The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-07-15
BIG REUNION
wheeling !. [
PLANS ARE BEING ARRANGED
FOR MEETING OF CIVIL WAR
VETERANS.

FOR MEETING "; sGlVlL WAN
VETERANS.
WHEELING, July Is. - Arrange.
ments are being completed by Col. P.
F. ziese, secretary of the Army Of
West Virginia, and the entertainment
committee of the Wheeling Board Of
Trade, and according to present lndica-
tlons there will be very large attend.
ance at the reunion, which is to be
held in this city during the latter part
Of August, covering three days.
The Society Of the Army of West
| Virginia was organized at Moundsvllle
September 20, 1870, by Capt. c. j..
Rawling, R. H. Cochran and Maj. w.
NJ. Burk, who constituted the commit
tee on constitution and bylaws, ul'
der instructions to report at the next
meeting to be held in Wheeling octo'
Der 10, 1871. The last named meeting
was attended by about 700 veterans,
and the report of the committee was
unanimously adopted, and Gen. George
Crooks. late president of the Army Of
West Virginia, was elected president
of the Army Of West, Virginia. The
third meeting was held at Marietta
o.. in 1872, and the fourth at Parkers'
burg. in 1873. Other meetings were
held annually, and in 1887 the elev'
enth meeting was again held in Wheel
ling. after which annual meetings were
held at Columbus, o.; Parkersburg,
Huntington, Washington City, Ironton,
| O.: Middleport, O.; 'Gallipolls, o.; Co
lumbus, o.; Jackson, O.; Fairmont, w.
Va; Middleport. o.; and Pomeroy. O.
Concerning some OF these annual re-
unions, Col Ziese gives the following
account:
The twenty.third reunion was held
at Fairmont, W. Va, September II, -
and 10, 1900. The citizens of Fairmont
entertained their visitor on this occa'
sion with much credit to themselves
and universal qualification to the soci'
ETY.. The attendance was very large,
and the efforts of the good people Of
tbe "Citv of Seven Hills" was crown.
ed with great success.
Among the distinguished visitors
present were Governor Atkinson, U. S.
Senator S. B. ElkIns, Hon. A G Day.
ton, NJ. c.; B. B. Governor, NJ. c, and
large number of other citizens and
ex-soldiers, many Of the latter having
won fame in the late civil war
The twenty.fourth annual reunion
took place at Middleport, o., Septem.
her 1G, II. and IS, 1905. Gen. w. H.
Powell, president, Of Belleville, Ill.,
having died several years previous to
this date, the society was then with
out an executive, and in the selection
of a president DR.. John c. Bishop, OF
Columbus, O., was chosen. The doctor
resigned the position, however, during
the same year, other duties devolving
upon him of an imperative nature pre-
venting him from giving the interests
of the society the careful attention
which he felt that should be given 1t.
At the twenty.f1fth reunion, held at
Poremoy, O., September 10 to %, tnclu'
slve, Col. John L. Vance, of Column
bus, O., was elected to the presidency
Of the society by reclamation, amid
great enthusiasm. His accession to the
executive head of the society has in
spired it with new life and while its
ranks are becoming decimated more
and more each day, his inlomitable
efforts in reviving fresh interest and
restoring the energy so essential to Its
perpetuation has already been made
visibly manifest, and while he remains
in the position as its honored presi'
dent the society will constantly re-
ceive his most earnest care anil devo'
ton that has characterized in the
days that are past, his splendid mill
tary career while a commander and
leader in the late civil war.
For number of years in the exist
ence of the society Col. Bottsford, OF
Youngstown, o., was the secretary anu
treasurer up to 1906, when he resigned
on account of the Impairment OF
health.
At the twentieth reunion, held at
Calltpolis. O., Col. P. z. Ziese, then one
OF the vice presidents, was chosen sec
rotary and treasurer, and has retained
the position up to the present time
having been reelected at each sue
ceeding meeting.
The twenty-siXth annual reunion OF
the society will be held in the city OF
Wheeling. W. Va, August 2S, 30 and
30, 1907. Very elaborate arrangements