WAPELLO COUNTY

The Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier, June 1, 1909

Venerable Pioneer and Veteran Who Delivered Address

Major A. H. Hamilton, the venerable speaker who opened the program at the Memorial Day services at Ottumwa cemetery this afternoon, is one of the men who bore the brunt of battle in his youthful days and then at the close of the war joined the hardy ban of pioneers that laid the foundations for the beautiful Iowa of today in the then primeval forests.  Major Hamilton was publisher of the Courier for over twenty years.  In late years he has led a retired life, but he is still hale and hearty.  The picture shown above was taken two years ago on his eightieth birthday. 

MEMORIAL DAY IS OBSERVED IN OTTUMWA

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Weather Conditions Perfect and Extensive Program Is Carried Out by Members of G. A. R.

VETERANS MARCH OUT TO CEMETERY

Majors Hamilton, Mahon and Spilman Deliver Addresses and Children Decorate Graves of Soldier Dead.

Ideal weather conditions prevailed in Ottumwa today and an elaborate Memorial Day program was carried out by the Grand Army of the Republic and kindred organizations. A procession formed this afternoon and proceeded to the cemetery where this afternoon with speeches by members of Cloutman Post and appropriate ceremonies the graves of the soldier dead are being decorated.  The day was cloudy, but the threatened rain did not come, and the day was all the better for the Veterans and their march with the sweltering sun obscured by clouds.  

Many thousands of people, even millions of men and women and children over the entire United States of America are gathered today in dozens, fifties, hundreds and in thousands to do honor to the memory of those whom America will never be able to repay, the dead heroes who gave their lives or their strength and health, that the country might flourish and remain intact—a union with one flag.  In the cemeteries of the nation scattered all over the entire country today there are thousands of the union’s noble defenders sleeping the sleep of the just. They are awaiting the final awakening when comrades who fought and suffered hardship and privations side by side, shall again march, but as an army of peace and meet the former enemy, who in his zeal for what he thought right, fought and lost, and will gladly extend the hand of brotherhood in the land of the happy beyond.

MANY SLEEP FAR AWAY.

Many of these mourned and whose memory is kept hallowed after all these years by a grateful people sleep far away from the loved ones they left when the call of duty took them from home, parents, wife, sister, brother and children that the flag of the union might float over America.  But these are being cared for in the last sleeping place by a saddened, though grateful, country and a people for forget family ties in the honoring of the nation’s most noble and glorious defenders.  Those who survived the carnage of war I whole or in part and though sick, maimed or aged were permitted by providence to return from the bloody strife and died among their families, are being visited while they sleep in peace by the remnant of that noble band of heroes, many of whom are bereft of an eye, arm or limb and suffering from an infirmity produced by the war that will ultimately number them with their sleeping comrades. Nor is it only the remaining members of the old guard that are participating in this most sacred as well as patriotic duty.  Widows, mothers, wives and children in hundreds are assisting in the services here today, with the sons of Veterans, Guardsmen, Women’s Relief Corps and citizens generally.

GRAVES ARE MARKED.

By this time every soldier grave in the cemeteries of the city has been marked by the G. A. R. monuments.  None of the graves of the honored dead that known to the G. A. R. post of the city are left unmarked and “union defender” is the proud banner which, with the flag they fought for, stands over the graves where they sleep the final sleep.  Garlands of flowers have been placed upon the grave mounds and the noble deeds of the honored silent are extolled in eloquence, prayer and song by the multitudes that have assembled to do their memory honor.

VISIT CALVARY CEMETERY.

During the morning, Comrades John Feehan, Thomas R. Bickley and L. H. Owens, drove to Calvary cemetery and the graves of the departed soldiers were decorated by them before the regular service of the afternoon, which is taking place in the Ottumwa cemetery.

THE PROCESSION.

The procession formed at the court house at 2 o’clock under the direction of Marshal W. H. Fetzer and Assistant Marshal George Miller.  A platoon of police composed of Chief Gallagher, Captain Mier, Officers Souders, Black, Lightner, Peterson, Harris and Beeman led the procession, followed by the Fifty-fourth regimental band.  The marshals followed in the advance of Co. G. I.N.G.  Then came the fife and drum corps.  The children with flowers for the soldiers’ graves, went on cars.  Then followed the Cloutman post, No. 69, G. A. R., and many members of J. M. Tuttle post as well as many soldiers and sons of veterans not affiliated with the posts, all under the command of H. C. Nosler, post adjutant.  The speakers and chaplain in carriages, as also the W. R. C. and citizens in carriages made up the parade which was an inspiring sight. The martial music of the band and fife corps made the infirmities of some of the old guard disappear as the thoughts that coursed through their minds of other days when they were as sprightly as the militia—the days of ’61.  Many backs that the weight of years has caused to bend, were thrown back and except where physical disability, would not permit it, they were erect and their stride graceful and true to the beat of time by the musicians.

EXCELLENT PROGRAM.

Arriving at the Ottumwa cemetery an elaborate program will be carried out in which speeches by Majors A. H. Hamilton, Samuel Mahon and T. P. Spilman will be the feature. Music by a quartet composed of Mrs. E. C. Pierce, Mrs. George Porter, Ed Dye and W. C. Martin will sing, “Brave Heart Lie Still” and “Crossing The Bar.”  Prof. J. H. Rheem will lead singing “America,” by the chorus at the close of the exercises.

CHILDREN DECORATE GRAVES.