The Willimantic Journal

COMMANDER SMITH WILLIMANTIC UNION VETERAN HONORED BY G. A. R.

SILVER ANNIVERSARY IN DANBURY WEDNESDAY

Election of Department Officers—Big Camp Fire Tuesday.

The twenty-fifth annual encampment of the Connecticut Department, Grand Army of the Republic, was held in Danbury Wednesday. The annual camp fire was held Tuesday evening and was one of the finest ever held by the department. Commander-in-chief John Palmer, of Albany, was present with some 150 G. A. R. men as escort and Governor Bulkeley and staff were also there. The reception given the guests was an enthusiastic one and the speeches of the evening were entertaining and full of patriotism. At the election of officers Wednesday the following list was chosen:

Department Commander—B. E. Smith, of Willimantic.

Senior Vice-Commander—Wilbur S. Rogers, of Meriden.

Junior Vice-Commander—S. E. Blakeman, of Huntington,

Department Chaplain—Rev. Henry D. Miller. of Mystic River.

Medical Director—Dr. William C. Wile, of Danbury.

The council of administration are: H. L. Beach, Thomas Browden, E. L. Norton, C. S. Darrow. N. B. Rogers.

Delegates: at large, T. J. Gill, past 50; 1st delegate, H. R. Jones, 28; 2d, James H. Coe, 17; 3d, Frank Miller, 3; 4th, G. I. Bristow, 12; 5th, W. N. Mix, 36; 6th, A. J. Smith, 18; 7th, W. S. Simmons, 77.

Willimantic union veterans are honored by the selection of Benajah E. Smith as department commander by a unanimous vote, there being no other name presented. Commander Smith is a native of Wallingford in this state, and came to this city in 1878, since which time he has occupied an important position with the Willimantic Linen Company. He served as private, three years in Co. A, 21st regiment Connecticut volunteers. He is a charter member of Francis S. Long post 30. G. A. R. and was its second commander and for seven years its quartermaster. He has been chief mustering officer and an assistant inspector of the department and in 1891 was elected Junior vice department commander, in 1892 Senior vice. department commander and is now at the head of the order in the state. He is a ready speaker, a hard worker for the interests of the Grand Army and his administration bids fair to be a most prosperous one. It is likely that his election as department commander will bring the next annual meeting of the department to this city.

Department Commander Smith was presented by a member of the department staff with an elegant silver mantle clock as a souvenir of the silver anniversary of the Department of Connecticut G. A. R. at Danbury.

During the reception to Commander-in-Chief Palmer Tuesday night, an alarm of fire was rung. The fire was in the home of Arthur Rice on Golden Hill, just outside the city limits. Mr. Rice, who is a veteran, with his wife and daughter were attending the G. A. R. exercises at the opera house and did not know of his loss until on his way home he was met by a neighbor, who informed him. The loss will reach $1,200; insurance, $800. Tuesday morning a collection of $502 was taken up by the G. A. R. veterans and presented to Mr. Rice. Comrade Bates, of Putnam, offered to send a suit of clothes for each of the three children, if their measure should be sent him.