Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1910 — MONUMENT ORDERED; UNVEILING JULY 4TH. [ARTICLE]

MONUMENT ORDERED; UNVEILING JULY 4TH.

The Bronte Statue of General Milroy, Mounted On Postal Bearing '3RH s’' <- - sit, PM.W= J-3 .fNames of County „ 1, r 's ? : To the liutirtng efforts of Mrs. Mary E. ofr’Xlffed Thbin&l son, arid those equally patriotic women who have given her assistance, Is due the credit for the fact that the contract has already been let for the Soldiers’ Monument, which is to be a hifeh pedestal bearing the names of all those who enlisted from Jasper counfry in the Union Army for the Civil War, mounted with an eight foot bronze figure of General Robert H. Milroy. ..While an insufficient amount of money has been subscribed to complete the monument, the willingness with which most influential people have responded, assures Mrs. Thompson and her co-workers that the full amount can be raised if all are given an' opportunity to contribute and the work of collecting will go on as rapidly as possible arid all are urged to contribute as liberally as they can and to make their subscriptions without delay. While there are several with papers, it is not improbable that some who wish to give will not be seen. Any of these can find papers at either of the drug stores, at the Republican office or in the hands of Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Chas. Roberts, S. E. Sparling or Dr. A. G. Catt.

Mrs. Thompson’s ambition has been to have the monument unveiled by July 4th and it looks like, this can be accomplished. Miss Mary Washburn, the sculptress, has been diligently at work model making and has a fine likeness of General developed from a study of eight pictures which Mrs. Thompson had gathered for that* purjysse. Miss Washburn found her apartments where she has done much of her work too small for the modeling of the Milroy figure and rented a large room for a studio especially for this piece of work. Had Miss Washburn been doing this work for other parties she would have charged $2,000 for her Work, but because the monument is to be erected in her old home, she is contributing her work without any cost, and it is certain that she is putting her very best effort into it. That It will be well done may be assured as Miss Washburn is recognized as one of the leading model makers In Chicago and has been agreed upon as the one to make the statue model for a monument to be erected for Dr. Nicholas Senn. Miss Washburn has not only contributed her own work, but was instrumental in securing a material reduction in the cost of making the statue after the model is completed. She went personally to the bronze moulder and secured his * price, which was greatly in excess of SI,OOO, but when she informed him that the statue was to be erected in her old home and that she was contributing her work, he said that he would reduce the price of his work to SI,OOO. The original plan had been to have the statue made of ground marble cemented together and it was expected to pay SI,OOO for this, but through Miss WashburnXinfluence wi are to nave a bronze statue at the cost of the marble and cement one. It will be Impossible to get the park 'in perfect order by July 4th 'but one woman remarked this morning that this will be accomplished in time and said that her purpose is to see that Milroy park Is beautified Ip every possible manner. "Tt has been suggested that a public work day be agreed upon, when teams can haul dirt contributed by Ctinrad Kellner, and men and women can put In the day leveling ofT the dirt, sowing seed and planting flowers.

W. H. Mackey, the local marble man, has generously offered to get granite for the monument’s base and pedestal at actual cost and to do the work of erecting it and engraving the names of Jasper county soldiers on it at actual cost. This means a great work and a great contribution from hijg, and places his name on the honor roll ol thOs»e who are' making sacrifices in order that the patriots of Jasper county may be deservingly honored. Let every person at home that possibly can, give what they can and letthose who have,moved away follow the example Bet" by Hon. E. P. Hammond and W. B. Austin each of whom have contributed $25, and of others who have contributed liberally according to their means. Out of town people can send their money or their pledges to Mrs. M. E Thompson, to Dr. A. G. Catt, secretary of the Commercial Club committee, oi to Geo. H. Healey, chairman of that committee. It is a worthy purpose and such giving justifies sacrifices.