Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1910 — COMMERCIAL CLUB TO AID MOHUMENT BUILDING. [ARTICLE]

COMMERCIAL CLUB TO AID MOHUMENT BUILDING.

Movement for Milroy and Soldiers’ Monument Started by Mrs. Thompson Endorsed by Club. The movement started by Mrs. M. E. Thompson to erect a monument in Milroy Park to General Robert H. Miliroy and all Jasper county soldiers who participated in the Civil War, has been progressing very well, arid about one half of the amount, needed to build the monument has been pledged almost entirely through the efforts of Mrs. Thompson. On Monday night a meeting of the Commercial Club was called by President Worland to consider means of aiding in the work of securing public subscriptions. Mrs. Thompson attended the meeting and stated her aim and what she had so far accomplished. The plan is to have a statute of General Milroy, 8 feet in height, mounted on an 8 foot pedestal, stationed in Milroy park and facing the Washington street bridge. On the pedestal are to be the names of all the soldiers who enlisted from Jasper county for the Civil War. The base of the monument is to be about 20 feet square, with broad steps leading up to it from the front and both sides. In the rear a seat will be built, with heavy corner posts. The materialised will probably be ground marble cemented together, , Miss Mary Washburn, now of Chicago, where she has made a reputation in art, has volunteered to do the work of making the statute free of charge. She has several portraits of General Milroy and is making a study of his character in order that she may make the statute as life like as possible. The work that Miss Washburn has volunteered to do free of charge for her girlhood home would probably cost almost as much as the material and installing of the monument, and her liberal offer is greatly appreciated by her old friends and admirers in Rensselaer.'

The matter was informally dfscussed by those present at the meeting gnd on motion a committee was appointed to co-operate with Mrs. Thompson in securing funds for the consummation of the plans so ably begun and in which the people of Rensselaer and all of Jasper county should take a patriotic and unselfish President Worland said that he would name his committee -within a day or tWo. The original plan was to accept only one dollar subscriptions but so many have proffered more money and the task was so difficult for Mrsj Thompson whose age made it impossible for her to get out much, that it was de-

cided to hasten the matter- through by securing pledges for larger amounts. Judge E. P. Hammond, of Lafayette, himself one of the first men in Jasper county to enlist and a member of General Milroy’s company, subscribed $25, Mrs. Thompson gave a similar amount, Delos Thompson, the same, and Captain J. M. Wasson and John Eger.each gave $25. Robert S. Dwiggins, by his son, Elmer, gave $5, while Elmer gave $5 for himself and John W. Paris, of New York, each gave $5. It is certain that other former Rensselaer people, and especially the children and relatives of the gallant young men who offered their lives to their country at that crucial peribd will now be glad of an opportunity to contribute to a fund to build a monument in their memory. These contributions can now be sent to Mrs. M. E. Thompson direct or later to .the committee authorized by the Commercial Club to solicit them. » Along with the erection of the monument will come other expenses for the Improvement of the park and it will be the duty of the city to look after this feature. Conrad Kellner, who was at the meeting Monday night, subscribed $5 to the monument fund and offered to donate enough dirt to fill the park up to a proper height. It was suggested that a volunteer hauling day might get enough volunteer learns to almost complete- the work in a day. Marshal Davis, who was present, stated that he would personally give his attention to that the park whs leveled pff add put Into presentable shape with the opening up of spring. Mrs. Thompson has been informed that if the contract can be let by the first of Much, the monument can be

completed and installed ready for unveiling by the 4th of July. President Worland said that he hopes to see the greatest 4th of July celebration this year that Rensselaer ever had and that he hopes his assistants will be active in aiding Mrs. Thompson in getting the pledges for the monument.