River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-08-26

along this line the members began
to drop out. For this reason there
is but scant record available per-
tanning to the original organization.
After few years of this unsatis-
factory state of affairs the work was
entirely revised and General John
A. Logan was elected COMMANDMENTS
Chief. New sets of rules and rituals
were adopted, completely eliminat-
ing politics and making it wholly a
"Fraternal and Beneficial Society
for the Soldiers and Sailors of the
Civil War who had been honorab1y
discharged" Under the new ad-
ministration the society gained back
its popularity and grew rapidly.
In the summer of 1884 the veterans
living in this locality took steps
toward forming local Post. Com
rade James H. Langdon and others
circulated lists and secured forty
two charter members. They met
August 8, 1884, G. B. Merrick call
ing the meeting to order and eX-
planning the details of the organiza-
ton. John D. Putnam was chosen
chairman and Mr.. Merrick, secretary
and treasurer, and the dollar fee
was deposited by each member.
Mr.. Merrick was instructed to write
out the application for charter and
perform such other preliminary
work as was necessary. (This, and
several subsequent meetings were
held in Putnam's hall which was
located where the Prairie Mill ele-
vator now stands.
On the evening of Aug. %, 1884,
a meeting was called and l. N.
Nichols Post, No. III, G. A. R. was
organized. Twenty-three charter
members were present and they
were mustered in~rDy Post Com
mander R. ]. Flint of Williams Post
No. So, Menomonie, Wis, assisted
by the following comrades from
neighboring Posts: H. Decidth, N.
P. Vanderhoof and Newell Birch of
the Menomonie Post; Sam Hartman
Of Muller Post No. l, Saltwater,
Mimi; M. C. Thompson of A. M.
How ard Post, No. IL, Rock Elm; S.
w. Campbell of ]. Humphry Post,
New Richmond; D. c. Fulton and
Merit. Herrick of A. E. Clap Post
No. Isl, Hudson; Thomas Nelson,
Hans B. Warner, Gilbert Thurston,
c. E. Fenton, E. L. Davis and J. F.
Rounce Of Ellsworth Post No. 118.
The following were the twenty
three charter members to answer
roll cali.
Hugh Cameron
Chas. r. Ellis
Hazen K. Godfrey
Ezra Healy
John ]. feelings
David Kribbs
P. F. Lowell
Geo. B. Merrick
w. H. Nichols
John w. Reynolds
Luther Spalding
w. H. Wood
w. H. Williams
w. H. Winchester
John D. Putnam
A. w. Preston
Thomas Cusick
John D. Fisher
James H. Langdon
A. ]. Sherburn
A D. Andrews
William Burnett
William Fisher
(Of these twenty-three charter
members who were present at that
meeting fourteen are still living.)
The Post was named after one of
first soldiers from River Falls to
lose his life in battle, Richard
Lowell having been killed in the
same engagement. l. N. Nichols
was killed in the battle of Perryville.
The first officers of the Post were
appointed and installed: They
were:
P. C.-John D. Putnam; S. V
w. A. Burnett; ]. V.-Ezra Healy;
Surg.-A. D. Andrews; Chap.-W.
H. Wood; o. D.-Luther Spalding;
Adjt.-George B. Merrick; Quat.-
David Kribbs; Sg. Maj.-C. R. Ellis;
o. CIV. H. Nichols.
During the Is years of its exist
ence the Post has had the following
Commanders;
John D. Putnam, years
| Luther Spalding, 2
/ P. F. Lowell, 2
Geo. w. Chinook, 2 g