Something I put together on local history of where I live: Friend Nebraska GAR History History must be judged in the context of the age in which it was lived When these Civil War vets came to claim there homesteads or start some kind of business they brought with them a wealth of experience, we hear of the hardships the pioneers endured, these vets where no strangers to hardship when Holmes in his oration in 1884 said: . On this day we still meet our companions in the freezing winter bivouacs(camps) and in those dreadful summer marches where every faculty of the soul seemed to depart one after another, leaving only a dumb animal power to set the teeth and to persist-- a blind belief that somewhere and at last there was bread and water. On this day, at least, we still meet and rejoice in the closest tie which is possible between men-- a tie which suffering has made indissoluble for better, for worse. Many of the founders of Friend Nebraska where Civil War vets ,they came from all the United States and the world, these towns and cities where melting pots within the melting pot of the United states. They were from all walks of life. Many of them had the common experience and bond of serving together in the Civil war. Men like Holmes spoke of: although their memories inherited would have made heroes for a century. It is the more necessary to learn the lesson afresh from perils newly sought, and perhaps it is not vain for us to tell the new generation what we learned in our day, and what we still believe. That the joy of life is living, is to put out all ones powers as far as they will go; that the measure of power is obstacles overcome; to ride boldly at what is in front of you, be it fence or enemy; to pray, not for comfort, but for combat; to keep the soldiers faith against the doubts of civil life, more besetting and harder to overcome than all the misgivings of the battlefield, and to remember that duty is not to be proved in the evil day, but then to be obeyed unquestioning; to love glory more than the temptations of wallowing ease, but to know that ones final judge and only rival is oneself: with all our failures in act and thought, these things we learned from noble enemies... The GAR IN FRIEND NEBRASKA 127 SAXON Dec. 4, 1882-1889 Post moved to Friend Lookout Mountain 127-A FRIEND 1890-1901 Charter suspended 12/31/1901 Lookout Mountain-Battle outside Chattanooga in November 1863 Met at Frantz Hall on Monday before full moon *** Membership: Charter-37 Peak-39 in 1884 Total-63+ Saxon was the Town just south of Friend it is now part of Friend what is known as Turkey Creek Precinct or Township 7 Range 1 some of the old timers know there used to be a post office there. The Gar post 127 Formed Dec 1882 they used to meet at the Sunflower School House ,or School District 100 It was located one-half mile north 6 miles east and 2 north of Milligan in section 26 Turkey Creek Precinct. Gar Post 127 Lookout Mt. (post usually took a name that meant something to those men On November 23, 1863 the Battle Above the Clouds was fought on the slopes of Lookout Mountain. The majority of hand to hand combat took place near Cravens house about halfway to the summit. Lookout Mountains unique shape and location can in some conditions cause a unique weather phenomenon. After dawn, fog will descend from the cooler mountain top to the valley below and stop about halfway down. This interesting natural occurrence took place the day of the battle and is the reason for its romantic . name Post 127 moved to Friend in 1889 it appears Saxon disappeared as being town about then. More research could be done on that later. Records I have located show on a letter written from Nebraska Grand Army of the Republic May 16,1881 Addressed to the Asst. Postmaster Friendville Nebraska (who at that time was Edward Whitcomb, civil war vet) Letter Read: Comrade, Will you please send me the name of a soldier in your town or near there who you think would be interested in the establishment of a Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Fraternally Yours Bradford P. Cook David City Nebr. Whitcomb wrote back on the same letter: I think I can work the matter out for you Very Truly E. Whitcomb Asst. Postmaster On the back of same letter is: E. Whitcomb#130 Friendville. Neb Sent Muster Roll &Copy R&R May 19,1881 Post 130 Originally called W.F.Stacey Named after Sgt. Walter F.Stacey Who from the date he died was the year before the Post was officially established Later the name was changed to W.T. Sherman after the Great General the year he died ,whom many from Post 130 served under. 130 FRIEND Jan. 3, 1883-1935 Post disbanded 9/16/1935 W.F.Stacey Sgt. Walter F. Stacey-33rd Pa. Inf., 1840-1882...Saline County pioneer... changed in 1891 to W.T.Sherman Major General William Tecumseh Sherman 1820-1891...Gen. Sherman died Feb. 14, 1891 Met at IOOF Hall on 1st & 3rd Tuesday Membership: Charter-27 Peak-45 in 1890 Total-82+ Last known member: Hiram Shufeldt died 8/21/1938 Age 89 In speaking to Jolleen Prokup from Friend recently she told me she grew up near the Shufeldts and as a little girl she remembers he always wanted her to play Marching Through Georgia. (Shermans March to the sea ) Verse 1 Bring the good old bugle, boys, well sing another song Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along Sing it as we used to sing it, 50,000 strong[2] While we were marching through Georgia. Chorus Hurrah! Hurrah! we bring the jubilee![3] Hurrah! Hurrah! the flag that makes you free! So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea While we were marching through Georgia. Verse 2 How the darkies shouted when they heard the joyful sound How the turkeys gobbled which our commissary found How the sweet potatoes even started from the ground While we were marching through Georgia. Verse 3 Yes and there were Union men who wept with joyful tears, When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years; Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers, While we were marching through Georgia. Verse 4 Shermans dashing Yankee boys will never make the coast! So the saucy rebels said and twas a handsome boast Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon with the Host While we were marching through Georgia. Verse 5 So we made a thoroughfare for freedom and her train, Sixty miles of latitude, three hundred to the main; Treason fled before us, for resistance was in vain While we were marching through Georgia. During the march, the soldiers sang many songs, but they did not include the most famous. In 1865, Henry Clay Work wrote the song Marching Through Georgia, which for many defined the campaign. Sherman despised the song, in part because it was played at almost every public appearance that he attended,[7] but it was widely popular with soldiers of wars in the 20th century. The song underrates the strength of Shermans army by 20% in the line, Sing it as we used to sing it, 50,000 strong. Wikipedia As we can see some of the details of the origins of the Friend Gar I would like to point out some of its history and traditions which should give us a clearer picture of our modern memorial day celebration. Below are excerpts from the record Minutes of the Meetings which I located at the Nebraska Historical society in Lincoln along with muster roll and a book entitled War Records all for post 130. W.T Sherman Post 130 May 23,1894 ...special meeting called for purpose of perfecting arrangements for the proper observance of Memorial and Decoration Day Ceremonies... (notice it speaks of Memorial and Decoration Day Ceremonies, At first I did not see why it had two names and why is the word ceremonies used? May 30 , 1884 was on Friday June 1, 1897 ...the commander reports a collection for Decoration Day Ceremonies of $22.50. which amount was expended as follows Rev. Joseph Presson for delivering oration $15.00 Rev. Cobb for preaching memorial sermon $5.00 Music$.80 Mrs. Warren and sons for light and janitorial service $1.70 The Adjunct was instructed to draft a suitable resolution expressing the thanks of this Post to Mrs. Warren and Sons for the free use of their Opera House on Decoration Day. May 30 1887 fell on a Sunday May 17, 1898 ...moved and carried that Rev. Cobb be engaged to preach Memorial Sermon to be preached at the Methodist Church. Moved and carried that a committee of 4 be appointed by commander to arrange for Decoration Day and Memorial Sunday May 30 th that year fell on a Monday the reason for the two names being revealed Decoration Day always was on May 30, Memorial Sunday was the closest Sunday. Borrowing an excerpt from Republican city history which I think would be typical for the time Republican City had many old Settlers? picnics in the groves and along the river. Decoration Day was a long awaited day, the parade to the cemetery from town with the Civil War Veterans leading, The Woman?s Relief Corps ladies with wild flowers to decorate the soldiers graves. Everyone marched around, led by one of the Veterans, each year they became feebler, some rode in buggies, later cars, and then a son of a Veteran led the parade. There were many picnics at noon all over town. At 2:00 o?clock a very large crowd enjoyed the program at the Opera House over the stores. Nebraska Centennial in and around Republican city 1867-1967 From the Post 130 Minutes again June 30 1897 Comrades Bailey and Suddith and Moody volunteered as a committee to decorate church and Opera House for Memorial and Decoration ceremonies. The commander reports good success in his canvas for funds to defray expenses of same .It was decided that our usual march to the cemeteries is dispensed with this year and that we go by conveyances. (Wagons) From the Friend Telegraph June 1885 re :Decoration Day ...Every year we visit the cemeteries for the purpose of assisting in this beloved yet sad work. We find that the number has increased in the silent city of the dead and but a few short years will have passed ere we all will have joined the great throng already passed over. Owing to the bad condition of the roads, the only grave in Friend cemetery (authors note :this would have to be Friendville Cemetery where this lone veteran is buried and forgotten) was appropriately decorated by a squad of soldiers during the forenoon at 1 pm. The column formed headed by the splendid Friend Cornet Band, and Followed by Stacy Post 130 and Lookout Mt. Post 127 G.A.R. and camp No. 10 Sons of Veterans, marched to the vacant space in front of the Depot where two negatives were taken of them . From there the column, followed by a large number of teams, marched to Andrews Cemetery where the graves where appropriately decorated, after which Rev. Clark opened the exercise by an excellent prayer which was followed by music and then one of those happy addresses for which Rev. Presson has become noted in this community , and at the conclusion the homeward march was taken. The interest taken in these exercises by our people, is commendable indeed , and it is not that one sees a larger crowd than the one that thronged our streets on that occasion. There are so many more things that can and should be said about these great people and their service to our Republic ,but I would note that as time went on the Civil War vets died off one by one ,other wars came and others made similar sacrifices after World War I the friend opera house became the Legion Hall as by that time it looks like it was for a while the GAR hall. The old building still standing on what is now called 2nd St., the Old Warren Block ,Site of the Warren Opera House, Has tremendous Historical Significance to our little town and our State and our country. Because of the Veterans alone I believe their memory on this Decoration day is worthy of our consideration and preservation .The Opera House is so much more than Brick ,mortar and wood. Its walls can talk if we will take the time to listen.Lets us consider saving our heritage. We want our children to learn history in our schools, but what good does it do if we forget our own. There is also the other mater of that one lone soldier who was buried out at the Friendville Cemetery. A place that forgets it past and where it came from has lost its soul. A little later on in Friends history I find an account of a café Named Gibsons which was purchased from a boy who went to the battle front and never returned it was located where the American Legion now is. On this Memorial Day let us one again consider the rock from which we were hewn and let us honor those great men who have gone before us to that silent city,and let us give thanks to those brave men and women who have served and are now serving this still great country we live in ,with a special remembrance to those who gave all. God Bless America Rick Sheehan Friend Nebraska This also is part of the soldiers faith: Having known great things, to be content with silence. a little song sung by a warlike people on the Danube, which seemed to me fit for a soldiers last word, another song of the sword, but a song of the sword in its scabbard, a song of oblivion and peace. A soldier has been buried on the battlefield. And when the wind in the tree-tops roared, The soldier asked from the deep dark grave: Did the banner flutter then? Not so, my hero, the wind replied. The fight is done, but the banner won, Thy comrades of old have borne it hence, Have borne it in triumph hence. Then the soldier spake from the deep dark grave: I am content. Then he heareth the lovers laughing pass, and the soldier asks once more: Are these not the voices of them that love, That love--and remember me? Not so, my hero, the lovers say, We are those that remember not; For the spring has come and the earth has smiled, And the dead must be forgot. Then the soldier spake from the deep dark grave: I am content.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 16:58:01 +0000
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