Old Soldiers Reunion
Submitted by Donnie PickardVan Buren County Democrat, page 1, August 31, 1923
Old Soldiers Reunion an Enjoyable Occasion
The annual county reunion of old soldiers and home coming of former Van Buren County citizens for the year 1923 is now a matter of history. The pleasures of expectancy have been supplanted by those of pleasant recollection, for it must be admitted the meeting concluded last Friday evening will long be cherished as one of the happiest and most pleasant ever held. Weather conditions were indeed ideal. An all night rain Tuesday not only settled the dust and supplied an abundance of stock water, but was accompanied by a drop in temperature suggestive of typical fall weather. The attendance was certainly all that could have been expected, the crowd both days being variously estimated at from three to four thousand.
In the way of peace and order certainly there was no occasion for complaint. In so far as we have heard there was not the least disturbance of any kind or character. While conditions throughout the country during recent years have been wonderfully improved in the respect, yet it is highly probable that Sheriff Bradley's firm stand and timely announcement with reference to the transportation or sale of liquor, and his cash reward offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction, acted as a great deterrent. Certainly there was no visible evidence to the unitiated at least that any beverage stronger than that usually dispensed at cold drink stands was being consumed a fact that should be of much satisfaction to all true and loyal citizens.
The only sad feature connected with the reunion was the realization of the fact that year by year the ranks of these old veterans, in whose honor these annual reunion are held, are gradually growing thinner and that in but a few years at most even the youngest will have answered the final roll call to meet in one grand and glorious reunion on the other shore. On the occasion of which we write but 19 of these veterans were present, their name, age and membership being as follows:
Edward Short, 80, 80th Illinois Regiment; Dr. Geo. W. McGraw, 82, 142nd New York, Co. E; W.W. Williams, 70, Cal. 32d Reg.; L. Lovell, 82, 10th Ark., Co. C.; W.M. Allison, 82, 7th Cal. Mo. Vol.; G.W. Hardin, 75, Co C.; Sam Neal, 78, Lallard Co.; R.C. Lankford, 74, 10th Ark., Co. A; J.M. Holderfield, 79, Co. L., 11th Mo. Cal.; A.H. Smith, 80, 1?th Ark., Co., A; J.L. Mizell, 8? , 33d Tenn. Reg., Co. H.; J.F. Williams, 79, 3d Ark.; R.W. Wilson, 83, Cypert's Co., Gen. Price; W.J. Hensley, 88, Parson's Brigade; W.D. Baker, 81, Co. E., 25th Tenn.; J.A. Bonham, 80, Co. B, 33 Ind.; Jno. Cable, 90, Co. I, 78th Ohio; W.T. Hunt.
From above ages it will be observed that to our R.C. Lankford is due the credit of being the youngest veteran present, age 74. To John Cable of Archey Valley township is due the credit of being the oldest veteran, age 90 years. Omitting the last name enrolled, whose age was not given, we find that the combined age of all veterans present was 1,456 years, the average being 80 years, ten months and 20 days.
At a business meeting of these old soldiers organization Mr. Sam Neal was elected president for the ensuing year; Edward Short, vice-present, and Elmer Neal secretary. The new president appointed the following committee on memorials: Andy Jones of Scotland, R.C. Lankford of Clinton and G.W. Hardin of Bee Branch. Morganton was selected as place of holding the 1924 reunion; time to be determined by president and such committee he might appoint.
The committee on entertainment were especially fortunate in securing as speakers for this occasion the Hon. T.H. Caraway, U.S. Senator, Judge J.T. Bullock, of the 5th Judicial Circuit, and the Hon. Claude Fuller, of Eureka Springs. Judge Bullock spoke at 11 o'clock Thursday morning, his talk being addressed directly to incidents connected with and following the Civil War, especially interesting to all old soldiers and their descendants, regardless of whether they wore the blue or the gray. In fact many competent critics who had the pleasure of hearing Judge Bullock's address pronounced it one of the most interesting and most appropriate talks they had ever heard up on a like occasion.
Senator Caraway and Mr. Fuller both spoke along political lines, though not of a partisan nature, calling attention to issues now confronting the agricultural classes and which must be solved within the next few years. Mr. Caraway referred to his two visits to Europe since the war, his reference to conditions as he found them this year being especially interesting and instructive. Another feature of the general entertainment provided was the excellent music furnished both days by the Cleveland Cornet Band.