Spanish-American War Clippings

Treasures found in an old, old trunk - a scrapbook. In this scrapbook Louisa Rhenard Walton collected news clips and obituaries of people known. She must have been very proud of her patriotic father Charles H. Rhenard who, at age 18, was a drummer boy in the Civil War and later became the last living survivor of the Spanish-American war in Wilkes-Barre. She saved many obits of his comrades from the war. It's noted in his obituary that through his prominence and activity in the Conyngham Post No. 97 Grand Army of the Republic, he attended more than 1,100 funerals of his comrades.

Here's a little history on Charles. H. Rhenard found in the scrapbook. He was born in Kingston August 3,1843, to George and Sarah White Rhenard, pioneer settlers. In 1861, at age 18 he enlisted with the Union forces as a drummer boy and participated in many important engagements between the North and South in the Civil War. He participated in Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and accompanied Sherman on his "March to the Sea." His service ended July 16, 1865.

Mr. Rhenard was an active member of the Lieut. Erskine L. Solomon Camp No.19 United Spanish War Veterans Conyngham Post No. 97 Grand Army of the Republic post. As a representative of that post he attended parades and funerals honoring his comrades.

At 95 from his home at 141 North Main St., Wilkes-Barre, he was quoted as saying, "Life is still worth living." His chief interest in life was the Grand Army building on South Main St. of which he was a trustee. He is particularly interested as to what was going to happen to the relics now housed in the various rooms of the Grand Army headquarters. "After a time, things like that become a thing of the past. The younger generation just doesn't take any interest in them. I would like to see all relics now housed there turned over to the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society."

He died March 31, 1939. Following services at the home of this daughter, Mrs. Alvin Walton, military rites were conducted at Hollenback Cemetery at the Grand Army of the Republic burial plot. Being "one of the younger generation" and in his honor, I would like in some small way to share the history passed on to me. The following are the names of the "fallen comrades" from the Spanish-American War and members of the Conyngham Post No. 97 Grand Army of the Republic, of whose obituaries I hold:

Fallen Comrades of the Spanish-American War:
Veterans of '98
Conyngham Post No. 97 G.A.R.

G.Z. ROBBIN
ALEXANDER MARION HUGHES
MARTIN GARRAHAN
GENERAL JAMES J. MURPHY
THOMAS E. KENWORTHY
THOMAS F. FLOYD
629 Tioga Ave. Kingston
THOMAS ALLEN
28 Kidder St, East End
FRED ROWE
326 Dump St. Parson
ALBERT H. "DOC" WHIPPLE
27 Spencer St.
CHARLES CAMPBELL
263 Market St.
ANTHONY CHERRY
102 Arch St
PETER J. FALLON
426 East Market St.
JOSEPH NIALETZ
30 Knox St., Lee Park
STEPHEN ZAPKA
406 N. Main St.
CHARLES R. FRENCH
1399 Wyoming Ave, Forty Fort
WILLIAM TURNBULL
203 S. Main St
RAYMOND FULLER
147 Robert St, Sheatown
J. LOUIS SIMON
49 Cinderella St.
WILLLIAM HOBBS
17 Eno St., Plymouth
THOMAS J. ALLEN
58 Kidder St.
S. CLEM REICHARD
JOHN MacCALLUM
60 Wood St.
HARRY F. STREEPY (historian of E.L. Solomon Camp)
39 Graham Ave, Lee Park
GEORGE W. EDWARD
195 Stanton St.
CHARLES MEYERS (Civil War Veteran)
JOSEPH THOMAS
FRANKLIN MILLER
33 Wayne St.
GETHIN POWELL
Heights section