|
Long and weary were the marches, and fierce and bloody were the battles that marked the
years from 1861 to 1865. The comrade who, at morning, answered "here" at eventide could
nevermore respond. Never before in the annals of history was any similar struggle waged on
so grand a scale or with so great a destruction of men and material as in this "the great
American conflict."
At last the final day came. The South, no longer able to withstand the prowess and overwhelming forces of the North, was compelled to surrender, and then "the brave boy in blue" marched home again, but not until nearly half a million of his number were killed outright on the field, died of disease and wounds, or were crippled or maimed for life. Many returned home to find themselves penniless and helpless but strong in their determination to grapple with the world. The promises made to the men who left their families to go forth to fight for the integrity of the nation were but poorly kept. Though some were provided with employment by the government, and many patriotic citizens, who remembered and appreciated their service, came nobly forward and gave them the preference in their enterprises, still a great number remained unemployed and unprovided for. This state of affairs caused deep anxiety in the hearts of their more fortunate comrades, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with these men during the death storm of battle but who had come out of the war with happier fortune and who were now better able to cope with the world. It was this condition of affairs that caused the pioneers in the Grand Army of the Republic to conceive the idea of forming an organization that would, to a certain extent, look after the disabled and unemployed veterans and to the welfare of the widows and orphans of those who had fallen in the conflict. Such were the circumstances which led to the organization of the G.A.R. Brothers under the cloud of war, brothers in a thousand common dangers, brothers in a thousand, common sufferings, brothers they must remain in the sunshine of peace. The first G.A.R. post was organized at Decatur, Ill. April 6, 1866 by Major B. F. Stephenson and the first state convention was held in Springfield, Ill. July 12, 1866. The first National Convention of the G.A.R. was held Oct.31, 1866. Michigan Department was first organized at Detroit on Oct. 1, 1867, it was reorganized at Grand Rapids, January 22, 1881 with a total number of 397 posts and a total of 9,432 membership. Newaygo County had a total of seven posts; one at Hesperia, Hawkins, Newaygo, Fremont, Grove, Ashland Center, and White Cloud. The Hesperia Post No. 9 and was organized in 1879 as the Nathaniel Lyon Post, but in 1882 the name was changed to the John A. Dix Post, after the commander of the Seventh Corps. There were 31 signatures on the petition for Charter Grant. W. C. Simmons was the Commander when the post was organized, Charles Robbins O.D., William Chandler Adj., Richard Slocum Chap., George Robbins S.V.C., Henry Waterman J.V.C., Henry Brook Q.M., and John Wyman as O.G. The last report from the post was dated Dec. 31, 1935 with only one member remaining, James McConnell. The Hawkins Post was number 128, and was organized in 1894 being disbanded in 1906. The post was named after Austin Blair, who was Governor of Michigan during the war from 1861 to 1865. The Hawkins Post being only one mile inside of Newaygo County line, many of the membership were from Lake, Osceola and Mecosta Counties. The post at Grove was number 291 and was named after *Thomas A. Eddie, who lived in Montcalm County, across the road from Ensley Township. He was killed in action at Meadow Bridge, Va. on May 12, 1864. The charter members of the post were Andrew Flynn, Joel Delano, Dennis Delano, James Malcolm, Austin Watertown, Edwin Gould, Alanson Dickerson, John Mathews, Simon Dancer, David Collins, William VanLiew, Joseph Brown, Alfred Hall, Lewis Wright, Joseph Ryan, James McPherson, James Carr, Charles Goodrick, Silas Church, Joseph Shutts, Charles Haney, James Arsnoe, 0. N. Slaight, Cyrus Slaight, Gilbert Fox, and N. L. Ferguson. The post was organized in 1885 and disbanded in 1898. Alanson Dickinson was the last remaining member. The Newaygo post was No. 133 and was named after Samuel A. Judd, who was a Capt. of the 3rd. Mich. Inf. He was from Grand Rapids, and was killed in action at Fair Oaks, VA, May 31, 1862. The post was organized in 1883, with S.D. Thompson as Commander; Edwin Shaw, S.V.; Sanford Brown, J.V.; Hiram Seeley, O.D.; George Taytor, Q.M.; S.W. Hall, O.G.; George Bennett, Surg.; Ira Poats, Chaplain; Seth Watrous, Adj. The post was disbanded in 1919. There must have been two posts in Newaygo, as the Newaygo Republican reports, the Newaygo G.A.R. Post #53 was organized December 3, 1870 at the Brooks House. The charter members were: A.M. Spaulding, P.C., W.W. Dickinson, S.V.P.C., Sanford Brown, F.V.P.C., J. Carpenter, P.A., Bruce Jackson, 0. of D., Dr. D.W. Flora, P.S., Geo. King, Q.M., Jerome Carpenter, Chap., Wm. Doty, Q.M.S., and E. Eldred, 0. of G. The Fremont post was No. 182, and was named the Henry Dobson Post. It was organized in 1883 with 42 members. James Odell was the commander with Charles Rathburn, S.V.C., Anson Northway, J.V.C., Walter Platt, Adj., Orlando McNabb, Q.M., J.A. Lemoreoux, Surg., Samuel Odell, Chap., George McNutt, O.D., Ranson Piper, O.G., Simon Barnhard,S.M., and John Delamater, Q.M.Sgt. The post was disbanded in1917. One of the things the Fremont post did was to get a monument placed in the Fremont Maple Grove Cemetery for the veteran. There are eight known veterans buried on this lot with the monument. Their names are: David Boyden, Ruben Curtice, L.F. Parker, Francus Phillips, Joseph Moe, T.L.Hopkins, N.G. Gould, and Theo. O'Dell. The White Cloud Post was No.366 and was called the Gordon Post. It was formed in 1896 and disbanded in 1917. The Gordon Post held the Michigan Veterans Association Reunion at the city park in White Cloud for several years. On September 20, 1883, the first Soldiers and Sailor Reunion was held in Newaygo and a county association of soldiers and sailors was formed, with over a hundred members. William H. Hall of Ashland was chosen President; William C. Simons and Nathan Smith, Vice Presidents; Edwin Shaw, Secretary; and Stephen D. Thompson., Treasurer. It was resolved to hold another reunion in the month of August, 1884, to continue for three days. Altogether, this reunion was a great success and was probably the best celebration of any kind ever held in Newaygo. The Michigan Veterans' Association was organized in Fremont in 1898 and held at the G.A.R. Park on Fremont Lake. There were several days of camping, rowing and sailboat racing, tub races, swimming contests and other features tending to make it one whole week of a carnival of fun and frolic, closing with fireworks on the lake on the last night of the reunion. This association reunion was held annually through 1910. There was also the Muskegon Valley Soldiers and Sailors. This association was started in 1888 at Newaygo and lasted several years. They held the 14th annual reunion on September 8-12,1902, at Shaw Park reunion ground. By 1890 the membership of the Grand Army of the Republic had grown to a total of 436,591. This appears to have been the high-water mark in its history. Along with the G.A.R., there were several other veterans organizations and auxiliary. Some of these are as follows: Ladies Aid Society, Ladies of the G.A.R., Loyal Legion, Medal of Honor, Sons of Veterans, Union Soldiers Alliance, Union Veterans Union, United States Navy, and the Woman's Relief Corps. Later there was the Daughters of Union Veterans. Most all of these organizations were for the aid of the veterans and their widows and orphans. * Note: Thomas A. Eddie enlisted in Co.A, 6th Michigan Cavalry on 7/18/62 at Grand Rapids for three years at the age of 18 as a 1st Sgt., he was made a 2nd Lt. on 6/10/63. |