Six of These are Non-Residents;
History of Post and Women's Relief Corps
by Edwin C. Aborn
In a room in the southwest corner of the Kosciusko county court
house, on the first Saturday afternoon of each month, a few men,
now feeble and old and gray, meet in solemn and dignified assemblage.
These aged individuals represent the remnant in Kosciusko county
of the once powerful, patriotic and most illustrious Grand Army
of the Republic.
Though the local post of the G.A.R. now numbers but nineteen members,
six of whom are non- residents of the city, these few remaining
veterans still hold their monthly meetings and thus strive to
perpetuate memories and comradeships formed during the dark days
when the nation was bathed in blood and tears.
The once mighty Grand Army of the Republic has faded to a thin,
blue line and many posts that flourished a decade ago have shrunken
to surprisingly low memberships. There are a number of posts in
the state where a few surviving members are still struggling to
keep the spirit of Civil war days alive.
A recent estimate places the number of surviving members of the
Grand Army of the Republic in Indiana at only a few hundred.
The First Enlistments
The election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency of the United
States, November 6, 1860 was the signal for the bursting forth
of the volcano which had slumbered many months, and which the
country had hoped would died out without a general conflagration.
This country did not believe that the states which claimed the
right of peaceable secession from the Union would proceed to extremities.
The air was full of rumors, anxieties, fears and discordant counsels
everywhere prevailed.
A comparatively few persons seemed to intuitively comprehend the
great calamity threatening the nation, but time was required to
develop its magnitude and create common sentiment.
The secession of South Carolina was the tocsin which brought men
together for thought--the shot at Fort Sumter urged them to action.
Warsaw and Kosciusko county were not lacking in patriotism, as
evidenced by the number of their gallant sons who participated
in the War of the Rebellion.
At the first call for troops a ready response was made, the roll
of honor belonged to Corporal George A. Bashford, the first
soldier to enlist from this county, April 20, 1861. Ambrose G.
Bierce, Isaac Barr, John Finton, William H. Henry and Martin L.
Stewart all of whom enlisted in Company E, Ninth Regiment Indiana
Volunteer Infantry, except Ambrose Bierce, who became a member
of Company C of the same regiment.
The Ninth Regiment was mustered into service at Indianapolis on
April 25, 1861, Robert H. Milroy, colonel. This was the first
regiment to leave the state for Virginia, departing from Indianapolis
May 29, of the same year, and on June 3, participating in the
surprise of the rebel camp at Grafton. The regiment took part
in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission
Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and took a prominent part in the Atlanta
campaign.
Warsaw's First G.A.R.
Post
On November 11, 1882, the first post of the Grand Army of the
Republic in Warsaw was chartered by Commander James R. Carahan
and Adjutant General Benj. D. House, department of Indiana. It
was known as Kosciusko Post No. 114, and was instituted with thirty-two
charter members as follows: Thomas, Hubler, Robert H. Richhart,
Nate. C. Welch, Andrew J. Bates, Chas. B. Grosspitch, Chas. V.
Pyle, N. N. Boydston, Alvin Porter, J. B. Roberds, Joseph C. Baker,
Wm. P. Seymour, Joseph B. Dodge, P. L. Runyan, H. F. Burst, John
A. Eichar, Benton Q. Morris, E. S. Blackford, E. M. Chaplin, Alexander
Moore, A. S. Milice, James M. Thomas, Austin C. Funk, H. T. Birst,
Robt. M. Hickman, S. W. Cowand, Geo. W. Pringle, James Harris,
Eli Snyder, Samuel Scott, John N. Runyan, Samuel Croxton, Francis
Moran. Nate C. Welch was chosen as the first post commander.
New Post Organized
About four years afterward, due to some dissension, a number of
the members withdrew from Kosciusko Post. A second post was then
organized to be known as Henry Chipman Post No. 442 and a charter
issued March 31, 1895. It was composed of fifty-seven charter
members, the names of all of whom are not available. They were
mustered in by Capt. Allen H. Dougall, of Fort Wayne. Col. Chas.
W. Chapman was elected to the office of the first post commander.
Post No. 442 for many years was know by the sobriquet of "Company
Q".
Merging of the Posts.
For a period of thirty years two posts of the Grand Army of the
Republic existed in Warsaw. However, the passing of time tended
to so thin the ranks of the veterans of both organizations as
well as to adjust the differences which had been responsible for
the formation of a second post. As a consequence a consolidation
was deemed advisable, and on April 3, 1916, a merger was perfected.
The consolidated post was chartered on the above date with 110
members, to be known as Warsaw Post No. 114. B. Q. Morris had
the honor to be chosen as first post commander of the consolidated
organization.
Present Officers Warsaw Post No. 114
Post Commander - E. L. Semans
Senior Vice - Benjamin Carr
Junior Vice - Jacob Elginfritz
Adjutant - Christian F. Bert
Quartermaster - I. W. Sharp
Officer of Day - John Nighswander
Officer of Guard - Noah Puntenney.
A Lone Survivor
Comrade John A. Peterson, who resides at 106 North Park avenue,
is said to be the only survivor out of the entire membership comprising
the former Henry Chipman Post No. 442. Furthermore he is the sole
survivor of a committee of ten Civil war veterans appointed to
extend a welcome to Chaplain Gage (a minister who served with
much distinction during the war), upon the occasion of the latter's
visit to Warsaw a number of years ago. Comrade Gage was Chaplain
of the Twelfth Indiana Regiment, General Reub. Williams commanding.
Mr. Peterson was one of the few members of his regiment who escaped
being taken prisoner when the regiment was trapped by the Confederates
and suffered stinging defeat and severe losses during the battle
of Richmond, Kentucky. Though having no connection with matters
pertaining to the Civil war it will not detract from the reader's
interest to make reference to the fact that Mr. Peterson is also
the only survivor of the charter membership of Forrest Lodge No.
46, Knights of Pythias, of Warsaw. Mr. Peterson is native of Seneca
county, Ohio. He was for a number of years engaged in the grocery
trade in this city as a partner in the firm of Mumaw & Peterson.
He has resided in Warsaw for a period of seventy years, having
enlisted in this city in 1862. Mr. Peterson is the grandfather
of John C. Peterson, who was killed in battle in France during
the World war and in whose honor the American Legion post of Warsaw
is named. For forty-one years Mr. Peterson was employed in the
railway mail service on the Pennsylvania line between Chicago
and Pittsburg. He is now in his eighty-seventh year and is remarkable
active for one of his age.
The Youngest Soldier
Thomas Hubler, whose name heads the list of charter members of
Kosciusko Post No. 114, was reputed to have been the youngest
soldier in the Civil war. He was a native of Warsaw and a son
of Major Henry Hubler, of the Twelfth Regiment Indiana Volunteer
Infantry. Thomas Hubler, when barely thirteen years of age, accompanied
the Twelfth Indiana, commanded by Colonel Reub. Williams, into
the war zone, and as a drummer boy, served until the close of
the conflict. Mr. Hubler then returned to Warsaw and resided here
for a number of years, later removing to Chicago, where he resided
until his death a few years ago.
The Drummer Boy of Shiloh
William Henry Mershon, known in history as "The Drummer Boy
of Shiloh," was a Warsaw product. He enlisted at the outbreak
of the war as a drummer in a company recruited at Fort Wayne by
Captain J. B. White, a former resident of Warsaw. This company
was assigned to the regiment known as the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer
Infantry. Mr. Mershon at the time of his enlistment was but sixteen
years of age and served with distinction from September 13, 1861,
until November 11, 1865.
When the body of the martyred President Lincoln reached Chicago
en route to its final resting place in Springfield, Major W. H.
Mershon was leader of the military band detailed to accompany
the funeral cortege and provide appropriate music during the last
sad rites. Mr. Mershon was a musician of recognized ability and
for a number of seasons toured the United States and Canada as
a member of a high-class musical organization known as "The
Alleghenians," Swiss Bell Ringers. In addition to participating
in the bell- ringing features, Mr. Mershon rendered his novel
and entertaining snare-drum solos, for which he was justly famous.
At a later period in his career he was prominently identified
with a number of educational institutions in charge of the musical
department. He was a former member of Kosciusko Post No. 114 of
Warsaw. William Henry
Mershon was the son of the late A. J. Mershon, one of Warsaw's
pioneer business men, and was a brother of Mrs. Lydia McComb,
who resides at 410 North Lake street. He passed away at his California
home on June 9, 1931 at the age of eighty-six years. His body
was cremated in accordance with his request, and a military funeral
service was conducted by Bartlett-Logan Post G.A.R. of Los Angeles.
The ashes of "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" occupy a place
in the beautiful Inglewood cemetery in that city.
Meritorious Service
Prominent among the soldiers from Warsaw who achieved distinction
during the Civil war may be mentioned the names of General Reub.
Williams and Colonel Joseph B. Dodge, both of whom have long since
answered the call of the Great Commander and enlisted in the regiment
of the Realm Eternal.
On April 19, 1861, Reub Williams organized the first company
to be sent from Kosciusko county to the field. Of this company
he was chosen second lieutenant. On arrival of the company at
Indianapolis it was mustered into the Twelfth Regiment of Indiana
Volunteers. With this regiment his subsequent fortunes were closely
identified during the war. Henry Hubler, also a resident of Warsaw
and a veteran of the Mexican war, was captain of the company,
but was shortly afterward promoted to the position of major of
the regiment whereupon Lieutenant Williams was elevated to the
captaincy of the company. On the 11th day of December 1861, Captain
Williams was captured by a Confederate force under Stonewall Jackson,
taken to Richmond, Va., and confined in Libby priosn where he
remained until discharged the following March.
Upon reorganization of his regiment Captain Williams was commissioned
as lieutenant-colonel, and held that rank until the battle of
Richmond, Ky. when Colonel William H. Link, commanding officer
of the regiment fell mortally wounded, when Governor Morton commissioned
Captain Williams as colonel, which rank he held until near the
close of the war, when he received the appointment of brevet brigadier-general
of volunteers from President Lincoln. After the fall of Atlanta,
General Williams was selected as a member of the court-martial
convened to try the Indiana conspirators, or "Knights of
the Golden Circle," a treasonable organization existing in
this state. At the conclusion of this court-martial General Williams
rejoined his regiment at Savannah, Ga., and commanded it on the
march through the Carolinas and Virginia to Washington, where
his regiment had the honor of leading in the grand review by special
order and was the first to pass before the president and thousands
of visitors from all parts of the country. His appointment as
brevet brigadier-general was delivered to him by General John
A. Logan in person.
Joseph B. Dodge was the leading spirit in the recruiting
of Company B and Company I, both for the Thirtieth Indiana. He
was elected to the position of captain of Company B. Upon the
occasion of the organization of the regiment he was surprised
to receive a commission as lieutenant-colonel and on October 5,
1861, he left with his regiment for the front. In April, 1862
he was promoted to the position of colonel of the regiment the
former colonel having died of wounds received at the Battle of
Shiloh on the 7th of that month. The ensuing fall he was placed
in command of the Second Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth Army
Corps, which he retained until the consolidation of the Twentieth
and Twenty-first Corps, after the Battle of Chickamauga. In December,
1863, he was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., where he remained as
president of the court-martial for the district of Tennessee until
August, 1864. He then rejoined his old regiment in the Atlanta
campaign, remaining with it until the organization was mustered
out of service, September 20, 1864. He was never severely wounded,
although he had seven different horses shot from under him. He
was captured once, during a severe night battle, but while being
taken to the confederate lines he escaped by a ruse and his two
captors were taken prisoners instead by the union forces.
Honorable Mention
Among others who enlisted from Warsaw and Kosciusko county and
served their country with distinction, the names of the following
patriots occupy a prominent place on the pages of the county's
military history.
Colonel Charles W. Chapman, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Leslie, Fourth Indiana Cavalry.
Lieutenant-Colonel N. N. Boydston, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry
Major James H. Carpenter, Seventh Indiana Cavalry
Major Henry Hubler, Twelfth Indiana Infantry Volunteers
Captain Jeremiah Kuder, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Medal of honor presented to him by congress for bravery in battle.
Surgeon John K. Leedy, Seventy-fourth Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Surgeon Edward R. Parks, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Adjutant Marshall H. Parks, acting assistant adjutant-general
of the staff of General W. B. Woods.
Surgeon Francis M. Pearman, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Assistant Surgeon Samuel M. Hayes, Thirtieth Indiana Infantry
Volunteers.
Women's Relief Corps
A few years after the founding of the posts of the Grand Army
of the Republic a women's auxiliary of each post was formed. These
auxiliaries were chartered as Women's Relief Corps and originally
had as their mission the organization of the mothers, sisters,
wives and daughters of Civil war veterans, thus to bring them
into closer friendships and assist the ex-soldiers in the maintenance
of their organizations. Now, however, membership in the Women's
Relief Corps is no longer limited to relatives of veterans, but
any woman who makes declaration of loyalty and allegiance to the
stars and stripes is eligible.
Henry Chipman Women's Relief Corps No. 162 was organized and chartered
in August, 1891. Mrs. Maria Berst was elected as the first president.
Mrs. Nora Densel served as the last presiding officer. Much of
the early history of this organization is not available, but among
the charter members yet living may be mentioned Mrs. Dora Oram,
Mrs. Mary Cook and Mrs. Alice Morris.
Kosciusko Relief Corps No. 163 was formed a couple of months later
and received its charter in October 1891, with seventy-four members
said to be the greatest number of charter members credited to
any corps in the state. The first president was Mrs. Mary A. Parks
and Mrs. Etta Haas was the last president. The names of but three
surviving charter members can be recalled -Mrs. Lydia McComb,
Mrs. Margaret Hathaway and Mrs. Nancy Walters.
Among those who served as president of Kosciusko Corps, in addition
to its first presiding officer, may be mentioned Mrs. Lydia McComb,
Mrs. Margaret Hathaway, Mrs. Edward Shorb, Mrs. Aaron Eschbach,
Mrs. Frank Leas and Mrs. Beulah Parks Frazer. Kosciusko Women's
Relief Corps was installed by Mrs. Laura Hess of Wabash, department
president at that time.
In response to a sentiment favoring consolidation that had for
some time prevailed, the two organizations perfected a merger,
and on July 24, 1916, a Women's Relief Corps to be known as Warsaw
Corps No. 162, with 199 members, received its charter. The first
president of the consolidated corps was Mrs. Mary A. Parks, her
successor as second president being her daughter, Mrs. Beulah
Parks Frazer.
Nothwithstanding the fact that many of the members had passed
to their reward, those remaining still strive to perpetuate, the
organization and hold their regular monthly meetings in the G.A.R.
rooms in the court house. The officers for the current year, recently
installed are as follows:
President --Edith Coons
Senior Vice--Leona Lonsbury
Junior Vice--Ruth Snyder
Secretary--Louise Heacock
Treasurer--Sylvia Bryan
Chaplain--Agnes Hare
Conductor--Adeline Crites
Guard--Lottie Andereck
It is a fact worthy of mention that in the year 1912 when the
state convention of the Women's Relief Corps, Department of Indiana
was held at Richmond, three of the state officers chosen at that
meeting were residents of Warsaw, namely: Mrs. Beulah Parks Frazer,
department president; Mrs. Lydia McComb, department treasurer,
Mrs. Mary A. Parks, department secretary.
At the state convention of the organization held at Gary in 1927,
Miss Venus M. Hathaway of Warsaw, was elected to the position
of department chaplain.
Mrs. Elsie Parks Chase of Denver, Colo., a native and former resident
of this city, daughter of Mrs. Mary A Parks and sister of Mrs.
Beulah Parks Frazer, had the honor to be elected, a few years
ago, to the office of national president of the Daughters of the
Grand Army of the Republic, an organization whose membership is
limited to daughter of G.A.R. members exclusively.
G.A.R. Notes of Interest
The first post commander of Kosciusko Post No. 114 was Nate C.
Welch and I. W. Sharp was the last commander. Henry Chipman Post
No. 442 had as first and last post commanders, Col. C. W. Chapman
and B. O. Morris, respectively. The latter was also chosen as
the first post commander of the consolidated organization, Warsaw
Post No. 114.
The state encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department
of Indiana was held in Warsaw in June, 1904. The session lasted
three days and was one of the largest gatherings that ever assembled
in the city. The hotels and rooming houses of both Warsaw and
Winona were taxed to capacity to accomodate the immense crowd
in attendance.
In the month of June, 1877, a soldiers' reunion was held in Warsaw.
The occasion of this event coming only about twelve years following
the close of the war, the immense throng in attendance at the
reunion, which continued for two days, was said to have been the
largest at any demonstration ever held in Warsaw up to that time.
Some conception of the Grim Reaper's steady and relentless march
through the ranks of the Warsaw G.A.R. may be formed when it is
announced that at this writing but nineteen veterans now comprise
the membership of Warsaw Post No. 114. Of this number but thirteen
are residents of Warsaw and its environs. Of the out-of-town members
Claypool has 1; North Webster 1; Mentone 1; Bourbon 3. All have
passed the octogenarian era and some register well up in the nineties.
The nineteen members of Warsaw Post No. 114 at this writing are:
Benjamin Carr, Samuel Campbell, Jacob Elginfritz, Jasper Frush,
J. H. Hankins, H. Knickerbocker, Charles Linn, John Nighswander,
John Peterson, Noah Puntenney, Alvin Robinson, I. W. Sharp, E.
L. Seamans, all of Warsaw; William H. Cattell, Mentone, C. F.
Bert, Claypool, James G. Jarrett, North Webster, John L. Ames,
Isaac Grosvenor and William H. Rosbrugh, Bourbon. Jacob Elginfritz,
ninety-seven years of age, is the oldest member.
Of the various comrades who have served as post commander of the
three posts which have existed in Warsaw the records disclose
that but six are now living.
According to the latest roster of the G.A.R. Department of Indiana,
there are 115 posts yet existant in the state. Many, however,
are said to have barely enough members to retain a charter. James
Gilmartin, of Post No. 28, Princeton, Ind., is department commander.
Terre Haute has the distinction of having been the first city
in Indiana where a post of G.A.R. was organized. That city is
the home of Morton Post No. 1. The last post to be established
in the state was William A. Ketcham Post No. 593 at Gary.
A Tribute in Verse
The following verse is from the pen of Prof. I. W. Sharp, 910
East Fort Wayne street, and was written as a tribute to the Boys
in Blue, whose ranks are so rapidly diminishing. It is a touching
reminder of comradships formed during the darkest days of the
nation's history Comrad Sharp, in company with his daughter, Miss
Frances Sharp, a couple of years ago embarked on an automobile
tour which took them to Gettysburg and other historical battlegrounds.
Comrad Sharp has prepared in book form a decidedly interesting
account of his visit to scenes made famous by the civil strife.
The verse:
Long years have passed, old friends, since we
First met in life's young day.
And friends long loved by thee and me
Since then have passed away:
But enough remain to cheer us on
And sweeten when'er we met.
The memory we hold of the many gone
And the few who are left as yet.
Warsaw Daily Times Saturday Jan. 16,
1932
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