Civil War Veterans in the News

BOWER - RICHARDS

ST. CLOUD TRIBUNE, October 21, 1911, front pg.

ST. CLOUD'S FIRST MILITARY WEDDING

Post and Drum Corps Attend Marriage of Comrade Bower and Miss Richards

One of the most unique affairs of interest to St. Cloud society in a long time occurred Tuesday morning, October 17, at 10 o'clock in the marriage of Mr. L. Q. Bower of this city, and Miss Hannah Richards, of Rio Grande, Ohio. The wedding ceremony was witnessed by about a hundred relatives and friends. It was a very cosmopolitan gathering, nearly every State in the Union being represented.
        The bride was very becomingly gowned in a traveling suit of champange [sic]-colored cloth, with white satin waist and white kid gloves, and carried a shower bouquet of white roses and asparagus fern. The groom wore the conventional black.
        They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Dickey Bower, bride and groom of last week, Mrs. Bower wearing her wedding dress of white silk.
        This being the first military wedding in St. Cloud, the members of the G. A. R. post were out in full force, and to the stirring strains of music by the Drum Corps, the bridal party marched between files of veterans drawn up in lines on the porch. Each one gave the military salute as they passed.
        They were met at the porch by Mr. and Mrs. Ralls and conducted to their places in the arch between the rooms, where they were united in marriage by the Rev. Frank Kenney, of the Christian Church, assisted by Rev. J. B. Westcott, of the Methodist Church, part of the ring service being used. After hearty congratulations, refreshments of ice cream, cake and fruit were served by Mrs. McGill, Mrs. Hyre and daughter, Miss Neva Large, and Mrs. Hendrix, assisted by members of the choir. The whole was under the supervision of Mrs. Charles Hughes. During the serving of the refreshments the Union choir sang sweetly several selections. The house was profusely decorated with flowers of every kind and color. The wedding gifts were handsome and numerous, attesting the great respect for the groom, who is well and favorably known hre, being one of the pioneers of St. Cloud. The bride, who is a stranger to most of the people, having but recently come to our city, is a life-long friend of some of our best families and was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hughes of Massachusetts Avenue at the time of the marriage. The bridal party threw all conventionality to the wind and marched with most of the company to the station, escorted by the Drum Corps, where amid a shower of rice they took the morning train for a short wedding trip.
        Mr. and Mrs. Bower will be at home to their friends after October 25 at their pretty new bungalow on Massachusetts Avenue. Before leaving for the train the popular artist, Mr. Pike, made a picture of the whole company grouped on the porch.

DEMMON - JOHNSTON

Source: St. Cloud Tribune, 13 Apr 1916

Wedding Bells

Editor Tribune:-
Another comrade has gone - into matrimony.

Mr. O. J. Demmon, of 321 Minnesota avenue, and Mrs. Sadie Johnston, were joined in holy wedlock at the home of the grrom, by Rev. J. B. Wescott, on the 8th ultimo, the bride coming from Missouri. They were both old acquaintances while living at Lusk, Wyoming, where Comrade Demmon was one of the old pioneers, having helped to form the territory of Wyoming.

O. J. Demmon was in the service in Company I?, 15th Illinois Volunteer infantry, and of Company H., 8th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, serving over three years, and one of the pioneers of St. Cloud.

The Tribune congratulates this worthy couple and wishes them much happiness.

GORDON - DIXON

Source: St Cloud Tribune, 5 Oct 1916

VET 94 TAKES ON FIFTH BRIDE WHOS IS 78

General Charles A. Gordon, ninety-four years old on September 29th, married his fifth wife, Mrs. Margaret E. Dixon, seventy-eight, says a Colorado Spring special to the press. All his wives have been widows. His only child, a son seventy-eight years old, attended today's wedding. The son is father of fifteen children, all of whom are married.

General Gordon's first marriage was in London in 1837. He saw service in the Punjab war in India and in the Sepoy rebellion. He attained the rank of Captain for service under General Colin Campbell, being in the famous relief of Lucknow when the starving garrison was cheered by the Scottish bagpipers playing "The Campbells Are Coming."

General Gordon came to the United States in time to enlist in a New York regiment in the Civil war. Now he is caretaker at a street car barn and is hale and hearty.

This recalls a comrade who lived in St. Cloud some years ago who had served in all the wars above mentioned. The fighting record of the St. Cloud veteran was unknown locally, however, until after his death.

Transcriber's Note: Does anyone know which St. Cloud veteran is referred to within this article?

HOPPIE

Source: St. Cloud Tribune, 22 Mar 1917

MARRIED FIFTY YEARS

Comrade Ernest Hoppie, a veteran of the Civil war, came here from Germany sixty years ago and made his home in Foster, Ohio, subsequently moving to St. Cloud, Florida. The celebration of their golden wedding took place at the Runnymede Hotel, just east of St. cloud, their entire family of eighteen coming from the West to be present at the celebration. Comrade Hoppie, notwithstanding his age, is a man of fine Physique. They have they Hearty congratulations of their scores of friends.

LAMB - ROSS

Source: St Cloud Tribune, 3 Feb 1916

Peter Lamb and Wife Have Golden Wedding

The following, taken from the Washington Star of January 30th tells of the golden wedding to be celebrated by Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lamb, two of St. Cloud's most beloved people. The golden wedding was celebrated in the presence of forty people, headed by our drum corps, of which Mr. Lamb is a member, and many were the congratulations this couple received from their numerous friends from abroad and for many more years of contented and happy life.

The article from the Star follows:
"Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lamb, formerly of this city, will celebrate Tuesday their golden wedding anniversary at their home in St. Cloud, Fla. Of their seven living children two are residents of Washington, Mrs. Fayette Johnson, 1310 Sheperd street, and Mrs. C. B. Haas, 933 G street northwest.

Mr. Lamb was born at Rusaville, Ohio, March 31, 1843. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in Co. K, 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was three years and four months in active service.

"February 1, 1866, he married Miss Kibbiah Ross, who was then but seventeen years old, at her home at Ridge Farm, Ill. Following a residence of six years in Illinois, Mr. and Mrs. Lamb moved to Texas, where they resided ten years. Then followed nine years spent in Ohio, and twenty years in this city. For the past five years they have lived during the winter at St. Cloud, where they are prominent in G. A. R. and Woman's Relief Corps work. Much of their time in the summer is spent in Washington."

ENOS SPAHR

Source: ST. CLOUD TRIBUNE, June 24, 1915

SEVENTY YEARS OLD AND STILL YOUNG

St. Cloud, Fla., June 21, 1915,

S. J. Triplett,
Editor Tribune

Dear Sir: - This picture represents me as I looked on the seventieth anniversary of my birthday, the 24th day of April, 1915. Was born in Duncanmon [sic], Perry county, Pennsylvania, and received a common school education. Enlisted in Capt. E. R. Newhard's company, mostly from Allentown, Lehigh county, Penn. We were assigned to Col. Jacob M. Campbell's 54th Regiment and lettered Company K after our fight on February 1st, at Little Cacapon, Val, on October 4th, 1862, with Gen. Imboden's command of Confederates. We were captured and taken to Libbey prison, where we remained until November 30th, 1862. For putting up a stiff fight at Little Cacapon we were lettered Company B, and took the right of the regiment at the second battle at New Market, Shenandoah Valley, May 15, 1864. Next at Kernstown, Piedmont, Lynchburg, Charlestown, Opequan Creek, Fisher's Mill, Snicker's Gap, Winchester, Fort Gregg, and last but not least, High Ridge, on the Appomattox river, where we were again forced to surrender and remained prisoners until General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General U. S. Grant.

I am one of the boys who drew four days' United States rations and then dividing the same amongst the Confederates while a prisoner with them. We got from them two tablespoonfuls of cornmeal and a slice of bacon about as thick as your finger and as broad as three fingers. That was between the 6th and 9th of April, 1865. We were sent to camp parole, when I got transportation to Harrisburg, Dauphin county, Penn., and was discharged May 5th, 1865, after thirty-nine months of hard service.

Respectfully
Enos Spahr,
Cos. K and B 54th Reg. Pa. Vol. Inf.

(Transcriber's note - when type was set prior to printing of the newspaper article, a couple of lines were set wrong and the article did not read properly. I have taken the liberty of placing these lines in the correct place for clearer reading.)

2 May 1918
Flag Raising and Reminiscenes of "Sixties" at Empson Home

At the home of Mr. W. H. Empson, corner of Jersey avenue and Eleventh street, a large number of persons were present for the flag raising exercises held last Monday, that date being the anniversary of the liberation of Mr. Empson from the Andersonville prison.

Exercises opened with a prayer by Rev. J. B. Wescott, and the flag was raised while the drum corps played an anthem. This was followed by a pleasant talk descriptive of the flag by Rev. Wescott and a history of the origin of the Star Spangled Bannyer by Francis Scott Key, of Baltimore.

A reading by A. W. Dougherty of that splendid poem by Rodman Drake "The American Flag," was enjoyed by the large number present. A number of patriotic airs were played by the drum corps.

Comrade Empson then gave a short history of his service in the Union army. He was a member of Company A, 124th Ohio Infantry, and was captured at Chickamauga (River of Death,) Ga. When he enlisted he weighed 125 pounds and when captured 145 pounds. He was sent to Scott prison, Richmond, in November, and to Danville, Va in the winter of 1863-64, and in the spring of 1864 was sent to Andersonville, Ga., when he only 100 pounds, He was put in a hospital in October, 1864, badly crippled, one leg being drawn up and it was five months before he could put his foot to the ground. He left the hospital on Dec. 20, 1864 and was placed in the stockade at Andersonville where he was confined until April 17th 1865 when he was sent to points of exchange. Means of communication being broken between Johnston's army and Macon, Brigadier Gen. W. W. Nelson, of the Union forces made a raid from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., and tore up the railroad. He was then sidetracked on the 18th of April 1865 at Macon, Georgia, where he remained one day and was returned to Andersonville. The prisoners were kept on the train but rations were issued and they were then taken 60 miles to Albany, Ga., where they remained for three days. They were then marched 64 miles to Thomasville, Ga., where they took cars for Jacksonville, Fla. Twenty-four miles from Jacksonville they were taken from the train on account of the tracks being torn up between the opposing forces. This was on the 28th of April, 1865. A train manned by Union soldiers came out from Jacksonville to take them to the Union lines at that place. Mr. Empson then weighed only 65 pounds. Rations of salt pork and bread were issued to the returning prisoners who had been without food so long that they ate ravenously and a number died that night. They remained three days at Jacksonville and went by boat to Annapolis, Md. Mr. Empson was discharged June 20th, 1865 and reached his home in Western New York July 4th, 1865, weighing only 65 pounds.

This interesting bit of history was enjoyed by all those present. Among those present were: E. M. Holden who was master of ceremonies; Comrade Stebbins, 82 years old; C. L. DePew, James Goff, J. T. Burbank, W. A. Stewart, J. N. Wright, J. N. Burch, A. W. Dougherty, Mr. Brown, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Vreeland, Rev. J. B. Westcott, Mr. Stuart, M. D. Kansas, Rev. Stewart, of the Presbyterian church; Mrs. M. W. Veeder, Mrs. Annie Ansbaugh, Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Fred Quimby, Mrs. Stebbins, Mrs. Lamb, Mrs. Depew.

The ladies served coffee and sandwitches and all accorded the day well spent.