Veterans Memorial Hall & Museum in Rockford, Illinois-- Part 2: It Was a GAR Thing

Display cases throughout the building contain artifacts, photographs and other items from America's wars, including recent conflicts in the Middle East.  The museum contains 15,000 such pieces in its collection.

When memorial Hall opened in 1903, the first organization to meet in the Post Room was a local contingent of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), the first and eventually the largest veterans organization of the Civil War veterans in the country.

Founded in Decatur, Illinois, in 1866, its peak membership exceeded 409,000 Union veterans, including five U.S. presidents.  

This national organization established the pension system for veterans, funded homes and hospitals for soldiers, widows and orphans; and created Memorial Day to honor all deceased veterans.

--Old Secesh

The Widow's Secret: The Last Civil War Widow Died in December 2020-- Part 1

From the April 2021 Civil War Times by John Banks.

I first wrote about this in my RoadDog's RoadLog Blog back on January 18 when became aware of it.  I put it in that blog because of this woman's Route 66 connections.

Hard to believe as is the case, Helen Jackson is the widow of a Union Civil War soldier.  Especially amazing since that war ended 156 years ago.  Do the math.

And, she kept her marriage secret.

She was 17 when she married Civil War veteran James Bolin, who was 93 in September 1936.  That was some age difference.

Helen Jackson was "The Last Civil War Widow."

She died December 16, 2020, at the age of 101.

--Old Secesh

Confederates Are U.S. Veterans Also

Honoring Those Who Served in the Confederate Military Today.  This Memorial Day

Maybe the anti-Confederate folks don't know it, but Confederate soldiers are considered to be veterans of the United States as well.

So, today, we pay respects to Confederate States of America soldiers, sailors and Marines.

Also, we pay our respect to those soldiers, sailors and Marines who served in the Union milit

The Brave.

Killing Time and Researching-- Part 1: The "Groundhog Day" Movie B&B

Yesterday, I went to Woodstock, Illinois, to attend the McHenry County Civil War Round Table and arrived an hour early at the library where Charlie Banks was to make his power point presentation on "Lincoln's Final Journey."

I have always loved libraries.  It is like a treasure hunt in them.  You never know what you're going to find.

After reading the Chicago Tribune and McHenry County's Northwest Herald (you can't beat the price), I still had time so went to the local history collection and started perusing some of their holdings.  I came across the two volume Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Biography of McHenry County Citizens from 1903.

I decided to look for Civil War veterans in the remaining time before the meeting began.  Unfortunately, there was no index, so I had to page through it.

Of interest, I came across the name Charles P. Barnes who was a prominent lawyer and judge in Woodstock, the name didn't do anything for me, but there was also a picture of his house and it really appears to me to be the one used as the Bed & Breakfast where Bill Murray stayed in the movie "Groundhog Day."

I seem to remember from my RoadDog's RoadLog blog that the home had been owned by a judge.  Is it possible that this is the house used in the movie, and, did it have a Civil War connection?

Is This the Home?  --Old Secesh

Civil War Veterans-- Part 1: Grand Army of the Republic

From Answers.com.

The Civil War produced 2 million veterans on both sides. The 1890 census showed 1,034,073 Union veterans still living and 432,6000 Confederate. When the war ended, the thousands returning home faced dim employment prospects, civilian indifference and many had the additional lingering aspects of wounds and diseases. Some 13.9% of Union and 20% of the Confederate veterans suffered from wounds.

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC (GAR)

Founded in 1866, it eventually grew to over 400,000 members and probably the most powerful political lobby of the Gilded Age. The organization helped bring about the Arrears Act of 1879 which doubled pension expenditures in less than two years.

The Dependent Pension Act of 1890, created a service pension system. The number of Union pensioners, including some women, reached a peak of 969,711 in 1901.

In 1874, Congress mandated preference for disabled veterans in federal hiring. New York and Kansas enacted general veteran preference laws.Twelve state Soldiers' Homes opened between 1879 and 1888.

Quite the Active Organization. --Old Secesh

Other Union Veteran Organizations

I also came across two other Union organizations. One was the VRU which stood for Veterans Rights Union and the other MOLLUS standing for Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

I am unable to find anything about the VRU.

MOLLUS, despite having such a long name was very good at recording history, especially the speeches given at their meetings. Membership was open only to Union officers.

Fighting and Remembering. --Old Secesh