Early McCook goes social -- the GAR

Members of the McCook Grand Army of the Republic included J.A. Wilcox, right, Tom Bales, third from right. (File photo)

The Civil War had a profound effect on our nation.

One effect that it had on the country was that it hastened settlement of the western United States. A good many of these early settlers were veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865. McCook, like many other western towns owed much to the Civil War vets, young men, who traded the excitement and adventure of the war for the new adventures (and untold hardships) of opening up a new country, Western Nebraska.

These men, some only boys in the 1860s, came home from the war to sickening political scandals, which flourished during the early reconstruction years.

A 1948 commemorative GAR stamp.

At the same time there was a severe strain on resources, brought on by the ravages of war. Prices of hogs, wheat, leather, and other commodities rocketed to heights never before seen.

Farmers took advantage of these high prices for commodities and doubled their acreage in almost every crop. It seemed that "good times are here to stay." But these same farmers soon found themselves in desperate straits when banks failed, toppling the price levels and making other painful readjustments, The result of all this was a severe depression that not only left a sad mark on this country, but eventually enveloped the whole world.

An important part of the recovery process in the United States, was the opening the West up for expansion. The migration of settlers to the West provided the economic incentive for the railroads to push their rail lines west.

Justin A. Wilcox, merchant, first commander of the McCook GAR post.

For the settlers there was cheap, even free, land in the West, almost for the asking. While there was a glut of workers back East, there were jobs in the West, for artisans, clerks, lawyers -- any man with two hands, a good head, a willingness to work -- and especially for those who would turn prairie land into farms and ranches.

So, conditions were favorable for veterans to trade their love of adventure, born of war-time experience, discouraged by the press of economic circumstances at "home," to turn their faces westward. As a consequence, the West prospered greatly from the manpower of many men who had faced dangers and privation in battle (and brought along brave wives and families.) who now were willing to fight Indians and nature for a new home and a new way of life

There were many things that the early settlers in McCook missed sorely, not the least was their involvement in social organizations, such as they had enjoyed back East. It wasn't long before some of these organizations took root in McCook.

Among the early fraternal organizations in McCook was the Civil War Veterans Club, the Grand Army of the Republic, GAR. By 1885, there were enough Civil War veterans in McCook and the surrounding area to start their own GAR Post, which became the J.K. Barnes Post No. 207.

Their first commander was merchant, Justin A. Wilcox.

The GAR was a natural outgrowth of the Civil War. There were some 2¾ million Americans who fought in the Civil War, 2 million on the Union side and 750,000 who fought for the Confederacy. Of this number, there were nearly 1 ½ million Union soldiers who had survived the war, They had a common bond -- they had gone through a life changing experience together, and to the end of their days felt a kinship, like brothers, with other vets and they wanted to remember, with them, that chapter in their lives.

Casualties in the Civil War were unbelievably heavy. 620,000 men lost their lives in the War. That figure represents 2 percent of the entire American population at that time. Translated into 2015 population terms, that figure would be 6 million lives lost.

The GAR became a very important organization in America. It was founded in 1866, in Decatur, Illinois, and in 1890, at the peak of its membership, could boast that there were GAR Posts in every state (even former Confederate states), with a membership of more than 490,000.

Originally, in addition to the social benefits that the fraternity provided, the GAR had a varied agenda.

1. It promoted patriotic education in the schools.

2. It worked to make Memorial Day a national holiday.

3. It lobbied Congress for pensions for regular Civil War veterans.

4. It promoted voting rights for black veterans.

5. It supported Republican candidates for local, state, and national offices. In all these areas the GAR had much influence.

The GAR gradually lost influence, as their members died off, and disbanded formally in 1956, when Albert Woolson, of Duluth, Minnesota, passed away at the age of 106. The GAR was succeeded by "The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War," but this organization never garnered the interest, or political clout of the GAR.

The McCook J.K. Barnes GAR Post was very active in the early days in McCook history. Members participated in the National Organization's goals, but also in the laying of corner stones in many of the early buildings, like The Temple Building and McCook's first courthouse.

After the Civil War there was a great deal of animosity in the South toward the North. Children grew up believing that "Damn Yankee" was one word. Even today, feelings can run deep, as evidenced by the row stirred up over flying of the Confederate flag.

If there was a lasting bitterness between soldiers who had fought on different sides, that bitterness was not deep here in the Plains, where the common experience that pioneers shared with neighbors was deeper than were memories from the War.

Almost all of the Civil War Vets in McCook had been soldiers in the Union Army -- but not all. James Jamison was born in Missouri, the state that couldn't decide if it should be Confederate or Union. In his early years James learned the profession of tanner.

At age 19, in 1858, he married a local girl -- they had one child, a girl. He seemed to be content to live quietly as a family man forever, but the war wouldn't allow that to happen. In 1861, soon after the War began James left his family to join the Confederate Army.

Soon after the Battle of Wilson's Creek (near Springfield.) where the South, under Gen. Sterling Price, soundly defeated the Northern forces, young Jamison joined Gen. Price's Army. He was still with Price, in 1862. at the Battle of Pea Ridge.

After the war, James Jamison went back to the farm for a few years, but the opportunity of a homestead in Hayes County, Nebraska, was too strong, and in 1886 he moved with his wife and daughter to Southwest Nebraska.

In 1901, after the death of his wife, he moved to McCook, to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. H.G. Phelps.

For 10 years, Mr. Jamison served Red Willow County as a janitor at the (old) courthouse.

In McCook James Jamison became very active in the GAR and a number of other social and fraternal organizations. James Jamison was quickly accepted into the fellowship of the other Civil War veterans, all of whom had served on the Union side. James was a gregarious soul, provided music for bar dances on his violin, and was a good storyteller. He enjoyed regaling his audience with stories of his experiences in the war.

After so many years the veterans were drawn together more by common shared experiences, than by which side of the conflict they had taken part. Their relationship was like the good-natured banter that members of rival civic organizations profess, rather than that of wartime belligerents. The war was simply a part of their past that they held in common.

Mr. Jamison died in May, 1928, after a severe illness of several weeks and was buried in the Longview Cemetery in McCook, mourned by his comrades in the GAR, "Fellow Civil War Vets." -- He was no longer considered "The Southern Rebel in Our Midst."

Source: Gazette 50th Edition 1932, Gazette Centennial Edition 1982, Early History of McCook, McClelland