The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-03-13
ANOTHER old
VETERAN IS GONE
GEORGE n. souLE, PROMINENT
MEMBER OF JERRY RUsK
POST, WHO HAD AN ESPECIAL.
LY THRILLING ARMY CAREER,
GOES TO HIS LONG REST.


Towner, N d., March s. 1911.-To
The Forum: One more of our honor
ed band in Jerry Rusk post has been
called over to the bivouac on the other
shore.
This morning Comrade George H
Soule passed away after an illness dat
ing from last summer, but only acute
for the last two weeks. He leaves
widow and several children to mourn
his loss. One son liz an engineer in
New York state, and the others were
born in Dakota.
Mr.. Soule was born in Vermont in
1S45. and, like many other boys. hur-
ried into the army before he was old
enough. He served, fully three years,
was promoted to be lieutenant, and
was one OF the unfortunates shut UP
in Libby prison. Many tale he told
(when he could be induced to tell IT'D
Of the spaces marked off on the floor,
of the card playing to while away the
weary hours, of the wind, blowing a
card against the window ledge and a
bullet striking the window ledge when
hand was reached out for the
card was seen no more.
Then he would tell of being moved
to Macon, Ga, where some OF the boys
made tunnel to get out, and a COW
passing broke through into the tunnel,
and no more could get out, some had
already passed but they never reach
ed the federal lines.
He would make 1T very vivid to us
IN al
back from the tunnel in their pockets;
how they dropped it casually as they
marched in the cool OF the evening for
exercise and they would tramp, tramp,
tramp, to cover it.
Then he would tell of their ex-
change at Savannah, and return
northward on a boat and what a
bundle OF bare bones he was when he
got back to his mother. How little
his poor pinched stomach would hold
| for a while.
But he would also tell Of the good
| Samaritans whom men know as The
Sisters, who helped both northern and
southern boys, for kind hearts where
dwelling then" just as they do all over
the world
And again he would tell Of pilgrim
ages made to Libby where 1t stands
now in Chicago where he would walk
and look where he had lain, and would
muse on the brass plates recording
/ many name he knew.
Others will tell Of his public serv-
ice in Vermont, when he was a custom
officer after the war, where he married,
where his first wife died, and how he
came west to Dakota, then a terri
tory. Here he rode over the plains,
and became a famous cattleman. until,
today. he was one of the few ranchmen
left on the famous Mouse river mea-
dows.
For years he was also cashier of
bank in Towner; buying out his part
ners In the ranch, and closing the
bank in the COS
He has bee q. s. commissioner,
chairman of the republican county
committee and mayor Of the city of
towner. For years he was a trustee
of the Presbyterian church, but i'm his
late years he affiliated with his moth
er's church, the Episcopal. He has
been master of the Blue Lodge. high
priest of the chapter, and was the
first worthy patron OF Eylvan chap
ter of the Eastern Star.
But / like best to think of my old
friend on Memorial day when, as chap
lain of Jerry Rusk post or as COM
mander, he would head the whole
community on a pilgrimage to our lit
tie cemetery on the hill top and would
reverently read the beautiful ritual of
the g. A. r. beside the graves Of our
honored dead.
Tomorrow we will lay him there
too, and the Women Of the Relief
Corps will drop many a tear for the
comrade who Installed them so often
so lately as January last, but now
will cheer them on no more.
I'VE shall meet, but we shall miss
him. oh! who could fill his vacant
chair. {" j. McNaughton Stevens