History 13th Separate Co NGNY
Fentons Guards
JAMESTOWNS PRIDE
Thirteenth Separate Company Goes to Camp
Return to Chautauqua County Gen Web page.
The Company History
Liberal Support by the People and Patriotic Encouragement from
the Beginning - Splendid Records of the Fenton Guards.
Jamestown, June 13 - (Special) - The 13th separate company of
Jamestown will leave for a tour of duty at the State camp of
instruction near Peekskill on Friday evening of this week. At
home the company is known by its honorary title, the Fenton
Guards, assumed out of compliment to our distinguished townsman,
the late Gov. Reuben E. Fenton. The 13th today ranks among the
best separate companies and in point of military qualities the
separate companies excel the regiments of the State.
The history of the 13th is interesting. It was organized 19 years
ago. The first meeting in regard to the new company was held in
Scandinavian hall, June 6, 1875; an election of officers was held
July 17 of that year, and on August 25 the company was mustered
into service by General Rogers, who was present with his entire
staff. The ceremony took place in Jones's Hall and the company
contained 76 members. As the company was composed mainly of
Swedish-Americans, and as no "State uniform" was then
insisted on, the new company adapted a handsome blue, with yellow
trimmings, similar to that worn by the body guard of the King of
Sweden. The uniforms cost $32 each, of which the company had to
pay $14. The company was known as "Company No. 1 of the 8th
Brigade," and was probably the first separate company
organized under the State law authorizing the formation of such
companies.
The officers at the mustering-in of the company were Captain John
P. Hollers and first Lieutenant Conrad A. Hult. Captain Hollers,
as captain of a company in one of the New York regiments, is
remembered as a soldierly-looking man and a good drill-master.
His death occurred about two years ago. He remained as captain a
year and a half or two years, and the company was then under Mr.
Hult, as first lieutenant, commanding until April, 1880, when he
was made captain. Captain Hult is a military man of ability and
long experience. He served in the Danish army as a lieutenant in
the Danish-Prussion war in 1864, and during the war of the
Rebellion he served in the 88th New York Infantry. The other
officers of the company previous to its reorganization were First
Lieutenant A.W. Ljungberg and Second Lieutenants Frederick J.
Waldin, John Swanson, and Gustaf F. Smith.
The organization, which started in as the 1st Separate Company,
had its designation changed by the State authorities in 1880 to
the 4th Separate Company, and again changed, during the
administration of Governor Cornell, to the 13th Separate Company.
The company was the first in the State to wear the military
helmet now worn by the National Guard and the regular army. It
was also the first company in the brigade to adopt, in 1882, the
white summer helmet, with which was then worn white horse-hair
plumes. After the first destroyed their arms and uniforms the
company came out in a handsome new uniform adorned with gold lace
facings, to the purchase of which the citizens of Jamestown
contributed $1,000.
In 1887 the company was reorganized. Captain Hult had resigned in
February, 1887, and on May 31, 1887, Captain Henry Smith, who had
been previously elected captain, was duly commissioned. He
displayed great energy in recruiting the company, and soon
brought it to a high state of efficiency in drill and military
standing, as well as in strength of membership. A new armory was
secured, new uniforms granted by the State, and a general revival
of interest in military matters was created. The citizens, by
forming the honorary list, the Supervisors by furnishing and
equipping a new armory in the Warner block, and Governor Fenton's
family, by elegantly furnishing the company's rooms, all aided
and company and put it on a more permanent footing.
Shortly after Captain Smith's election Lieutenant Ljungberg
resigned. John Cadwell, who had been elected second lieutenant at
the same time as Captain Smith, and had helped in the work of
reorganization, also resigned. R. E. Fenton, only son of the late
Governor Fenton, was commissioned first lieutenant November 28,
1889, and Frederick W. Hyde was commissioned second lieutenant on
the same date. Dr. William Marvin Bemus was commissioned first
lieutenant and assistant surgeon September 23, 1887. In October
1890, Captain Henry Smith resigned and Lieutenant Hyde, having
been duly elected was commissioned captain March 26, 1891.
Quarter-Master Sergeant Daniel H. Post was duly elected second
lieutenant and commissioned as such with rank from April 23,
1891, to succeed Lieutenant Hyde. Lieutenant Fenton resigned
January 6, 1892, and Lieutenant Post was promoted to the vacancy
January 22, 1892. On February 18, 1892, First Sergeant Frank A.
Johnson was elected to succeed Lieutenant Post. Mr. Johnson
enlisted August 3, 1880, and is the senior member of the company
in point of service. Captain Hyde, who was an enthusiastic,
industrious and able commanding officer resigned March 27, 1894,
and Lieutenant Daniel H. Post, an able officer, was elected
captain April 6, 1894, and duly commissioned with rank from that
date. Captain Post makes a good officer and the company is sure
to prosper under his able guidance. Albert Gilbert, Jr., first
sergeant, was elected first lieutenant on May 7, vice Mr. Post
promoted.
Strike Duty Performed by the 13th
The company has been three times ordered out for duty, once
during the general railroad riots of 1877 and once when called
out by Major Price in January, 1888, in apprehension of trouble
caused by a dispute about the crossing of two railways. On the
night of August 16, 1892, just before midnight orders were
received to assemble the company and proceed to Buffalo in aid of
the civil authorities, the "Switchmen's strike" having
got beyond local control. Within two hours, all the officers of
the company, and 63 of the enlisted men were on board the cars en
route for Buffalo where the company remained, doing its part of
the work, until the afternoon of August 27. On their return home
the members received an ovation from the citizens.
The company first attended the State Camp in 1884 under Captain
Hult. It went again in 1886 under Lieutenant Ljungberg and in
1888 under Captain Smith. In 1891 the company went to camp under
Captain Hyde. Its camp record has always been good. The company
participated in the parade at the opening of the Niagra Park, and
in the Washington Centennial in New York April 30, 1880. It
camped with the G.A.R. at Point Chautauqua during one soldiers'
reunion, has participated twice in G.A.R. day at Chautauqua, and
has paraded in Buffalo, Salamanca, Titusville, Dunkirk and other
places. It has entertained the Titusville and Westfield
companies, the Cleveland City Troop, and the Buffalo Cadets, and
was once, in 1884, entertained for three days by the 32rd
Regiment of Brooklyn. The reception to Governor Hill and the
other social events of the company of late are fresh in the
memory of all.
Rifle Practice
The company has a fine armor range, 30 yards in length, and
during the past in-door season qualified 15 sharpshooters and 46
marksmen. The open-air range is on the Lakewood line of electric
cars, three miles from the Armory, and is 600 yards in length,
supplied with sliding targets, and a convenient range house, and
is in all respects in first-class condition. In 1893 the company
qualified 13 sharpshooters and 59 marksmen for State decorations
out of a total of 74. Their "volley target" was the
best in the State. The company team took part with four other
teams in the "4th Brigade match" at Bay View, and made
the largest score by four points. By a technicality the prize
was, however, awarded to another organization. The excellent
shooting record of the company is largely due to the efforts of
Dr. Laban Hazeltine, chairman of the rifle committee.
The New State Armory
As the company has changed its name several times so also has it
changed its habitation. Its first armory was in the old
Congregational Church at the southwest corner of Fifth and Main
streets. When this building was destroyed by fire the company
moved into Jones's Hall, thence to the Opera House building on
East Second Street, and thence to the fourth floor of the Warner
block. The new State Armory of the 13th, which has been occupied
about a year and a half, is at the corner of South Main Street
and Fenton Place. It is a substantial and military-looking
structure of Medina brown stone and brick. It affords a drill
shed 70 by 110, and an administration building 50 by 22. A rifle
range, company rooms, officers' rooms, store rooms, steam
heating, gas for fuel and light, electric light, modern plumbing,
bowling alleys, and in fact "all the modern
improvements" give the company a permanent home that is
second to no armory in the State, and which the members, with the
generous aid rendered by our citizens, and the wise liberality of
the supervisors, have made attractive and pleasant beyond the
majority of such structures. The cost of the Armory and site was
$38,000, and the furnishings and additions made by the company
have probably added at least $5,000 to the sum. The building is
an ornament to the city, and a source of pride to all the members
of the organization.
Present Condition of the Company
The company now has 85 members, having a full complement of
officers, non-commissioned officers and musicians, and 65
privates. At the annual inspection and muster May 23 every member
was present. On Decoration Day 78 members turned out for parade.
Since March 5 the average attendance at drills has been over 85
per cent. These facts speak well for the interest shown by the
members.
The company has a complete company-cooking outfit, and will be
able to go into the field, if ordered on active service, fully
prepared for every emergency and able to begin soldiers'
housekeeping from the start, while in case of casualties Surgeon
Bemus will have every modern appliance of military field hospital
equipment at hand to aid him in his department of work. The 13th
are fortunate in being detailed to camp under command of so
accomplished and efficient an officer as Captain W. Maurice Kerby
of the 2nd Separate Company of Auburn, who will command the 1st
Provisional Battalion of which they form a part. The other
companies will be the 2nd of Auburn, 42nd of Niagara Falls, and
companies from Oswego and Elmire. The "swell" cavalry
troop of New York City, "Troop A," will be in camp at
the same time, together with the 2nd Provisional Battalion, which
contains five first-class companies, Captain Lloyd of Troy,
battalion commander. The above named organizations, the 13th
included, will have the distinguished honor of opening the camp
of 1894. The 13th will thus be in good company, and it is
needless to say, will strive to do credit to themselves and
Jamestown, and will seek to prove again, as they have so often
done before, that 13 is not an unlucky number.
"Buffalo Courier"
6/14/1894
13th SEPARATE CO. N.G.N.Y.
Residence Address is First Given; then Business Addres.
Numbers after Address refer to Telephone Call
CAPT DANIEL H. POST
500 Pine, 81
2 Steele, 254
1st LIEUT ALBERT GILBERT Jr
1 Fenton Place, 209
Fenton Manufacturing Co, 265
1st LT & ASST SURG W M BEMUS
517 North Main, 330
517 Noth Main, 330
1st SERGT LOUIS A FENTON
208 East Second
First National Bank, 332
QM SERGT PERL A BUTTS
119 Fairmount Avenue,
208 Main
SERGT FRED H WILSON
333 Allen Street
Wil on mid, 47
SERGT SAMUEL A BROWN
57 Rathbone
20 West Third, PO
SERGT SAMUEL M PORTER
313 West Fifth
34 Gokey block
CORPL JOHN F JONES
231 Steele street
CORPL ALFRED E HALE
905 Prendergast Avenue
Armory, 13
CORPL EDWIN B DEWEY
310 Crossman Street
Journal Office, 260
CORPL W H HARRISON JR
16 Alpaca Street
203 Main (Sharpe's) 10
CORPL ARTHUR E MITCHELL
106 Footes Avenue
Hall mills, 381
CORPL LAVERN BORDWELL,
412 North Main,
103 Main, 11
CORPL GEORGE G YORK
9 Victoria Avenue
West Fourth Street, Clark's foundry
CORPL ERNEST H COOK,
229 Fulton
Postoffice, 20 West Third
MUS GUST A SWANSON
Crescent Street
MUS LEE B WALKER
11 West Eighth Street
ACKROYD, SMITH
106 Broadhead Avenue
Steele Street
ANDERSON, GEORGE H
5 Garfield
Postoffice, 20 West Third
BABCOCK, CHESTER D
24 Crossman
301 Main 16
BERGHOLTZ, E BRUNO
8 Fairview Avenue
Fenton Metallic, 265
BILLINGS, ALLEN E
206 Washington, 181
7 West Third, 202
BLISS, MERLIN A
142 Forest Avenue
Winsor Street, Maddox & Bailey, 279
BORSFORD, WILLIAM R
111 East Sixth
Farmers and Mechanics Bank, 55
LANCE CORPL DONALD S BROWN
116 East Fourth
Journal, West Second, 260
BUSH, L M
648 East Sixth
High school, 169
BUTTS, GEORGE R
214 Crossman
304 Main, 291
DIKEMAN, GEORGE J
26 Gokey Building
26 Gokey Building, 328
DORN, RALPH W
715 Newland Avenue
DEWEY, FRED W
New Kent Block,
5 West First, 333
LANCE CORPL C L ECKMAN,
20 Linden Avenue
Jones & Gifford Avenue, 277
ECKMAN, G W
Fenton Place, 196
16 South Main,
FENTON, LOUIS G
404 West Fifth,
Fenton Metallic, 265
FRISBEE, BEARDSLEY R
707 East Second
34 Gokey Block, 328
GALLOWAY, FRED J
405 East Fifth
GIFFORD, W B
19 West Seventh,
300 Main, 291
HANSEN, C M
38 Harrison Street
Maddox & Bailey, 279
HALE, G F
106 Crosby Street,
High School, 169
HARRIS, ALFRED T
43 Fairmount
13 East Second, 145
HARRISON, CORNELIUS M,
LaFayette & Eighth Streets,
J & L E R'y, 264
HARRISON, GEORGE C
214 West Eighth Street
203 Main (Sharpe's) 10
HARRISON, ALBERT H
214 West Eighth
J & L E, Steele Street, 264 A
HAZELTINE, LABAN
316 West Third, 138
Main & Fourth Streets, 25
HERPST, P C
44 Tilden Avenue
Fenton Metallic, 265
JOLLIE, EDWARD F
Harrison Street
Falconer Junction Depot
JOHNSON, CHARLEY J
549 Allen Street,
Broadhead Mills, 53
JOHNSON, OSCAR A
330 Allen Street
Hall Mills, 331
LAWS, JAMES W
Howard Avenue,
Engineering Appliance Co 205
LAWSON, ALLEN C
52 Harrison,
Engineering Appliance Co 205
LOCKWOOD, A VERDE
12 Barrett
LYMAN, E C
311 West Third, 239
Corner Main & Fourth, 25
MOUNTAIN, H W
417 East Fifth,
66 Footes Avenue, 210
NELSON, FRED A
35 East Ninth Street,
38 - 48 Winsor, 251
NICHOLS, C M
19 South Main,
11 Shearman Place, 34
NESMITH, C B
113 West Third, 62
Journal, West Second, 260
OLMSTEAD, L N
917 North Main,
203 Main, 10
PARKS, G S
528 East Second
PETERSON, JAMES C
108 East Eighth,
208 Main
PHILLIPS, GLENN P
195 Forest Avenue, 183
4 East Second, 309
PRICE, HARRY W
907 Prendergast Avenue
RICE, E H
Howard Avenue,
Engineering Appliance Co 205
ROMANS, JOHN D
111 West Eighth,
203 Main, 10
SAUNDERS, JOHN
27 Walnut Street,
Broadhead Mills, 53
SMITH, LOUIS
645 East Sixth
SMITH, D A
645 East Sixth
STEARNS, FRANK M
323 Lake View Avenue,
211 East Third, 346 B
STONE, JOHN N
526 Winsor,
Fenton Metallic, 265
SUNDELL, THEODORE
225 Prospect Street,
Olson & Co, Taylor Street
SUNDGREN, ALBERT B
804 Main,
100 Main, 108
SWEET, FRED D
991 Prendergast Avenue,
14 Warner Block
TIFFANY J WILLIAM
206 Spring Street,
City National Bank, 261
THOMAS, FRANK A
345 Footes Avenue
WALSH, EDWARD P
57 Fairmount Avenue,
28 Main Street, 131
WILBUR, DAVID H
WILTSLE, CHARLES H
124 Prospect Street,
12 Gokey Block, West Third
Transcribed and Submitted by EMGS Member Lloyd Lanphere
and Shared with me for submission to our Chautauqua Co web page
by
Mary E. Bryant Pres. EMGS;