Kane County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 20 of those read), 1908 (part 3 of 3)

The Evening Post

One more daily paper was established in Aurora within the period to which we are limited. This was the Aurora Evening Post, established in 1878. Its founder was a wandering printer named Welch, who, like most wandering printers, lacked capital. From Welch's hands it passed to those of Louis A. Constantine, who possessed a wonderful tenacity of purpose ; and 'Slark Tapley himself could not have presented a more cheerful front to adverse fortune. These qualities enabled Constantine to keep the Post on its feet for nearly twenty years. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster of Aurora, being the fourth newspaper man to hold that position, his predecessors being Bangs, Knickerbocker and Hodder. Soon after this happy event in Mr. Constantine's life, the Evening Post gently passed to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no newspaper returns.

The Evening Post's chief claim to fame, perhaps, is the fact that it gave to Frank A. \'anderlip his tirst lessons in newspaper work. It was on the Post that he served an apprenticeship as a reporter and man of all work. He wrote locals, solicited advertising, visited the police courts and all the other places that were supposed to be sources of items. Possibly it was on the Post that he acquired that faculty for clear statement and cogent reasoning which is now often called into requisition when some important announcement is to be made to the financial world.

The Independent

In 1878 the Aurora Independent, a weekly paper, was established by Edward Keough. formerly of the Elgin Times. The Independent was started as a democratic paper; but it was a mistake to think that an Elgin man could succeed in an enterprise that no Aurora man cared to undertake. Possiblv the democrats of Aurora had outlived their desire for an organ, since thev

The Aurora Blade

This was the name of a weekly paper started in 1882 by C. W. Putnam, formerly foreman of the old Herald office. Its chief object was the humorous presentation of local happenings in Aurora and vicinity, at which he was very successful. He sold out after a few years and the Blade "blayed aud," as he expressed it.

The latest newspaper venture is The Fox River Leader, weekly, established ]\Iarch 31, 1904. by Charles Connors and John G. Badey. A labor paper, official organ of the Aurora Trades and Labor Assembly, Aurora Building Trades' Council and Elgin Trades' Council. It is well managed, ably edited and bids fair to achieve a long and useful existence.

Grand Army Of The Republic

The old soldiers who took part in the war of the Rebellion are slowly disappearing from among us. Many have already spread their tents on "Fame's Eternal Camping Ground," and a history of Aurora can do no better service than to help perpetuate the names of those now living here who took part in that great struggle.

1. To preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the late Rebellion and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead.

2. To assist such former comrades in arms as need help and protection, and to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen.

3. To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, based upon a paramount respect for, and fidelity to the national constitution and laws; to discountenance whatsoever tends to weaken loyalty, incites to insurrection, treason, or rebellion, or in any manner impairs the efficiency or permanency of our free institutions : and to encourage the spread of universal liberty, equal rights and justice to all men.

Aurora Post, No. 20, was mustered into the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic on the evening of June 10, 1875, by Department Commander Hillard.

Past Commanders West Aurora And Part Of The Island About 1868

It is claimed that Aurora Post. No. 20, has the most comfortable and best equipped headcjuarters of any similar organization in the United States. It happened in this way : Soon after the war a Soldiers' Monument Association was organized and about seven thousand dollars raised for the erection of a monument. Then some wise heads thought it would be foolish to put so much money into a useless monument and induced the association to erect a memorial building instead, where mementoes and war relics could be kept. Later on, in 1881, the city established a free public library, which needed a Ijuilding, and the Monument Association turned over the memorial hall to the library board, which raised by subscription some eight thousand dollars more to build an addition to be used for the library, Avhile the hall should be used as a reading room. Stipulations were made with the G. A. R. that they were to build a second story to the library for an assembly room and have the use of the same as long as seven members of Post No. 20 should remain. Then the entire building was to become the property of the library board. In 1903 Andrew Carnegie gave fifty thousand dollars to the city for the construction of a new library building, which was occupied by the library wdien completed, and the old liuilding was turned over to the G. A. R. They raised by subscription and a bazaar eight thousand dollars, which was used to raise the old library and dig a basement under the whole structure, which was finished off into a model kitchen and dining room, capable of seating several hundred guests. The old library room was finished off into a fine hall for all the meetings of the G. A. R. and auxiliary associations, and the hall on the upper floor was leased to the \\'oman's Club at a good rental, which goes into the coffers of the G. A. R. The front room in the original memorial building was fitted up for a reading room for the old soldiers and is kept open every day, where the "old boys" drop in, read, play cards, checkers, etc., whenever they feel inclined. They thoroughly enjoy it and visiting comrades say there is nothing like it elsewhere. The "old boys" can occupy this building not only as long as seven remain, but as long as there is one left to tell the story of the war of the Rebellion the building is his.

House, Aurora

The mothers, wives, daughters and sisters of the soldiers, sailors and marines of the late Rebellion, and other loyal women are banded together, auxiliary to the G. A. R. to accomplish the following objects :

1. To assist the G. A. R. in preserving and strengthening those kind, fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sailors and marines of the late Rebellion, and to inculcate love of country and patriotism among our members and children.

2. To assist Aurora Post, No. 20, G. A. R., in all its measures of kindness and charity to comrades in arms and to their families who may need aid ; to extend aid to widows and orphans of fallen comrades, and to aid in perpetuating their memory.

Abraham Lixcolx Circle. No. 2

1 . To unite with loyalty, love for each other : to practice the precepts of true fraternal feeling towards all members of the order; thus emulating the spirit which imites our fathers, husbands and brothers to honor the memory of those fallen, and to pepetuate and keep for ever sacred "Memorial Day."

2. To assist the Grand Army of the Republic; to encourage and sympa-- thize with them in the noble work of charity, and to inculcate love of country, and patriotism among the children of our land. It is also the mission of the Ladies of the G. A. R. to place upon the breast of each dead comrade a silken flag.

3. All loyal mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, nieces and granddaughters of the late Rebellion and ex-army nurses are eligible to membership in this order.

Directory

2. To aid and assist the members of the Grand Army of the Republic in their caring for lielpless and disabled comrades, to extend aid and protection to their widows and orphans, to perpetuate the memory and history of their heroic dead, and eventually to take up their work in the proper observance of Memorial Day, and teach a love of patriotism to the youth of America.

4. To inculcate a veneration among all classes for the men who gave their lives that this country might live, and to spread the gospel of equal rights, universal liberty and justice to all men.

Aurora Camp, No. 21

In the twenty-two years of its life Aurora Camp has had many ups and downs, but today is one of the most prosperous and best working camps in the Division of Illinois.

Fred A Atchison. Robert B. Bennett, Fred Black, Geo. D. Brown, Aden Colwell. Dr. C. E. Chamberlain, A. R. Covalt, Harry E. Clark, Roscoe C. Durant, Pliney A. Duncan, Louis A. Donaldson. H. W. Durant, H. L. Durant, Samuel Edmunds Ed. E.

Roster Ladies' Aid Society, No. 7

2. To aid the members of the Grand Army of the Republic in caring for their helpless and disabled Veterans ; to extend aid and protection to their widows and orphans ; to perpetuate the memory and history of their heroic dead, and the proper observance of the Memorial Day.

5. To inculcate true patriotism and love of country, not only among our membership, but all the people of our land, and to spread and to sustain the doctrine of ecjual rights, universal liberty and justice to all.

1. A firm belief and trust in Almighty God, and a realization that under His beneficent care and guidance the free institutions of our land - by the assistance and sacrifices of our soldiers - have been preserved, and the integrity and life of the nation maintained.

2. True allegiance to the government of the United States of America, and a respect for, and devotion and fidelity to, its constitution and laws, with a firm opposition to anything that may tend to weaken loyalty, or in any manner impair the efficiency and permanency of our National Union.

Lucy Webb Hayes Text. Xo

I. The object is to perpetuate the memories of our fathers and brothers, their loyalty to the Union and their unselfish sacrifices for the perpetuity of the same; and to keep green the memory and history of those who participated in that heroic struggle for the maintenance of one free government.

The following interesting historical sketch of the two Aurora companies in the Spanish-American war was written by John C. W'eiland. a private in Company D. now assistant cashier in the German-American Bank of Aurora :

Looking Up Fox Street Hill, Aurora. About 1S6S

On April 26, 1898, in response to tlie call of President McKinley for volunteers to aid in the war with Spain, Companies D and I, of Aurora, of he Third Regiment Illinois National Guard, departed from their home to issemble in Springfield with the Illinois troops. Quarters were taken in the ixposition building at the State Fair Grounds. On May 7 the regiment ecruited to its full strength, was examined by army surgeons, and in the ;vening was mustered by Captain Roberts, U. S. A., into the United States -olunteer service, being the first regiment in the country to be so honored.

On May 14 the regiment was ordered to proceed by train to Chickanauga Park and arrived there on the i6th. Camp was pitched among the rees near Kelly Field and the regiment assigned to the Second Brigade, First division. First Army Corps. Life in the open air maintained the health of he men, and drills, marches and maneuvers hardened them. They improved heir idle hours by visiting all corners of this historic ground and the neigh- )oring Lookout mountain and National cemetery. On July 14 Governor fanner and staff reviewed all Illinois regiments and found them in the best ondition. The same afternoon news was received of the surrender of Santiago. One week later, upon returning from a long practice march, orders vere received to break camp and to board trains for Newport News, Virginia, rhe men were jubilant at the prospect of an early brush with the enemy, rhrough the pretty scenery of Kentucky and the mountainous Virginias the rains sped and arrived at their destination on the 24th. "Camp Brooke" vas made on the sandy shore of the James river, in sight of Fortress Monroe nd the ocean.

On July 28 they embarked on the auxiliary cruiser "St. Louis" for Porto ^ico, and after a pleasant voyage entered the harbor of Ponce on the night )f the 31st. It was a beautiful sight, the dim outlines of the battleships of Sampson's squadron, the signal and searchlights, and the big navy guns. The lext evening they steamed forty miles east along the coast and reached a loint off Arroyo in the early morning of August 2, and waited for the "St. -*aul" and "Cincinnati." The "Gloucester" and "Wasp" already lay nearer bore. The town surrendered after a few shots and the Spanish garrison led to the mountains. The troops were landed in the early evening under he protecting fire from the warships, and outposts were established on the oads near the foothills. Through the night desultory firing was kept up by loth sides and the bullets swished the air above the boys, who la)' hidden in he canefields. The body of a Spanish officer was found next morning by a entry. Daylight revealed a beautiful country, dotted here and there with licturesque old houses and sugar-cane sheds, the hills and mountain sides overed with many-colored foliage, and cultivated fields of cane, coffee and obacco.

On August 5, under command of General Brooke, the larger town of juayama, five miles west and inland, was taken by the Third Illinois and "ourth Ohio Regiments, the Illinois boys on the right and opposed to the Spanish cavalry. The enemy, after a short, sharp fight, were driven through he town and into the hills beyond. The Aurora companies were then detailed s patrols in the town. The Spaniards hid among the trees in the hillsides

On the morning of the 9th a battalion of Fourth Ohio men, bent on reconnoitering duty among the hills, was ambushed in a deep cut and eight men wounded. They were rescued by a detachment of the Illinois boys, including the Aurora companies, who hurried out on the double-quick and were now placed on outpost duty near the enemy's lines. The next day the hea\y Springfiekl rifles were exchanged for Krag-Jorgensens, the regular army rifle. A bit of excitement was caused by the report that a spy was concealed in a house near Company D's quarters and they searched the house, without, however, discovering the Spaniard. A Spanish corporal and a refugee were captured while prowling near the outposts and brought in. Orders were issued in the evening that sentries be doubled and prowlers be shot, as a night attack on the town was expected. Ten days' rations were issued to each man and word was given that the movement across the island would begin before daybreak next morning, the 13th. There was hurried preparation and loading all night and no sleeji for the men. After an early cup of coffee the start along the mountain roail was ordered with Companies D and I in the advance of the Third Illinois, which with the Pennsylvania and Missouri batteries formed the main column. From their ele\'ation they saw an enchanting prospect, the solid road winding along the mountain sides, valleys and ra\ines below, with a clear view of the sea and the transports lying iilh' at anchor, the town partlv hidilen by the hills. But soon the sun's glare became fiercely hot, and men began to drop t)ut of ranks. Progress was slow, as time must be allowed for the Ohio and Pennsylvania regiments to come up on the right and left flanks. At noon, the big five-mile benti in the road had been reached, which was guarded by a blockhouse a hundred yards up the mountain side, and a halt was ordered. General Broiike, himself in the ad\ance. ordered the gunners to unlimber and load. In the midst of these preparations. Lieutenant McLaughlin, of the signal corps, was espied riding at top speed up the road toward the soldiers, and shouting: "Stop!" He reported to General Brooke that the jiresident had decreed a protocol ; the general hesitated a moment, then said : "Lieutenant, you should have shown more consideration for your horse!" Thus dramatically, ended the war in Porto Rico : and fortunately, too, for it was afterward discovered that the road had been mined under the line of march, and that masked batteries on the hillsides could have worked deadlv havoc, had an action been begun.

The men were marched back to a field near town, where camp was pitched, and made as comfortable as possible. Patrols were sent nut. and outposts estalilished. some of the Aurora boys lieing stationed within speaking distance of the enemv, and establishing a friendly intercourse. These outposts were maintained until the last of August. Now began the rainv season, and camp was moved several times. The hos])ital lists grew larger daily, until less than half the men were fit for duty, and their health was endangered by the greatly increased amount of work. The hospital ships, "Relief" and "Missouri" came to take the sick men back to the L^nited States, and transports brought food and supplies. On September 3 General Brooke and staff departed on their ride of thirty-rtve miles across the island, to institute the provisional government at San Juan. The mail was often ten days or more in arriving, and was eagerly devoured upon its receipt. Fresh beef and bread were obtained occasionally, and served to relieve the monotony of hardtack and bacon. Drills and marches and dress parade were held daily, to maintain the health of the men, and divert tlieir thoughts. General Fred Grant took command of the brigade. On the i8th, at dress parade, a message from the president, complimenting the Third Illinois on its record, was read and cheered. Many rumors were spread about that the regiment would soon be relieved, which put heart back into the men.

On October i the army paymaster came on his long-deferred \-isit, and made the boys happy with the first pay they had received in three months. The native merchants reaped a harvest by trebling their prices for all fruits and vegetables, which were in great demand by the soldier boys. On October 26 the Forty-seventh New York regiment arrived to relieve the Illinois boys, and on November 3 the Third Illinois boarded the "Roumanian," of the transport service, and bade good-by to Porto Rico, after having given three months of able foreign service to their flag. The steamer arrived in New York harbor on November 9, and the regiment disembarked and boarded trains, leaving Hoboken at night, and arrived in Chicago at noon of November II. Colonel John Lambert, of Joliet, had provided a feast at the Great Northern hotel for his old friends. Colonel Bennitt and the Third Illinois, to which, you may be sure, they did full justice. Companies D and I arrived home in the early evening, and were welcomed with open arms. They were banqueted and accorded receptions by various organizations and by the citizens.

Company D was fortunate throughout the campaign, but was saddened to learn, a few days after arriving home, that Private Henry B. Damon had died in a Chicago hospital, to which he had been moved from the train, too weak to go farther. Company I suffered the loss, by fatal illness, of Sergeant Robert M. Dyer, at Chickamauga, June 8, 1898, and at Guayama, Porto Rico, Fred Shaw, August 22: Oscar Smith, August 26: Chris Hennis. September 21, and Charles Church, October 10.