AUGUST WENTZ POST NO. 1, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC The first post in Iowa was named J. B. Leake Post, No. 1.  In 1881, when the order was re-organized, it was named August Wentz Post, No. 1, in honor of the gallant Lieutenant Colonel August Wentz, who fell at Belmont while fighting in defense of his country.  In June, 1902, the following article was published in the Democrat and is self explanatory: "Several days ago you republished from the Des Moines Capital an article written in view of the G. A. R. encampment to be held in that city, which was headed 'First G. A. R. Meeting.  Call for meeting was issued in 1870, but 1874 virtually first reunion.'  In the body of the article are these words:  'In 1874 at Keokuk the provisional department was organized to perpetuate patriotic sentiments of the war period.  Hon. J. C. Parrott, of Keokuk, was elected first commander of the department.' "Now in this there is, and no doublt unintentionally, an inversion of facts, both as to the time and place where the first provisional oganization of the G. A. R. association occurred, and also as to who was its first commander.  These honors belong to Davenport and the time is 1866.  General Stephenson in Illinois was that year the originator and promoter of the organization known as the Grand Arny of the Republic, and in his memory and to his honor as such a monument will be (was later on) soon erected at Washington.  The first organization of the Grand Army of the Republic in the United States was consummated in Illinois, and the second was in Wisconsin.  At this time (1866) there was a large society or association of 'old soldiers' in Davenport, and at one of their meetings or  banquets, held in the old Turner hall, the question came up of establishing a G. A. R. department in Iowa, and the president of the meeting was invited to visit Illinois and confer with General Stephenson on the project.  He did this at his own expense and after some days made his report at home.  He brought with him the appointment and authority as first commander of the first projected G. A. R. department of Iowa, and as such was authorized to start and charter posts, and was also supplied with all the application blanks, etc.  The report was accepted and the society's president, General Add. H. Sanders, elected department commander with proper formality.  He appointed his adjutant general and quartermaster, with headquarters at Davenport, and all went actively to work.  This work was laborious with a great deal of traveling to do, especially by the adjutants.  The commander bore all these expenses and after post fees began to come in he even then refused to accept a dollar in recompense. "When nearly seveny posts were organized the commander called a meeting at Davenport of two or three delegates from each for business, and aslo for the purpose of tendering his resignation because of outside demands upon his time and labor.  Then everything seemed prospering in the Iowa department.  Iowa was the third state naming and organizing a G. A. R. department.  General J. B. Leake, of Davenport, was elected the next commander of the statre department, and it was no fault of his, in work or ability, that not very long after the veteran organization commenced its decline, until in 1870 there were but few posts left in the state.  In 1874, at Keokuk, a provisional reorganization took place with General Parrott as commander, and in 1881 finally merging into a permanent state department.  In fact, the original G. A. R. organization became too political, for almost every member of it was a republican and the organization voted republican.  Why, as an illustration, at the time of the delegate meeting here, by the earnest request of the delegates and against his mild protest for such political action, the commander that afternoon marched, or had ferried over the river into Illinois, the whole unanimous body to hear General Logan make a political speech in Rock Island.  They were received with great applause and the commander was invited to preside at the big meeting.  But this honor he declined."                                                                                                           ADD. H. SANDERS.  Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L