work as IL required OF
faithful member OF the board.
Has Hold STAFF Appointments.
Capt. Ferree has held several appoint
ments on the STATS Of the department COM
represented his post in nearly all the de-
partment encampments of the past.
Capt. Ferree comes Of long line Of SOL
diers. Since the coming OF his Hu4uenot an
cestors to this country his people have been
prominently represented In all the wars for
the establishment and maintenance OF the
nation. In the army of washington there
were two colonels Of his name. and In 1872
his grandfather. Col. Joel Ferree. who or
ganixed and commanded a Pennsylvania
regiment. gave his life to the cause.
Capt. Newton Feree was born at Believer
non. Fayette county. Pa. His fathers fam
ily removed to Steubenville. Ohio, when he
was about seven years old. where he was
reared and educated In its public schools.
In April. 1882, he left the high school which