Bisbee daily review., 1909-06-29
RELATED HONORS To
 FOUNDER OF 6. \. B.

WASHINGTON, June 2S.-The last public function which President Taft Will attend before his departure for the summer capital near Beverly. Mass. will be the unveiling and ded. ication of the granite memorial erect. ed here in honor of Dr. B. F. Steph. enson, founder of the Grand Army of the. Republic The ceremony will take place on Saturday afternoon and President Taft and Representative J Hampton Moore of Pennsylvania will be the orators of the occasion.
 All the regular troops of the city VIII participate in the parade and dedication ceremonies and Brig, Gen. w. w. Wetherspoon will be grand marshal Gen Rood, commanding the department of the east, has ordered the following troops to take part. headquarters band and three troops 18th cavalry, and the 2nd battalion ot the Sd field artillery at Fort Meyer: the engineer band and companies A and, B, 1st battalion of engineers Washington barracks, and two com panies of the coast artillery corDs of Fort Washington, Maryland. Major
 
 command of the regular troops.
 The memorial is on the circular park of the east side of Seventh street, at the intersection of Louis. lana and Pennsylvania avenues. It was designed by J. Massey Rbind a New York sculptor. and consist of 2 tall triangular shaft of gray granite with bronze reliefs on the three sides. representing fraternity, charity and loyalty, the principles of the Grand Army of the Republic.
 The erection of this monument is the first and rather belated attempt to honor the memory of the man who founded the Grand Army of the Republic. The movement for the erection of memorial to him was first suggested years ago by Col. John McElroy who had joined the army when he was boy and had served in the 18th Illinois cavalry. Col. Nc Elroy labored indefatigably to inter est the Grand Army and other pa triotic organizations for his plan and 1t was principally due to his efforts that the Grand Army and the wo- mans Relief corps contributed the necessary funds for the purpose.
 Benjamin Franklin Stephenson was born in Wayne county, Illinois, October 90. 1922 In 1895 his par ents removed to Sangamon county where he grew to manhood. Hhe grad uated from Rush Medical college in 1850. and began to practice at Peters burg. ILL In 1861 he was elected sur geon of the fifth Illinois infantry and he served with his regiment until June 24. 1864, when he was mustered out. At the close of the war he re turned to his practice and establish ed himself at Springfield. III.
 During Sherman's expedition to- Meridian. in February, 1864, Stephen son and the Rev wm. J. Rutledge, chaplain of the 14th Illinois infantry, discussed the plan of forming an as sociation among those who had serv- ed in the union army or navy during the civil war. that would preserve the friendships formed among com rades end keep alive the memories of their common trials and dangers. In March, 1866, the two met by appoint ment in Springfield and further dis cussed the matter. The first post was organized at Decatur, Ill, April 6, 1866. The first national encampment was held in Indianapolis, Ind, begin ming on November 20, 1866.
 It was grfevous disappointment Do pr. Stephenson when representa- dves of the Grand Army. assembled sf Springfield. m, to form a depart ment organization, selected anotheg pr the highest honors of the ordo.. Ae had founded 4 similar disappofR, ment awaited him at Indianapolis, when the national encaz1pment was formed Although Major Stephenson then accepted a subordinate position. as adjutant general. he felt until his death that he had been sighted by his comrades in these instances. Stephenson died in Menard county. Illinois. August 30, 1871.