Last G.A.R. Post in Iowa

CLAPP, MORSE, TAYLOR, FRANZ, RUSSELL, WATERS, ELLIS, WOODS, SARGENT, BRIER, JUNKIN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/19/2010 at 14:25:13

"The Fairfield Daily Ledger", Friday, December 31, 1943

Local G. A. R. Post Last In Iowa

With the blanks for her yearly report, Mrs. Charles CLAPP received word that with the death of Mark E. MORSE, 102 year old Civil war veteran, on Christmas Day, the Post at Wyoming, Ia. was disbanded, leaving the local Post the last one in Iowa. It has two members -- Elliott P. TAYLOR, Co. "M" 4th Iowa Cavalry, Michael FRANZ, Co. "A" 20th Iowa Infantry.

Records of the original Post are lost. The first minutes recorded state that on the 9th of June 1883, the Post was re-organized with permssion from Des Moines to use the same name and number as the original Post. It has been functioning ever since. The father of Mrs. CLAPP, Charles Finley RUSSELL, Co. "D" 15th Indiana Inft. and Co. "K" 1st Miss. Marine Brigade, was a charter member.

In 1920, the National Encampment passed a law that "A Post may employ the services of a son or a daughter of a Union veteran provided he or she be a member of his or her organization.

In 1922, with the personal assistance and advice of the Post Commander, the late T. S. WATERS, the Tent of Daughters was organized by Mrs. CLAPP. It was given the name of Major Hetty ELLIS WOODS by the request of Mr. WATERS. Soon after that organization, Mrs. CLAPP was appointed Post Adjutant, by unanimous consent of its then thirty members. She has filled the position ever since. In a short time, Mrs. Florence SARGENT, whose father, John A. BRIER, Co. "K" 142nd Indiana Inft. was a member, was appointed as the Quartermaster. At her death, her sister Mrs. Elsie JUNKIN was named to fill her place. the present Commander is Elliott P. TAYLOR, Co. "M" 4th Ia. Cav. who has just passed his 98th birthday.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.