The three remaining veterans of the Civil War in Medicine Lodge, M. T. Williams, L. T. Williams, and W. C. Barnard, have turned the original charter of their Post over to the boys of the American Legion for safe keeping.

It now hangs on the wall at the Legion Hall, and although the writing is becoming very dim the names of the charter members can still be read. The charter was granted at Topeka on March 28, 1883, to Eldred Post Grand Army of the Republic No. 174.

Of course, in addition to the following names, other Civil War Veterans joined the post afterward until at one time something like 150 men attended the meetings of the Post and marched to the cemetery on Memorial Day. The charter members were:

J. W. Magill
J. W. Springer
J. R. McCov (sic)
W. B. Morris
S. M. Roberts
J. E. Chapin
J. W. Upperman
L. J. Hutchins
W. H. Weidner
C. C. Turney
Eli Smith
Jacob House
J. M. Sherpy
E. H. Jack
W. H. Moore
C. T. Rigg
W. B. Springer
M. B. Gilbert
J. P. Shelly
S. M. Kessler
Jas. Demoss
J. R. Easley
G. W. Ebersole
H. Pardee
H. C. Thompson
J. A. Drake
R. M. Woodward

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Soldier's Reunion, The Medicine Lodge Cresset, 23 Oct 1879. (A list of Civil War veterans who attended the reunion.)

Barbour County, Kansas - 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll

Grand Army of the Republic Officers Elected
Barber County Index, December 18, 1901.

Three Civil War Veterans Are Left: Medicine Lodge Feels Fortunate In Having Three Wearers of the Blue Left - Only Five in County.
-- The Barber County Index, May 30, 1929.

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!

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