The last four years have been hard on Williams Post No. 78, Grand Army of the Republic. When the state encampment was held here in 1934 the county had 20 survivors of the war between the states.
For almost a year the post suffered no casualties. Then, in 1935, Sam Hayden and Jeff Chilton died. In 1936, the strength of Williams Post was reduced to nine by the deaths of Allen Mitchell, Jacob Rader, James Stafford, James Blackburn, Thornton Botkin, James McCormick, Joseph Heaton, Charles Callaway and William Thorpe.
Early in 1937 Perry Miller and Al Lucas died, but there were still seven survivors when Memorial Day was celebrated. Five have died since then-John Browning, James Bowden, Jake Pavey, George Gibson and Francis French.
Now there are only two.
"Say, Ed," insisted George, when he and the commander saw each other for the first time in more than a year, "I'l take you on in that foot race." [The Muncie (Indiana) Evening Press
Saturday, May 28, 1938]