Matthew Gray Post #93  

Grand Army of the Republic

Information for this page was provided by Conley Wolterman, if you have additional questions on any person listed, just click on her name.

The  was organized in the fall of 1881 with 27 charter members. The final membership reached 127. It lasted until the last member, James Deal, died in 1930. The post was given its name in honor of Matthew Gray, a highly respected soldier who had died just before the organization.

For many years, the Mathew Gray Post was very active and great enthusiasm was displayed in the observance of Decoration Day and the Fourth of July. Each year on those days, the Civil War Veterans would dress in their blue uniforms, one carrying a large flag and the rest a rifle, and led the parade. "Kim" Page, a tall dressy man with a long beard, usually served as officer of the day. He rode a horse and with formality marshaled his men and marched to the place of the meeting. At times they marched to the cemetery; but as they grew order, they rode in carriages, formed a line at the cemetery, and fired salutes over each comrade’s grave.  Richard Williams and James Deal were the last ones to answer the last roll call. Mr. Williams of Schuylkill Co., Pa., enlisted in 1864 and became a member of Battery F, 1^st Illinois Light Artillery. He died April 21, 1929 at the age of 83 years.  Mr. Deal enlisted at Boone, Ia., March 1862 and served with Co. K Iowa Infantry. He received an honorable discharge at Jefferson Barracks in 1863, having been disabled by a severe leg injury while participating in the Battle at Iuka, Miss. He died March 12, 1930 at the age of 87 years.

Charter Members:

Adams, David – Private, D Co., 167^th Pa. Infantry, Joined 8 Sept. 1882.

Baker, Albert T. – Pvt, Co. B, 22 Ia. Inf. Age 19, res. Johnson Co, Ia.

Barnes, George F. -Franklin Co.,Vt., Pvt., Co. B, 4 Iowa Cavalry, Children: Gertrude M, Raymond F. Wife: Melvena, born NY, (carpenter)

Battin, Bazel D. – Ohio, Corp., B Co., 33rd (dau.: Amanda), born 1838, Harr. Co.

Bennett, Eralza A. –Co D, 20 Iowa, Prairie Mills, Il., buried: Ida Grove, Ia. Died Aug. 24, 1894.

Brannan, T. S. – Keysville, NY, mason, Private, C Co., 10 Ia. Infantry. Died Jan. 12, 1915, Ida Grove, Ia.

Brown, Henry – Pvt., Co. F, 170 Ohio Inf.

Carr, S. V. – , Ohio, Co.G, 8 Mn. Inf. Civil War & Indian War, died Aug. 28, 1911, Marshalltown, Ia.

Curtis, Benj. F. – Monroe Co., Mi., mason, Private, Co. A, 4 Michigan Infantry.

Dennis, S. W. – Co.A , 8 Iowa.

Fisk, L H. – 13 Wisc. Light Battery.

Harvey, George – Veterinarian, Pvt. Co. C, 20^th Ia. Inf., died Nov. 15, 1915 at Oregon.

Hyatt, Jesse – Private, I Co., 6 Wisc.

Johnston, R. – Private, C Co., 9 Iowa Infantry.

Koker, M. D. – Pvt., Co. H, 92 Illinois Infantry

Kuchel, Joseph, Pvt., Co. G, 20 Iowa.

Lantz, Henry A. – Pvt., Co. D, 8^th Iowa.

Merrill, S. R. – Mason, Private, C 8^th Illinois Cavalry

Miller, Homer A. – Trumbull, Ohio, Lawyer, Corp., Co. H 44 Wisc.

Parrott, T. M. – Iowa, C Co., 44^th Iowa.

Rogers, Jos. – Pvt., Co. L, 2 N.Y., Mounted Rifles, buried at Mt. Hope Cem., Battle Creek, Iowa Children: Chas, Frank, Jos., Loyd, Lucy, and Maud.

Sommers, J. W. –Pvt., Co. G, 76^th Ill. Inf. Died Aug. 2, 1919, Ida Grove, Iowa

Stoneking, Johnson S. – Pvt., Co. I, 20^th Iowa Infantry, born Pa.

Wilkinson, James F. – Kansasheir, England, Pvt., Co. F, 104 Illinois Infantry.

Worcester, Edward L. – 1^st. Lt., Co.L, 1 Maine H. Artillery, also Co. B.

Worchester, H. A. – Det. Service Hdqt.