Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-04

arrested and turned over to the Off
GERS of a gunbOat below Alexandria
In the execution of this commission he
and his guard, with their prisoners,
were required to pass rebel guns and
infantry concealed behind the levee,
with the steamer John Warner, which
had just Deen sunk and captured by
the enemy, lying at the bank.
Major Halves was later appointed
superintendent of the bureau of refu-
gees, cOntrabands and abandoned
lands. state of louisiana in which pO-
sitiOn he served from 1864 TO 1865, be
ing mustered out of service at New
Orleans, Dec. 81 of the last mentioned
year. His active service covered a pc
Rod of four years and six months.
Active in the Militia
Following the war he served as cap
tain of the Rodman Rifles, Rock Island,
in 1878 and 1879, and as major of the
Sixth battalion Illinois national guards
from 1879 to 1880. While connected
with the state militia he was instru
mental in securing the erection of the
armory hall on Third avenue and Six
teenth street, which is now owned by
the city.
On his return from the war, Major
Halves at once entered into the active
civic and commercial life of the com
munity, first engaging in business as a
retail grocer, which he followed for
four years. He was then appointed
chief of police of the city of Rock Is
land, serving in that Office for six and
One-haIf years While occupying this
position he became noted for his IN
fiinching courage and impartial per-
Torrance of duty, at one time enter
ing into a darkened house at the dead
of night and capturing a vicious char
acter single handed. He next served
as assistant postmaster for one and
One-haIf years, following which he
went on the road as salesman for the
Yale and TOwne Lock company, which
work he abandoned in July, 1884, to
accept the appointment as postmaster,
in which Office he served for four
years or until September, 1888. He
was then appointed deputy county
clerk, which position he held until he
was elected head clerk of the Modern
Woodmen of America at the head
camp at Springfield. Ill, Nov. IS, 1890.
Helped Build Up Society.
AS the head clerk of what has since
become the largest fraternal benefc-
iarv society on the western hemi-
No.
only locally but throughout all the
Jurisdiction of Woodcraft. When he
took charge of the head clerks office,
the society then had a membership OF
only $4,000, and the records and &C
counts were in such shape that 1t was
exceedingly difficult to ascertain the
exact financial condition of the society
or the standing of its members. The
system of record keeping and ac-
counting was completely reorganiZed,
and when Major Halves voluntarily re
tired in June. 1914, after a period OF
service covering % years and months,
it was recognized as model, and the
business and accounting organizations
Of many life insurance companies and
fraternal societies have been patterned
after the system which he installed.
In the early days Major Halves
wrapped supplies, handled the CORE
sDondence with members, camps and
deputies. personally. in longhand,
wrote charters, certificates, etc, and
took a hand in all the routine work
Of the office, assisted by a force OF only
seven clerks. When he retired there
were about 200 clerks working under