The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-06-08
( Portland Evening Express.


for II years.
Portland Evening Express.]
Alfred Stinson, the last surviving
member from Swanville and Prospect 60
enlist in Co. E., 18th Maine volunteers,
has been elected TO serve the lSth con-
secutive term as secretary of the Waldo
County Veteran association At the
time of his enlistment from the little
town of Prospect, where he was born,
there were nine others. while in the
same enlistment were Is from Swan
Vile, the adjoining town. He is the
last.
Mr.. Stinson is now in his 74th year,
having been born in July, 1912, and
year from next July, on his 10Th birth
day. he and his wife expect to celebrate
their golden wedding. They have one
son and one daughter, both living near
by, and one little granddaughter, Evelyn
Spaulding, is the apple of her grand
dads eye, and was, a year ago. adopted
as "the granddaughter of the regiment,
having made the address of welcome
when the Veterans association met IN
the little village at North Searsport,
where Mr.. Stinson now makes his home.
He enlisted early in '62, and his regl-
ment lust three months later saw fight
ing in the battle of Charlottesville. He
was all through the Wilderness lighting,
and his reglm mt, commanded by Col.
FogIer of Belfast, was the only Name
regiment to take part in repelllng Pick
ett's charge at Gettysburg, at what Is
known now as "the highwater mark of
the rebellion" when the backbone of
the South was broken. Fifty years
later Comrade Stlnson stood with the
little remnant of the regiment of the
18th Maine, its beloved colonel long
since gone. and looked once more over
the field OF Gettysburg, where at
"high-water mark" stands a monument
to the memory of his fallen comrades.
The 18th Maine was discharged two
months before the close OF the war, hav-
ing seen hard fighting, but Mr.. Stlnson
was detailed to go to Elmlra, N. y,
where for two months he was one OF the
guards over Confederate prisoners. He
was three years and one month In SER
vice.
Soon after his return from the war he
was married and the remainder Of his life
has been spent in or near North Sears
port, where he has farm and where he
has been one of the most public spirited
of citizens.
AS has been said, he has served the
Waldo County Veterans as secretary for
II years and is still in office. Before that
he served as it's president for three years.
He has been president of the Clough
Charitable Veterans association; had
eight terms as master of Comet and
Granite oranges; one term as master of
North Waldo Pomona; is a Past Com
mander of Freeman McGivery Post, e.
A. R., of Searsport and has been for IS
years a justice of the peace.
Through all his active service and hard
ships of the war, Mr.. Stinson never
smoked or drank liquor, nor has he since
those times. He has head of white
hair, physique which many might envy,
is as well preserved at IA as most men at
90. To his temperate life and habits ne
attributes his health and longevity. Aside
from his family ties, his greatest interest
is in the "boys" and it is very seldom
that he misses meeting of the veterans,
and is always heard from. His enthusl-
asm is one of his characteristics, and to
him and his energy is due in great meas
ure, the success of its monthly meetings.