Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was a society of men who fought for the North in the Civil War. It was founded in 1866 to strengthen fellowship among men who fought to preserve the Union., to honor those killed in the war, to provide care for their dependents, and to uphold the Constitution. The society founded soldiers' homes and was active in relief work and in pension legislation. The G.A.R. Post in Tingley was called the Ben Talbott Post 286 and was mustered in in 1884.

The G.A.R. started the celebration of Memorial Day in the North in 1868 and had charge of Memorial Day celebrations for many years. The American Legion took over this duty after World War I, assisted by the American Legion Auxiliary.

NOTES: Benjamin W. TALBOT, who died at Sedan, Chautauqua
County, Kansas, December 2, 1882, was a son of Allen F. and Lucy (LAWRENCE) TALBOT, who were among the old settlers of Ringgold County. The deceased spent many years of his life in Ringgold County, and subsequently removed to Kansas, where he found his last resting place.

At the outbreak of the civil war he offered his services, enlisting [July 4, 1861 at the age of 19 years] as a private in Company G, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and after serving his county for four years returned home a commissioned officer. [Benjamin was promoted to Corporal, then Full Sergeant on January 1, 1863; promoted to Full 2nd Lieutenant on August 3, 1865; mustered out of service at Louisville, Kentucky on July 24, 1865.]

After removing to the State of Kansas he acted as deputy sheriff of Chautauqua County, which office he held at the time of his death. He was a faithful officer, never shrinking from doing his duty. He was a kind husband and an affectionate father, and as neighbor and citizen was held in heigh esteem wherever he made his home.

He was a faithful member of the Christian church. He was a member of the Grand Army of the republic, and at his death T.N. KING, Commander of Stone River Post, No. 74, issued an order, calling a meeting of the post to make arrangements for the burial of their beloved brother, and seventy-two veterans were in attendance to pay the last tribute of respect to their dead comrade. They laid him to rest beneath the flag he honored and so gallantly defended.

NOTE: Benjamin W. TALBOT's Civil War pension was granted in June of 1882 for a gunshot wound he received while in service with Company G, 4th Iowa Infantry. Benjamin was born December 29, 1841, and died December 2, 1882 with interment at Greenwood Cemetery, Sedan, Kansas. Also interred at Greenwood Cemetery, was Lee TALBOT, born February 12, 1867, son of B. W. and E. A. TALBOT, died January 24, 1897; and A. K. TALBOT, born 1871, died 1917.

SOURCE: Tingley, Iowa Centennial: 1883 - 1983. p. 106. PSI, Inc. Belmond IA. 1983.
Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, September of 2011

American Civil War Soldier database, ancestry.com

Biography &Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 294-95, 1887.

ksgennet.org/ks/cq/milt/1883.html#T

Notes and transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2011