~Poetry published in LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, June 2, 1891

 

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
June 2, 1891

DECORATION DAY
A FINE DAY—A LARGE CROWD—ELOQUENT AND APPROPRIATE SPEECHES

LeMars has seldom, if ever, had a celebration of the day which was as well
attended as that of Saturday. At the hour for the parade, hundreds of people
were gathered on the streets and great interest was manifested. The
procession formed at the corner of Sixth and Main streets. The procession
was formed as announced in the program of the day, with the exception of the
civic societies. The G. A. R. Post and Co. G. were in line. The procession
was a long one. The ceremonies at the cemetery were attended with the usual
serious reflections. No one can attend this annually occurrence event and
witness the devotion of the people to the dead heroes who have been laid to
rest, without becoming more patriotic in spirit. One may not have lost dear
ones in the army to appreciate what it is for others who have lost them and
now, perhaps for the last time, strew flowers upon their graves.

In the afternoon the Dalton was comfortably filled to hear the eloquent
speech of General Atkins, the orator of the day. The General is a fine
speaker and handled the subject in a touching and eloquent manner. Owing to
the fact that there was a ball game in progress a part of the time, the
Opera House was not jammed. Had it been otherwise, there would not have been
standing room.

The exercises at the opera house in the evening consisted of the program as
published. The house was well filled.

Hon. I. S. Struble made a short address stating that the day had been the
pleasantest in his experience in years. He alluded to the fact that even in
southern states the day was being remembered with honor. He said that the
most important epoch of American history was the War of ’76, and the
soldiers of that war are entitled to our love and respect. The soldiers of
the War of 1861 are as much entitled to our pure love and respect for they
saved our country from ruin.

General Atkins also made a witty and interesting speech in which he touched
up some of our local people formerly neighbors. He then proceeded to speak
in memory of soldiers. He said that a grander patriotism than that which
nerved the arms of the Union soldiers in the late war, never nerved the arms
of any nation to battle. He spoke feelingly of the weary march through the
southern states and the joy of the soldiers at seeking the flag over
Pensacola.

Miss Grace Emsminger, aged twelve, did herself credit in the violin playing
in the duet.

The old soldiers and all those interested may congratulate themselves upon
the pleasant memories of the day.

There are now buried in the city cemetery the following soldiers whose
record is complete. To each of these the government furnishes a headstone to
mark their resting place: D. Chamberlain, H. Westcot, C. Myers, J. C. Ball,
J. C. Kelley, H. Rosa, R. H. Jacobs, T. S. White, A. Dresser, A. J. Riffle,
E. Coville, J. B. Manderville. S. W. Potter, Wm. Love, J. H. Brown and F.
Amos.

Those whose record is not complete are, C. Hausman, M. Tritz, Geo. Hamm,
Elias Meade, F. Wood; E. Higley, S. Nash and Messrs. Slocum and Clay. In the
city cemetery are also buried the remains of the following persons of the
Women's Relief Corp. Mesdames D. O. Marchant, W. Winslow, T. S. White and
John Goodenough.

At the Catholic cemetery at St. Joseph's church, J. Britt, J. Conway, A.
Schroll, M. Lewis and L. M. Doty were the old soldiers and Mrs. Molampy of
the W. R. C. are buried.

For these lists and particulars we are indebted to Robert Ramsey the only
man who has a record.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Globe
June 2, 1891

DECORATION DAY!
How It Was Observed in This City.

Decoration Day, notwithstanding the heavy rain the night before, was all
that any one could wish for as regards to weather. Early in the morning
people began to flock in from the country and by 9 o’clock our streets were
filled with people who had come in from the country to honor our dead
soldiers. About 10 o’clock the procession formed in front of the Opera
House. On account of the muddy conditions of the streets, there was not much
system carried out and some took the sidewalks. The procession was made up
about as follows:
Gen. Atkins, Hon. I. S. Struble and A. A. Alline in carriage.
LeMars Band.
Flower Girls.
Co. G. I.N.G.
Mower Post, G.A.R.
Fire Department.
City Council.
Woman’s Relief Corps.

It was the largest assemblage that ever turned out on a like occasion in
this city and it was estimated that at least 3,000 people was in the
procession.

After marching to the City Cemetery the ceremony, as laid down in ritual of
the G. A. R., was carried out, conducted by I. T. Martin and C. H. Jones.
The flower girls then decorated the graves of the following old soldiers:
D. Chamberlain;
H. Wescott;
C. Myers;
J. C Ball;
H. Rosa;
R. H. Jacobs;
A. F. Brown;
L. S. White;
A. Dresser;
A. J. Riffle;
E. Covill;
J. B. Manderville;
S. W. Potter;
E. Higley;
Sidney Nash;
Wm. Love;
Mr. Slocum;
M. Clay;
E. Mede;
G. Hamur;
Fred Woods;
J. H. Brown;
Frank Amos.

Also the following deceased members of the W. R. C.:
Mrs. D. O. Marchant;
Mrs. W. Winslow;
Mrs. J. S. White;
Mrs. Jno. Goode.

The procession then moved to St. Joseph’s cemetery where the following
soldier’s graves were decorated:
C. Hausmann;
Michael Tritz;
J. Britts;
J. Conroy;
A. Schroll;
M. Lewis;
L. M. Doty;
W. R. C.;
Mrs. Molampy.

The procession then moved back to the city and disbanded.

AT THE OPERA HOUSE.
At 2 o’clock in the afternoon the Opera House was literally packed to hear
the address by Gen. Atkins, which was pronounced to be one of the best
memorial addresses ever delivered in the city.

In the evening another large crowd turned out to the entertainment given by
the W. R. C. at the Opera House. The program consisted of songs, music,
recitations, tableaux and addresses by Gen. Atkins and Struble. Mr. Atkins
is quite a story teller and gave the audience a few. The Flag of our Union”
and “How to Hold the Baby While Isaac Danced,” fairly brought down the
house.

~Transcribed for posting on this site by volunteers, Linda Ziemann & Mary Holub