05/22/2008
By Pat Baker It was Oct. 1, 1866. The Civil War was over and returning comrades sought the company of each other. A group of 18 "old soldiers" met in Dakota City. The minutes of the meeting, written by pencil on tablet paper, read: "At a meeting called for the purpose of taking the proper steps for obtaining a charter for organizing the Grand Army of the Republic, Capt. Lock was chosen Chairman and M.D. Williams, Secretary. Moved that we send for a charter. Carried." On the reverse side of the paper was a list of the men's names and the amount of money donated by each. The total was $12.75. Only six names were required, and a $10 fee. The Grand Army of the Republic was an organization of former soldiers who, in the Army of the Union, helped crush the terrible rebellion. After its founding in March, 1866, the G.A.R. spread over the states in the Midwest like a prairie fire, starting in Illinois, moving to Wisconsin, and then to Iowa. Its objects were so noble, and so identified with the interests of these soldiers. In the Civil War the men took up arms, and with their lives in their hands, marched to battle for their country. They were promised they would be remembered and rewarded on their return, or if they fell, their families would be cared for and protected. Whenever a Post of the Grand Army of the Republic was opened, old soldiers rushed to it to be "mustered in" as they did to the recruiting posts at the war's first call. They understood that this organization was exclusively their own, for the protection of them and their interests - to aid with its charity the maimed and helpless soldier and the dependent families of the fallen. They sought to secure employment for those returned soldiers who had vainly sought it for themselves, and whose very tattered uniforms seemed evidence of demerit in the eyes of many who never dared themselves to serve and take on the war's dangerous responsibilities. Finally, if it should become necessary, they were to assert, quietly as the dropping of a ballot but powerfully as the rush of an army with banners, the rights of the soldiers to places of trust and honor. Five days after their first meeting, On Oct. 6, 1866, the charter for Post #47 of Dakota District of Humboldt Department of Iowa was approved and sent to Captain John H. Ford in Dakota City. The names of the founders were listed on the charter in elegant script: M.D. Williams, A.B. West, G.T. Cass, Wm. Edson, I. McHenry, Alex Smith, J.N. McHenry, John Means, Charles Hall, John H. Ford, W.H. Lock, J.B. Collier, B.B. Hulsizer, E. A. Belcher, N. Barnes (A. Baines ?), John Fairman, A.M. Adams and H.C. Cusey. Names of other men attending the meetings, but not listed on the charter, were H.P. Cragg, J.M. Schleicher, John Rose, and W. Barrett. Many of these "old soldiers" were young men. As far as we can tell, in 1866 the oldest were John Means, who was 39; W.H. Lock, 38; and George Cass, 36. Edson was 32 and A.B. West was 27. Cusey, Cragg, Fairman, and Schleicher were 26. Al Adams was 23 and E.A. Belcher, 22. S.B. Olney of the Fort Dodge Post wrote to his friend John Ford that he and as many other charter members as possible should come to Fort Dodge to be initiated on Oct. 16 or 17. If that was not possible, "he (Assistant Adjutant General Joseph Lyman) will come up there I suppose." Olney mentioned that "these two Posts will be expected to pay the expenses of the person coming to organize us." Why was the G.A.R. organized in Dakota City instead of Humboldt? In 1866 Dakota (as it was known then) had been in existence for 8 years and was the county seat. Many of the veterans lived there or in the rural areas surrounding it. Springvale (later Humboldt) was only 3 years old. The attention of the town founders was on platting the streets, selling lots and building the mill and dam. Captain Lock (later his name is spelled Locke) may have been chosen chairman of the original meeting, but M.D. Williams, secretary, received most of the mail. The G.A.R. Post quickly received instructions and rituals on how to proceed. Dues were 5 cents per month for paying members. Included in the materials saved by G.A.R Dakota Post #47 was a booklet of "Regulations." (We think this is the title. It has been nibbled by a small creature and parts of some pages are missing). In it is the secret 1866 initiatory ritual for "mustering in." The G.A.R. assured prospective members that "whatever secrecy there is about this organization is only such as surrounds the most benign and powerful civil orders of the day, as a necessity for their protection and strength, and to better secure charitable objects." The initiates were first introduced as prisoners, being led to the encampment (meeting place) by the Guard. The prisoners say they are not spies, but seek to enlist in the G.A.R. After much questioning, the "strangers" are hoodwinked (blindfolded) and led by a circuitous route to where they kneel before an empty coffin covered with a flag, which contained crossed swords and a Bible. After much speech making, the firing of rounds of gunfire, pledging and sharing of secrets, the new members were welcomed into the fold. Another booklet entitled "Assembly Proceedings" includes a more simplified mustering-in ceremony. The small (4 x 5) 1867 Issue of "Rules and Regulations" of the Grand Army of the Republic is 16 pages long. As these proceedings could be a bit complicated for some officers, cards with the words to say for each office were printed. We have cards for the Orderly and the Officer of the Guard. The new Post #47 received many advertisements for proper forms to be filled out, badges to be worn, and office supplies. A newsletter was printed by the Iowa G.A.R. entitled "The Picket Guard." The Humboldt County Historical Museum has a copy of the first issue, dated Jan. 15, 1867. It is eight pages in length on 11x17 newsprint. Included are articles on the Bounty Act, The Soldiers Orphans Home, Missing Soldiers and Reconstruction. One article lists all 73 G.A.R. Posts in Iowa at that time. Among the treasures saved at the Museum is a card and a certificate from The National Association of Union Ex-Prisoners of War. Albert M. Adams was a member of this organization, having been held prisoner at Andersonville for several months. When turned loose he weighted 95 pounds. He weighed 145 pounds when taken prisoner. A.M. Adams was in Company F, the 2nd Iowa Cavalry and before that, Company F, 42nd Massachusetts Infantry. John Ford, G.T. Cass, H.C. Cusey, John Means, B.B. Hulsizer, and the McHenrys served together in 32nd Infantry, Company I from Humboldt County. Harry P. Cragg and John Fairman were in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry, Company L. Edson served in the 32nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry and Schleicher was in "Fremont's Hussars," Co. E, the 5th Iowa Cavalry from Dubuque. Those from other states were W.H. Lock, 18th Connecticut Infantry; A.B. West, 13th Illinois Volunteer Infantry; and E.A. Belcher, 47th Wisconsin Infantry. Not much is known about what happened to G.A.R. Post #47 at Dakota City. The 1884 History of Humboldt County reports that Post #47 did not long survive. These returning soldiers were interested in settling down, getting on with their farming, and earning a living. Nationwide, the G.A.R. endured in spite of a lack of attendance of its members. W. H. Lock stayed around, but Albert M. Adams was out of state beginning in 1867 and did not settle down permanently until he became editor of the Humboldt County Independent in 1874. M.D. Williams was originally from New York and came to Humboldt County with Taft's colony. The G.A.R. and the County Agricultural Society were the only organizations he was active in, except teaching Sunday school. He was here in 1870, but was gone by 1880. His collection of G.A.R. documents and letters were given to Adams. Beginning in 1878 a membership surge in the G.A.R. took place across the country. The men, having established themselves in their communities, developed the organization into one that stressed the glories of the war, somewhat changing the original focus. Several other military groups were created in Humboldt County during this time involving some of the same men. These include the Dakota Lodge #65, Legion of Honor; Humboldt County Rifles; and Company G, 7th regiment, N.G. of Iowa. A.M. Adams belonged to every one of them. In Humboldt, Albert Rowley Post #193 G.A.R. was organized on May 24, 1883. Rowley was a native of Humboldt who died during the Civil War, April 11, 1864, age 28 years. Franklin F. French was instrumental in the Posts' organization and served as its first commander. Capt. Lock, A.B. West, William Edson, E.A. Belcher and Al Adams were members, transferring from Post #47 in Dakota City. They erected the G.A.R. building on Sumner Avenue where Humboldt Chiropractic and the Red Carpet Salon are now located. There the Grand Army of the Republic and its auxiliary, the Women's Relief Corps, held their many meetings and events. Oliver DeGroote recalled, "in the earliest days, the veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic marched to the cemetery on Memorial Day followed by a hundred teams and wagons. Often preceding the march, patriotic services were held at the bridge followed by the oration of the day, the music and the Gettysburg Address. The crowds on the sidewalks of Sumner Avenue saluted the passing flags, for the Civil War was still fresh in the minds of the people." G.A.R Post #193 was responsible for the erection of the Old Soldiers Monument in Humboldt's Union Cemetery on May 30, 1885. Made of white bronze, it measures 82 feet, 4 inches in height. By 1922, only a few "old soldiers" were still living. Let us remember these Civil War Veterans. |
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The Humboldt
Independent • Official paper of Humboldt County
Telephone: (515)
332-2514 |
