Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-07
BELFAST
Elected for 23rd Consecutive
Term Secretary Waldo Coun-
ty Veterans Association
Several Deaths

~ VCSSA 0AsS
Several Deaths ~
Alfred Stinson was elected secre-
tary of the Waldo County Veterans
Association for the 23rd consecutive
term. ut the annual meeting recent
" held in Morrill,. Me. The asso-
citation was organized ~ years ago
and during that time Mr.. Stlnson mas
held some office with the exception
Of one year. He never lalis TO at
tend the monthly meetings unless ne
is absolutely obliged to- and Is al
ways ready with a story and hearty
hand clasp whenever he meets MS
old comrades. Mr.. Stinson Is the
last surviving member OF co. r, OF
the 10Th Maine Volunteers to enlist
in the towns of Swanville and Pros
pect. When Company E marcneo
away there were nine huskies from
Prospect, his birthplace, and IL from
Swanville, the adjoining village. To-
day of these he alone remains. ne
was born in July. 1912, and IN MS
18th year he is as Straight as an ar
row and his snow white hair IS as
thick as a football player. His 7atn
birthday was the 50th anniversary
of his wedding day and with ms orioe
of so years he celebrated the odS
in a most fitting manner. .,
Mr.. Stinson enlisted early IN 'ol anu
lust three months later he was al
Charlottesville. He was all through
the Wilderness and his regiment
commanded by the late Col. Fogier
of Belfast, was the only Maine con-
tingent to take part in the buck'ns
of Pickett's charge at Gettyspurs'
and what is now known as the high
water mark of the rebellion" when
the backbone of the South was brok-
en-. Just so years later Comrade
Stinson stood with the handful OF
boys" of the gallant 10Th, their brave
leader long since gone, and looked
again on the battlefield of Gettysburg,
where at "highwater mark" there
stands a monument in memory OF
his fallen comrades. The 18th Maine
was discharged some two months be-
fore peace was declared. having seen
some of the hardest fighting of the
war, but Mr.. Stinson was detailed to
Elmyra, N. Y, to do guard duty over
rebel prisoners. He was three years
and one month in the service. Soon
after he returned from the war he
married and settled on farm in
North Searsport, where he has since
lived a power in the community. One
son and one daughter with little
grand daughter bless his, declining
years and he is as young as they
are at heart. He attributes much Of
his longevity to his total abstinence
from alcohol and tobacco and to
good hours and plenty OF hard work.
Aside from his home, his one great
interest in life i; the Waldo County
Veterans Association and to his en-
thusia SIN and energy in a great meas
ure is due the success of its meet
ings.
Another live wire was reelected
at the annual meeting. when johnson
G. Trask of Newburg was again
placed in the presidential chair, for
his fifth term. There is always a
lively session when Johns: as he
called, presides and it is very rare
indeed when he is absent. He has
O flow Of talk that keeps the ball
rolling and his ready wit and good
humor are great factors in the sue
cess OF the meetings. He Is never at
a loss for words with which to in
troduce a conrade or a stranger and
Is one of the most popular comrades
in the association.