Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-01-30
CALIFORNIAN
TELLS OF OLD
LANCASTER DAYS
NAPA DAILY REGISTER
Napa, Calf.
January IA, 1924.
4. L. Sherman,
Editor of Herald,
UTs

January IA, 1924
A. L. Sherman,
Editor of Herald,
Lancaster, Wis.
My Dear Sir:
To you l am indebted for copy of
the paper on which | learned my
trade, the paper whose destinies were
then being guided by the best man
ever knew-uny foster father, ]. G.
Cover. And A. L. Sherman-is not he
the man | knew as a boy, the man
who was for a time on my editorial
staff right here in Napa, Calf?
Since receiving that issue of the
Herald, carrying the news of the
death Of Capt. Chas. H. Baxter, l have
experienced a peculiar sadness. My
mind has wandered back to the sum-
mer day, August 22nd. 1862, when
John Barnett, with books under his
arm on his way to school, stepped in
to the old Herald office to shout this
challenge: George, l dare you to
enlist"
Tt was during my turn at the Wash
ington hand press, (Which could be
depended upon not to go faster than
walk and to stand without being
enough to shout back this reply: Il
will if Charlie Baxter will" It's a
CO." said John, and we two were soon
on our way UP street to see Charlie.
He was the right-hand man in Howe's
general merchandise store, and was
busy at the time waiting on a custo
mer. We held our peace until his
customer had been served; then We
dared Charlie. He was game. With
out a moments hesitation he turned
the store over to another and across
the street and to the second floor Of
the Court House the three Of us went.
There recruiting officers were sitting
around a big table ready to receive
and swear in volunteers. We made
our mission known; were greeted
with evidences of doubt and surprise,
but were not put off when each in his
turn asked for pen and the place to
sign, affixed his signature and took
the oath imposed. Promoted to an
Importance neither of us had ever be-
for experienced and feeling upon us
the approving eyes of our seniors who
had gratefully witnessed our action,
we took our several ways to the work
Of the day-Charlie to his store, John
to his desk in the Institute, and
George to the printing of the outside
of the Herald.
And the years have since flown!
Where are they and what did they
write upon those three clean, patriotic
and unreasonable lives? | could
write more fully than Herald patrons
would have the patience to read. With
the summing up of it all, in few
paragraphs for the love l bear the old
associations, l will be content.
John-the payer of that path to
glory and to modest fame. l have lost
track of him. The last time l was in
the East his home was in Indepen-
dence, Iowa. He was a credit to the
family name, prosperous business
man holding high place in the ranks
of his fellow citizens, and thus recall
ed the place he held in the ranks OF
his comrades as a gallant young SOL
der.
And Charlie? What a delightful
home circle was his to enjoy when af-
ter an absence of thirty and more
years my wife and self were guests OF
Charlie and Maria, whom we had
never ceased loving since Charlie was
my bunk mate in the army and Tide,
later to be my wife, and Maria, later
to be his wife, were just happy girls
together. And their children and our
children were later to meet and love
each other as visits were exchanged
between Lancaster, Wis, and Napa,
California.
We in California watched with more
than ordinary interest the honors
which came to Charlie, the business
success which crowned his CONNER
cial efforts, the leadership which was
his as a Comrade of the G. A. R., as
an Odd Fellow and as member OF
the Congregational church. The
w1rth of the boy in him proclaimed
the rectitude of the man he proved.
He precedes the rest Of his line Ito
that city which hat foundations" But
not by great margin. Hail and fare
well. old-time comrade and always
friend, we will soon be with you over
there.
G. M. FRANCIS.