Historic Hood River
GAR
Notes
This is the 1898 Bradley image of the local Civil War veterans that we discussed last week. The inscription on the reverse, in Samuel Blythe’s hand, tell the story:
Front Row-*Thos. J. Cunning, *H. H. Bailey, M. V. Rand, *J. H. Dukes, I. H. Aldrich, *Richard Hunt.
Rear Row- *C. J. Hayes, *A. S. Blowers, *Bert Rand, J. W. Rigby, *L. Henry, S. F. Blythe,- Clough, *O. L. Stranahan, * Frank Noble.
This photo was taken in front of what is now the County Courthouse May 1, 1898. At the present writing (Nov. 9, 1913) eight of the 15 comrades in the picture are dead. The deceased comrade names are marked with an asterisk*. The name following that of J. H. Dukes, was that of a comrade who lived at Cascade Locks. He was a candidate for County Assessor on the Populist ticket in 1898 and was defeated.
March 12, 1920- Today I picked up a copy of the Glacier published May 6, 1898, which mentions that the photo was taken May 1, 1898. The names of the past members are given including the name of J. H. Aldrich.
A little clue I am correct identifying the handwriting as S. F. Blythe: Writing “eight of the 15 comrades” follows a common newspaper style guide, namely that you spell out numbers less than 10 but use numerals for 10 or greater. Most people are very casual with this sort of thing, but a newspaperman like Blythe would be incapable of being more casual even when writing documentation on the back of a photograph.
L. E.
I was noticing that Mr. I. H. Aldrich stepped up on the higher step so he wasn’t so short next to his companions.
Trying to find out some information about Aldrich, I think he may be J. H. Aldrich.
In the June 02, 1921 Oregon Daily Journal:
J. H. Aldrich, whose death was announced yesterday, was a former newspaper man, well known in Lincoln, Benton and Crook counties, where he actively pursued his profession. He served in the Civil war, was an honored member of the G.A.R. and a splendid citizen. He was the father of E.B. Aldrich, editor of the Pendleton East Oregonian.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129639454/james-harrison-aldrich
Jeffrey Bryant
James Harrison Aldrich, b. 28 Jul 1849, d. 31 May 1921. Co. G. 50th Missouri Infantry. Findagrave memorial 129639454.
He would have been one of the younger soldiers in the Civil War.
nels
Only 2 men with no facial hair as close as I can see. Times change on facial hair – are we in a hair or no hair phase now?
L. E.
Thank you Jeffrey Bryant for the work you have done on Find A Grave. I have been reading about some of these gentlemen.
Arthur Babitz
I agree LE. It’s great to have Jeffrey’s Find-a-Grave archives as well as all the comments he has added on HHR based on his page by page reading of the old Glacier Newspapers.
kmb
My great-great grandfather, John W. Hinrichs, had served on the Union side in the Civil War, was a member of the local GAR post, and was living in the Hood River area when this picture was taken, but he doesn’t appear in the picture. Perhaps not all GAR members participated in these types of events, or perhaps he was unable to attend for some reason.
ArthurB
kmb, we have a family album of J.W. Hinrichs which includes cabinet cards of him and his family, as well as pictures from the First National Bank where he was a board member. I don’t see him in any of our several GAR photographs. A mystery!