compiled by Paul Hutchins
There was a little bit of confusion when researching the Grand Army of the Republic Post of Walnut because of conflicting dates as to when the Post was organized. Records at the Iowa Genealogical Society in Des Moines cleared the matter when they showed there were actually two posts started, both with the same name.
The first GAR post in Walnut was the John Adams Dix Post #13. The Walnut Bureau reported on April 24, 1879, “A post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized here last night. We will give the list of officers next week.” Then on May 1, 1879, the following article appeared in the Bureau:
A Post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in Walnut Wednesday evening, April 23, by Department Commander Griswold. The following is a list of officers who were elected and installed:
Commander, Maj. W.L. Williams
Senior Vice Com., Capt. A.L. Martin
Junior Vice Com., E. Kenworthy
Surgeon, Dr. F.S. Thomas
Chaplain, W.H. Bowman
Officer of the Day, O.M. Bruce
Adjutant, J.C. Spangler
Quarter Master, I.T. Spangler
Q.M. Sergent, B.F. Bixby
Officer Guard, Mr. Spencer
The organization is composed of honorably discharged soldiers.
This post disbanded when a fire in 1881 swept through downtown Walnut and destroyed all the records of the post.
The second GAR post in Walnut was the John Adams Dix Post #408. They chartered on October 31, 1885. The Walnut Bureau again provides the details in the November 5, 1885 issue:
Saturday evening, Oct. 31st, the old soldiers of Walnut to the number of 27 formed a Grand Army post, under the name of the John A. Dix Post. E.H. Consigney, and ten comrades from the Grant post of Avoca, came up and assisted in the organization. Military maneuvers of armed men brought vividly to mind that dark and trying period in our lives and in our nations history, when every village was a camp and the clangor of arms rose louder than the din of commerce. These are the remnants of those patriot bands who purchased national unity and human freedom with their life’s blood. Time has thinned their ranks and age has wreathed their temples with gray hairs but their gallant deeds and unselfish sacrifices will defy the effect of time because it was neither glory nor self-interest that aroused their martial valor; it is this thought that gilds the glory of their deeds. Flourish the Grand Army; obscurity to the bitter memories it brings up. We supplicate the Recording Angel to make this record when the good deeds of men are written: “These souls loved their country and human freedom better than their mortal lives.”
The fire of Feb. 5th, 1881, destroyed everything belonging to the post except the flag, which Capt. Frisbie had taken home previous to the fire. Until the death of the great commander, this summer, no effort was made towards reorganization. Below is a list of the officers of the post.
M.B. Frisbie, Commander
I.T. Spangler, S.V.C.
A.C. Ray, J.V.C.
J.C. Howard, Adj’t.
J.A. Casey, Surg.
Isaac Copley, Chap.
J.C. Spangler, Q.M.
G.E. Hall, O.D.
F.M. McGimsey, O.G.
Wesley Snyder, S.M.
Emanuel Smith, Q.M.S.
Records at the IGS list the members, with their place of residence or burial, at the time the post disbanded in January of 1920. [See page 7.]
Information on who John Adams Dix was is as follows:
Born 24 Jan 1798, Boscawer, NH
Died 21 Apr 1879, NYC, NY
War Record: Major General U.S. Army.
Entered the U.S. Army as a cadet in 1812.
Continued in service until 1828 when he settled in Cooperstown, NY to practice law.
He served 1 term in the U.S. Senate and was Sec. of Treasurer under President Buchanan. He served as Governor of New York from 1873-1875.
—PwH