DECATUR, ILLINOIS 1866
FIRST G.A.R. COMMANDER
Captain Kanan Headed Original Emcampment in Decatur
Captain Kanan was the only surviving Decatur man who was a charter member of Old Post 1, of the Grand Army of the Repbulic. C. Riebsame, of Bloomington is the only other living charter member. Captain Kanan was elected commander. The original minutes of the meeting held in Decatur for the organization of the first post of the G.A.R. are signed by Captain Kanan as commander. They read as follows:
MINUTES OF FIRST MEETING
"At an informal meeting held April 6, 1866, for the purpose of organizing an Encampment of the G.A.R., the following named persons were mustered by Major B.F. Stephenson, and constituted charter members:
George R. Steele
J.W. Routh
Joseph Prior
J.A. Nale
J.T. Bishop
G.H. Dunning
B.F. Sibley
M.F. Kanan
C.Riebsame
I.N. Coltrin
Aquilla Toland
"When, upon motion, the Encampment entered into an election of officers with the following result:
Geo. R. Steele - Adjutant
G.H. Dunning - Quartermaster
C. Riebsame - Officer of the Day
J.T. Bishop - Officer of the Guard
J.W. Routh - Surgeon
"All of whom were duly mustered by Major Stephenson; who then declared the encampment duly organized and ready fo the transaction of any and all business which might come before it, and assigned to it the post of honor as Decatur Encampment, No. 1.
"On mortion, Captains Kanan and Dunning were appointed to secure suitable rooms for the Encampment. On motion, Tuesday was agreed upon as the night for regular meetings. On motion, adjourned to meet April 10, 1866.
"GEO. R. STEELE, Post Adjutant."
DIED RECENTLY
I.N. Coltrin was the most recent member of Post 1 to die. He was town clerk for some years before his death.
Decatur Review, 19 Mar 1909
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