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The Confederate Monument Sherman, Texas The Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, March 29, 1896 pg. 4 What the Ex-Confederates Did There was a good attendance of ex-Confederates Sunday evening in response to the call published in the papers, the primary object being to arrange for attending the laying of the corner-stone of the monument to the memory of the confederate dead at Sherman April 3. There were a number of visitors from Sherman and Bells present. Judge Moreland called the meeting to order. It was decided that the Denison ex-Confederates should go over in a body, and Col. Lipscomb, Judge J.M. Cook and B.C. MUrray were appointed a committee to arrange for transporation. The G.A.R. post of this city and all ex-Federal soldiers were extended a hearty invitiation to attend the ceremonies, and Capt. Kretsinger, on their behalf, said he and his comrades would be on hand in force. Short speeches, in response to calls, were made by Capt. Kretsinger, Henry Hackney, Judge Teague, Col. Person, of Denison, and Dr. Wilson, Col. Dills and Dick Bales of Sherman. A subscription to the monument fund was opened and a good many silver dollars were handed in in response. Bob Collins was greeted with hearty applause when he stepped up to the secretary and turned over a handful of money, every cent of which he said were contributions from ex_Federal soldiers of Denison. This pleasing incident brought out a call for Capt. Kretsinger, and he made a feeling response which touched the hearts of every old soldier present, and the noble sentiments he uttered were greeted with vociferous applause. The chair called attention to the death of Comrade J.S. McDonald, and a committee was appointed to draft appropriate resolutions to be furnished the family of the deceased. After adjournment a number of the old soldiers went in a body to the house. Everybody is invited to go to Sherman on the 3d and witness the ceremonies, and a special invitation is extended to the teachers and pupils of all the schools in the city. Ample arrangements for transportation will be made. Mrs. Kidd and her pupils will give a Confederate entertainment at the opera house at night, the entire proceeds to go to the monument fund. No one who has ever attended one of these entertainments will miss this one, for it will be something grand.  The Sunday Gazetteer Sunday, April 5, 1896 pg. 1 CORNER STONE CEREMONIES Thousands of People Gather at Sherman to Participate in the Occasion Friday evening three extra coaches were attached to the regular Sherman-Denison passenger train, the object being to carry some 250 to 300 Denison people to Sherman to participate in the ceremonies attendant upon the laying of the corner stone of the Confederate monument to be erected on the northeast corner of the court house square. Seventeen mounted Stanley Rangers, Capt. W.O. Kretsinger in command, were at the Sherman depot to receive the vets from Denison. A line in double file was formed near the depot and headed by the Philharmonic orchestra, marched up to the court house square. Here the Denison people joined the Mildred Lee camp together with the Sherman band and all bands marched back down to the opera house where it was intended to form a line of march for the evening. By this time the streets were lined with spectators and those whose duty it was to form the line found that they had an elephant on their hands. Sherman was literally packed with people. The streets and sidewalks were lined and packed and as the column formed the rear was extended until it reached away around to the North Texas Female College. The order formed as follows: Sherman band Master-Masons Knights Templar Austin College cadets Daughters of the Confederacy Sons of Veterans North Texas Female College Sherman Institute Carr-Burdette College Mahan's Commercial College Federal soldiers Mildred Lee Camp Denison Philharmonics, followed by the Denison Confederates and Federals Calvary Division from the Stanley Rangers Sherman fire department The college girls and boys and the Knights of Pythias were out in full uniform and regalia and Judge J.H. Dills, mounted on a spirited black horse, was commander. The march was south along Travis street to the public square, west one block, south three blocks, east two blocks, thence back north to the court house square. A small platform had been erected near the corner of the court house and this was used by the musicians and speakers. Rains began falling before the march had been finished and this interfered materially with the program. The college girls with their handsome uniforms and the thousands of ladies who were on the streets had to seek shelter. By 4 o'clock, however, the public exercises were practically concluded and as the rain still continued the larger portion of the Denison visitors returned home. Quite a good many, however, remained over to attend the monument fund benefit entertainment at the opera house given by Mrs. Kidd's school. The rain cut short the ceremony of laying the corner stone, and after the stone was in place the crowd adjourned to the district court room, or rather all who could get in, where Judge Tom Brown delivered the oration, followed by other speakers. It was 5:30 when these exercises concluded. Grayson County "Firsts" The Confederate Monument History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |