Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-07-07
BRIEF HISTORY OF The FULTON COUNTY MEM
ORIAL AND MONUMENTAL ASSOCIATION

To me has been assigned the task
of presenting a brief history of the
Fulton County Soldiers and Sailors
Memorial and Monumental Associa-
ton the organization that has by its
efforts made possible the exercises
in which we are now engaged and has
accomplished this memorial of the
services rendered to our country by
the men of Fulton County.
In compiling the history of this
Association the speaker wishes to
acknowledge his obligations to Mrs.
Ann Shade, who with commendable
forthought has during the years past
clipped from the newspapers of the
county all printed references to the
Association its meetings and activis
ties: These clippings Mrs. Shade has
preserved in scrap book which was
very kindly placed in the hands of
your historian.
The Fulton County Soldiers and
Sailors Memorial and Monumental
Association had its birth in the court
house at Wauseon, February 18th,
1872 IN meeting of citizens of the
county called for that purpose. Pre-
ceedlng this meeting Allen Shade
and other Grand Army men of the
county had been stirring up public
sentiment In regard to either finish
ing up the monument standing in
North Park Wauseon which had been
begun some forty-fve years before
that time, or building a new monu-
ment in memory of the bows of 81
to % on the court house lawn. The
call for this meeting which was
printed In the papers of the county
and passed by word of mouth ali
over the county, embodied these pur-
poses for the meeting.
Inc meeting was called to order
6y Mr.. Allen Shade at 1000 a. m.
Inc late Ed &. Robinson at that time
president of the Board of County
commissioners, was chosen tempor-
ary president and F. H. Reighard as
secretary. Mr.. Shade stated the
purpose of the meeting and made an
eloquent appeal for a suitable mem
oral for the men of Fulton County
who served their country in the
Civil War.
The president appointed a COM
mlttee OF three consisting Of F. E.
Kenyon, G. j. Ives and E. E. Hallett
to prepare plan for permanent or
ganlzatlon. The meeting then re-
cessed until loo p. m. when the com
mlttee on permanent organization
reported, the report was adopted and
permanent organization was effected
by the election of Hon. ]. M. Long
necker as President, F. H. Reighard
Secretary, the late w. IT. Sobn
treasurer. In accordance with the
plan OF organization twelve vice
presidents, one from each township
We're elected as follows: D. T. Miller.
Am6oy; j. H. Barden, Royalton: r
A. Bates, Chesterfield; DR.. r. IA.
Rorlck, Gorham; John Borton. Frank
I'm; 5. |. Spring, Dover; V. E. Wicks
Plke; E. E. Hatfield, Fulton: G. r
BraIiey, Swancreek; j. A. Wilkins.
YORK; j. c. Rorick, Clinton and Svl,
Vanus Walter, German.
Z. l.. Allen, Frank Briggs. Dr
3. Lathrop, Allen Shade and r n
aallett were elected trustees. This
flrst meeting was most enthus;as,
tic one and the completion of tbo
monument seemed assured within
two years. Within
AT subsequent meetings held dur
. NoA1 Ollc DOdGQ OF Trustees
organized by electing Allen SbadIe
chairman of the Board and r r
Hallett, secretary: Plans were CON
sldered to carry on campaigns Of
education and solicitation of funds
ana It was definitely determined to
erect monument on the court house
grounds. i0oSe
At the Annual Meeting held Fob
ruary 18th, 1913, Miss Kathrvn p
Welr was elected secretary Of tho
Association and has continued aS
secretary up to the present time M
LIongnecker has also served as S nras; es
dent OF the organization, continn-
ously and the Board of Trustees has
mad the services of Allen Shade % as
chairman and E. E. Hallett as sec
retary from the first.
AT a meeting held Feb. 22nd. Mr.
=; nj. Spring as vice president for
Linton township announced that
$1OO had been raised in his townshin
Mr. Spring was an enthusiastic and
tireless worker in this association to
the time of his decease and raised
from Clinton township over a $1,000
for the monument. During the