Military History. 369 



Stodders, eleven Herseys, thirteen Gardners, one Hobart, five 

 Towers, four Lorings, one Bates, three Burrs, eight Spragues, six 

 Wilders, three Dunbar's, one Leavitt, four Fearings, four Lanes, 

 seven Barneses, four Marshes, while from our military lists the 

 Lewises, Stowells, Joys, and Thaxters have entirely disappeared. 



This chapter, with aU its length, yet all too short for a satisfac- 

 tory memorial to the children of the town who have cared naught 

 for suffering and death when duty beckoned along the dangerous 

 path, is fast drawing to its close. A few words only remain, and 

 those mainly for the living. To promote Loyalty, Fidelity, Char- 

 ity, there was organized, August 5, 1869, Edwin Humphrey Post, 

 No. 104, of the Grand Army of the Republic. Col. Hawkes Fear- 

 ing was its first commander, Major Benjamin F. Meservey, senior 

 vice-commander, Capt. Peter N. Sprague, junior vice-commander, 

 Lieut. George R. Reed, quartermaster, Samuel J. Henderson, 

 officer of the day, William H. Jacobs, officer of the guard, and 

 Henry Jones was appointed adjutant. These, together with George 

 Thomas, William H. Thomas, Isaac B. Damon, Edward T. Blossom, 

 William Jones, Hubert J. Tulley, John A. Reed, and William S. 

 Whiton were charter members. Colonel Fearing was again 

 chosen commander in 1870, and the same office has been held 

 since that date by Capt. Peter N. Sprague in 1871-1874, Lemuel 

 Pope in 1875, Captain Sprague again in 1876, Major Edward T. 

 Bouve in 1877-1879, — during which the Post became uniformed, 

 and raised a considerable charity fund, — Lieut. George R. Reed 

 in 1880, Isaac F. Goodwin in 1881 and for part of 1882, resigning 

 April 8 of the latter vear, William H. Thomas for the remainder 

 of 1882 and in 1883, Charles H. Wakefield for 1884-1886, John 

 H. Stoddar in 1887 and 1888, J. Henry Howe in 1889, Col. 

 Thomas Weston in 1890 and 1891, Major Lyman B. Whiton in 

 1892, and Arthur Beale in 1893. Since its organization one 

 hundred and forty names have been upon the rolls of its com- 

 rades. The present number is seventy-seven. Eleven comrades 

 have joined the greater army which responds only to Heaven's 

 trumpets ; they are Samuel J. Henderson, Thomas Murphy, Edward 

 W. Marston, Samuel Bronsdon, William Hersey, John W. Gault, 

 Charles Sprague, Stephen A. Hall, Octavius R. Barry, George T. 

 Kilburn, William Taylor. 



In 1888 the Post," with the aid of funds raised by fairs and 

 contributions of citizens, built a hall well adapted for its purposes 

 at Centre Hingham, and within a short distance of the old fort 

 commanded by Capt. John Smith in the days of King Philip. 

 Here the members meet for business, mutual assistance, encour- 

 agement, and pleasure ; and here on each Memorial Day are held 

 appropriate exercises in which the Woman's Relief Corps, the 

 Sons of Veterans, visiting comrades, and the citizens of the town 

 kindle anew the fires of patriotism, and lay upon the altar of the 

 heroic dead the flowers of memory. 



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