G.A.R. POST, Ida Grove, Ida County, Iowa


Submitted by Conley Wolterman

The Matthew Gray Post #93 of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in the fall of 1881 with 27 charter members. The final membership reached 127. It lasted until the last member, James Deal, died in 1930. The post was given its name in honor of Matthew Gray, a highly respected soldier who had died just before the organization.

For many years, the Mathew Gray Post was very active and great enthusiasm was displayed in the observance of Decoration Day and the Fourth of July. Each year on those days, the Civil War Veterans would dress in their blue uniforms, one carrying a large flag and the rest a rifle, and led the parade. "Kim" Page, a tall dressy man with a long beard, usually served as officer of the day. He rode a horse and with formality marshaled his men and marched to the place of the meeting. At times they marched to the cemetery; but as they grew order, they rode in carriages, formed a line at the cemetery, and fired salutes over each comrade s grave.

Richard Williams and James Deal were the last ones to answer the last roll call. Mr. Williams of Schuylkill Co., Pa., enlisted in 1864 and became a member of Battery F, 1st Illinois Light Artillery. He died April 21, 1929 at the age of 83 years.

Mr. Deal enlisted at Boone, Ia., March 1862 and served with Co. K Iowa Infantry. He received an honorable discharge at Jefferson Barracks in 1863, having been disabled by a severe leg injury while participating in the Battle at Iuka, Miss. He died March 12, 1930 at the age of 87 years.

Charter Members

Adams, David, Private, D Co., 167th Pa. Infantry, Joined 8 Sept. 1882.
Baker, Albert T., Pvt, Co. B, 22 Ia. Inf.Age 19, res. Johnson Co, Ia.
Barnes, George F., Franklin Co.,Vt., Pvt., Co. B, 4 Iowa Cavalry, Children: Gertrude M, Raymond F. Wife: Melvena, born NY, (carpenter)
Battin, Bazel D., Ohio, Corp., B Co., 33rd (dau.: Amanda), born 1838, Harr. Co.
Bennett, Eralza A., Co D, 20 Iowa, Prairie Mills, Il., buried: Ida Grove, Ia. Died Aug. 24, 1894.
Brannan, T. S., Keysville, NY, mason, Private, C Co., 10 Ia. Infantry. Died Jan. 12, 1915, Ida Grove, Ia.
Brown, Henry, Pvt., Co. F, 170 Ohio Inf.
Carr, S. V., Ohio, Co.G, 8 Mn. Inf. Civil War & Indian War, died Aug. 28, 1911, Marshalltown, Ia.
Curtis, Benj. F., Monroe Co., Mi., mason, Private, Co. A, 4 Michigan Infantry.
Dennis, S. W., Co.A , 8 Iowa.
Fisk, L H., 13 Wisc. Light Battery.
Harvey, George, Veterinarian, Pvt. Co. C, 20th Ia. Inf., died Nov. 15, 1915 at Oregon.
Hyatt, Jesse, Private, I Co., 6 Wisc.
Johnston, R., Private, C Co., 9 Iowa Infantry.
Koker, M. D., Pvt., Co. H, 92 Illinois Infantry
Kuchel, Joseph, Pvt., Co. G, 20 Iowa.
Lantz, Henry A., Pvt., Co. D, 8th Iowa.
Merrill, S. R., Mason, Private, C 8th Illinois Cavalry.
Miller, Homer A., Trumbull, Ohio, Lawyer, Corp., Co. H 44 Wisc.
Parrott, T. M., Iowa, C Co., 44th Iowa.
Rogers, Jos., Pvt., Co. L, 2 N.Y., Mounted Rifles, buried at Mt. Hope Cem., Battle Creek, Iowa. Children: Chas, Frank, Jos., Loyd, Lucy, and Maud.
Sommers, J. W., Pvt., Co. G, 76th Ill. Inf. Died Aug. 2, 1919, Ida Grove, Ia.
Stoneking, Johnson S., Pvt., Co. I, 20th Iowa Infantry, born Pa.
Wilkinson, James F., Kansasheir, England, Pvt., Co. F, 104 Illinois Infantry.
Worcester, Edward L., 1st. Lt., Co.L, 1 Maine H. Artillery, also Co. B.
Worchester, H. A., Det. Service Hdqt. 

Members that followed

Allison, Samuel C., Pvt., Co.E, 5 Iowa Inf, Co. G 5th Cav., Buffalo Grove, Pa.
Babcock, Daniel A., Cedar Falls Post #222, Age 24, b. 7-29, 1837, Winchester, Vt. Co. A, 14 Ia. Inf., Tr to Co. K 7th Cav. Died June 15, 1906.
Backman, Samuel, Co. I, 2 Mn. Inf., died Aug. 30, 1898, buried Ida Grove, Ia.
Baker, Edward, Co. I, 21 Ia. Inf.
Barnes, Leonard B., Franklin Co., Vt., Pvt., Co. H, 21 Ia. Inf., died July 1901, buried: Sibley, Ia.,
Beaver, Wm. F., Pvt., Co. C, 1 Wis. Inf., Blacksmith, buried: Ida Grove, Ia.
Besore, Jacob H., born Mercersburg, Pa., Wife: Jemimah Sheriall, (Pa.), Son: Calvin Ferguson Besore, Pvt., Co. B, 12 Md. Inf.
Blackman, Alpheus T., Wabash Co., Ind., Born: Feb. 28, 1843, Father: Alpheus, Mother: Sarah Ann Butler, Wife: Louisa Grube 1842, Children: Charles, Dudley, Harry, Schuyler C., 1st. Lt., Co. L, 119 Indiana Inf.
Blair, Lyman G. , Boscobel, Il., Pvt., Co. M, 1 Wis. Cav., Bugler, Photographer.
Block, Ferdinand H., Pvt., Co. B 33 Ill. Inf.
Brady, Wm. H. (wounded in action), born May 4, 1845, York Co, Pa, Pvt. Co. B 15 U.S. Infantry, Co. D, 47 Pa. Inf., died Apr. 19, 1923, children: John C, Alice, Gardner, Viola, Joseph, Bessie. Wife: Mathilda Meyers, Pa.
Bronson, Eugene C., Pvt., Co. C 45 Ia. Inf.,
Burnham, Samuel A., shot left leg, Sullivan Co., NY, Pvt. Co I, 2 Reg, NY H. Art., Battle of Chancellersville, Va. , buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Burrows, James A., Co. H, 7 Ill. Inf., tr to Lincoln, Ne.
Cain, Dennis, Pvt., Co. A, 12 Ill. Cav., died 1912, buried Ida Grove, Ia., farmer.
Case, Henry, Pvt., Co I, 27 Ia. Inf.,( N.Y.)
Churchill, Enoch, Pvt., Co. C, 26 Ia. Inf. Buried Ida Grove, Iowa.
Cline, Cullen E., Pvt., Co. D, 7 Ill. Inf.,
Clouse, Mathias, Pvt., Co. A, 3 Ia. Inf., Buried: Ida Grove, Ia.
Collins, Benjamin D, Cape May Co., NJ, Pvt., Co. I, 110 Ill. Inf, D, 40 Ill. Inf., Died Aug. 30, 1899, Ida Grove, Ia.
Colvin, William, Pvt., Co. C, 32 Ia. Inf., From NY, buried Ida Grove, Ia.
Conger Seymour, Pvt., Co. E, 1 Vt. Cav., Wounded in action, bur. Ida Grove, Ia.
Cooper, S. B., Pvt., Co. H, 1 W.Va. L. Art., Wife: Catherine Teagarden (Pa.), Children: Rosa A., Willie, Cal, Bertie, Nettie, died Jan. 19, 1911: Okla.
Davis, John H., Pvt., Co I, 84 Pa. Inf. Born Clearfield Co., Pa.
Davis, John S., Corp., Co. D, 153 Ill. Inf.
Davis, Reubin H., Pvt., Co. B, 71 Ill. Inf., Died Sept. 30, 1913.
Decker, Charles, Pvt., Co. I, 20 Ia. Inf., b. July 2, 1840 Allen Co, Ohio, d. July 18, 1919, Floyd Cem, S.C. Ia.
Dennis, Samuel W., Pvt., Co. A, 8 Ia. Inf., Born N.Y.
Dick, John, b. Mercer Co, Pa., Pvt., Co. B, 22 Ia. Inf.
Dowling, Norton H., NY, Pvt., Co. I, 55 Ill. Vol. Inf., gun shot right leg, wounded, Member one year.
Edgar, Chas. W., born Pa., Pvt., Co. E, 13 Wisc. Inf., died Feb. 3, 1927, buried ISH Cem., Marshalltown, Iowa.
Earhardt, Louis, Pvt., Co. F, 52 Ill. Inf., Musician.
Ferguson, Daniel B., born Bradford Co., Pa. Great niece: Lora Noll: Mrs. Jim Noll, Pvt., Co. E, 2 Ia. Cav,, died May 17, 1914, ISH Cem. Marshalltown, Ia.
Fetrow, Abel, Pvt., Co. F, 20 Pa. Cav., born Nov. 24, 1842, Prisoner of War, Captured at Bath, W. Va. 7 Sept. 1863 Mustered out 6 Jan. 1864, died on Mar. 24, 1902, buried Ida Grove, Ia.
Finley, John , born Scotland, Pvt., Co. C, 2 Ia. Cav., died May 3, 1917, buried Ida Grove, Iowa.
Fischer, Austin, Pvt., Co. K, 12 Wis. Inf., Buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Fisk, Lucien H., Pvt. 13th Wis. Battery Lt. Art., Bugler, not member 1883.
Forncrook, Jabez Co., Pvt., Co. A, 9 N.Y. H Artillery, Transfer Ft. Scott, Ks. 1897.
Frey, John A., Pvt., Co. G, 156 Ill. Inf., Died: April 11, 1926, Sioux City, Ia.
Friott, George H., Pvt., Co. A, 6 Vt. Inf., Born May 26, 1832 @Vermont, Died Apr. 25, 1902 (Mo.), buried Woodbury Co., Moville, Arlington Cem., Arlington Twp., Son: Geo. A. Friott, dau.: Mrs. J. F. Pane.
Gano, Wm. S., Pvt., Co. B, 35 Ia. Inf., Cherokee Co., Ia., Diamond Cemetery
Garrett, John S. , 2nd Lt., Co. K, 83 Ill. Inf. Member until 1884, born Vincennes, Indiana, farmer at Victoria, Illinois
Gleason, John , Corp., Co. I, 17 Ill. Cav., Owego, NY, bugler, moved to Chicago, Illinois, member until 1898.
Kiner, Frederick F., Co. I, 14th Iowa Inf., Died at Soldiers Home, Marshalltown, Ia., born: Perry Co., Pa. 1833. Sons: F. C. Kiner, H. A. Kiner, S. W. Kiner.
Ewers, William, Pvt., Co. B, 2 Ia. Infantry, Born June 6, 1846, Rochester, N.Y., Died at Delmont, S.D., 1916.
Evans, Woodford, Pvt., Co. D, 22 Ill. Inf., Pvt., Co. D, 34 Iowa Infantry.
Eicholtz, Jacob G., Pvt., Co. A, 103 Pa. Inf.
Hackett, Harrison, Pvt., Co. G, 3 Mn. Inf.
Hagler, Thompson, Pvt., Co. I, 9 Ia. Cav., Died: June 9, 1893, buried Ida Grove, Iowa.
Harper, Adam, Corp., Co. H, 125 Ill. Inf., Born 1836 in Ohio, died 1912, buried Battle Creek, Iowa. Children: Mrs. Al Leonard.
Harrington, James, Pvt., Co. B, 27 Ia. Inf. Born: Feb. 7, 1839 (Pa.), died: Sept. 9, 1926 at Sioux City, Ia.
Haskel, Frederick H., Pvt., Co. F, 16 N.H. Inf., born Feb. 27, 1842 in N. H., Died Oct. 15, 1915, buried at River- Side Cem., Marshalltown, Iowa.
Haun, George J. , Corp., Co. M, 2 Ia. Cav., Died April 13, 1914, buried at Ida Grove, Iowa
Juelfs, Jacob , Pvt., Co. G, 10 Illinois Inf., Died November 6, 1918, buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Johnson, Peter , 4th Illinois Cavalry, Battles of Ft. Donaldson, Shiloh, Gettysburg, Vicksburg. Born May 1, 1840 Sweden, died Aug. 19, 1925, buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Johnston, Richard, Pvt., Co. C, 9 Ia. Cav.
Johnson, Sylvanus - Born, Ohio, Pvt., Co. B, 24 Iowa Inf.
Ingman, Luke D., Born Ohio, Pvt., Co. A, 5 Iowa Inf.,
Higgins, Julius C., Born Mo., Pvt., Co. D, 20 Iowa Inf., Died July 4, 1905, buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Hitchcock, Lucius, Born Vt., Pvt., Co. B, 33 Wisc. Inf.
House, Theodore M., born N.Y., Pvt., Co. H, 177 N.Y. Inf.,
Hyatt, Jesse H., Ida Grove, Ia., Pvt., Co. I, 6 Wis. Inf.
McDonald, Herman W., Born Pa., Pvt., Co. A, 5 Iowa Infantry.
McWilliams, George W., Medal Of Honor Winner, born at Waterford, Pa., died Aug. 11, 1900, buried Ida Grove, Iowa. Gunshot wound left leg, was Captured Fort Fisher and Wilmington. Wife: Jennie H., Child: Alice. (Age: 57) (job: County Surveyor)
Merrill, Seth R., Co. C, 8 Illinois Cav.
Meyer, William F., born in Ohio. Pvt., Co. E, 1 Mn. H. Artillery. In Civil War and Indian War.
Miller, Aretas H., died: April 28, 1913, Pvt., Co. A, 55 Ohio Vol. Infantry, Fought at Chancellorsville, 1863. Rebels surprised them in camp. Moved to Nebraska, March, 1901.
Myers, Tempest, Born in Pa., Pvt., Co. C, 3 Pa. Lt. Artillery. Buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Nack, Otto, born in Prussia. Pvt., Co. L, 1 N.Y. Cav. Died Apr. 28, 1919, buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Nicoll, David, Born Feb. 22, 1841, N.Y. Pvt., Co. E, Knapp s Pa. Bat., Gunshot wound right arm/shoulder, Wounded in action. Died Oct. 5, 1929, buried at Red Oak, Iowa.
Nimocks, Adam, born New York, Sgt., Co. A, 92 N.Y. Infantry, Died Dec. 31, 1922, Ida Grove, Ia.
Northrop, Thomas, Born New York, Pvt., Co. K, 35 Iowa Infantry. Buried at Ida Grove, Ia. 1917.
Oviatt, Elisha L., Born in Ohio, Pvt., Co. D, 5 Iowa Infantry, died: Sept. 15, 1907, Ida Grove, Ia.
Page, L. Kimbal, wounded in action At Shiloh, Pvt., Co. F, 16 Ia. Inf., Died Jan. 6, 1910, Ida Grove, Iowa
Paine, Joseph S., Born in Maine, Corp., Co. F, 1 Wis. H. Artillery.
Percival, Stephen, buried Ida Grove, Ia. Pvt., Co. C, 1 Mich. Lt. Artillery.
Pettit, Kneeland S., Born in New York, Sgt., Co. B, 157 N.Y. Infantry, Cap. in action, Chancellorsville, Va. Lt., Co. F, U.S. Colored Troops
Rollins, Chas. W., Born E. Corinth, Me., Private, G Co., 31 Ia. Infantry. Buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Roop, David, Pvt., Co. I, 87 Pa. Inf. Died Apr. 26, 1915, Odebolt, Ia.
Ross, William P., born Davis Co., Mo. Pvt., Co. K, 48 Mo. Infantry.
Rumple, Elias. M., Born Perry Co., Pa. Pvt., Co. E, 31 Iowa Vol. Infantry. Born Dec. 27, 1839, died Feb. 19, 1927: Corona, Ca.
Sales, John, born in Canada. Pvt., Co. H, 4 Mich. Infantry
Sauer, Julius, Pvt., Co. C, 46 Ill. Inf., Born in Baden, Germany.
Schleiter, Alfred, Pvt, Co. I, 3 Ia. Inf., Died May 14, 1895, Boone, Iowa. Buried: W. Linwood Cemetery.
Seamands, Sanders R., trans. Castana, Ia. Pvt., Co. M, 2 Iowa Vol. Cavalry
Shearer, Jacob L., born Jan 22, 1842, Ind., Pvt., Co. H, 36 Iowa Infantry. Died June 4, 1912, Marshalltown, Ia. Buried Riverside Cemetery.
Spotswood, Thadeus C., born in Pa. Pvt., Co. F, 1 N.Y. Lt. Artillery.
Stackhouse, Charles, Born Lafayette, Ind., Pvt., Co. D, 10 Ind. Infantry.
Strong, Parmalee D. , born New York, Pvt., Co. C, 2 Iowa Cavalry, Died Nov. 4, 1910, Ia. Soldrs. Home, I.S.H. Cem., Marshalltown, Iowa.
Swartz, Henry, born Union Co., Pa. 1829, Pvt., Co. F, 10 Iowa Infantry, Died March 1, 1904.
Tenney, Sampson, Sgt., Co. C, 102 Ill. Inf. Buried: Ida Grove, Ia.
Todd, Benjamin W., born Maryland, Pvt., Co. F, 112 Ill. Infantry.
Tourgee, Henry H., born Ohio Pvt., Co. K, 7 Kan. Cav. Died Nov. 11, 1904, Ida Grove, Ia.
Walton, George W., born New York City. Pvt., Co. G, 1 Iowa Cavalry, Died Oct. 31, 1917, Buried: Dubuque, Iowa.
Washburn, John T. Pvt., Co. C, 74 Ill. Inf., Died Apr. 29, 1910, Sabula, Iowa.
Weisensee, Peter Pvt., Co. A, 11 Ill. Cav. Bugler, died Apr. 22, 1896, Buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.
Weiser, John S. Pvt., Co. G, 130 Pa. Inf. 2 Lt., Co. K, 22 Pa. Cavalry.
Weldon, J. W. Co. B, 31 Wisc. Infantry.
Weller, James Pvt., Co. F, 2 Wisc. Cav.
Wert, Benjamin Pvt., Co. C, 22 Ia. Vol. Inf., Prisoner of War Oct. 19, 1864, Cedar Creek, Va., paroled.
Westfall, John Pvt., Co. H, 100 Ind. Inf., Aug. 28, 1862 June 8, 1865.
Whinery, Arthur Seaman, Gunboat Silver Lake No. 23, died Nov. 14, 1909, Buried at Ida Grove,Iowa.
Whitney, Oscar P. Pvt., Co. A, 23 Wis. Inf. Prisoner of War, Nov. 3, 1863, must. Out July 4, 1865, born N. Y.
Wilkinson, William Pvt., Co. G, 8 Ill. Inf. Born Lancastershire, England, Died May 23, 1888.
Williams, Richard Pvt., Co. I, 1 Ill. Art., Born Oct. 20, 1845, Schuylkill Co, Pa., died Apr. 21, 1929, Ida Grove, Iowa.
Wintrode, Edward Pvt, Co. G, 74 Pa. Inf., Born Adams Co., Pa., Buried at Ida Grove, Iowa.