Jacksonville’s Gov. Richard Yates Post 687 was comprised of Black veterans of the Civil War By Chad BoehlkePhotos/Kyla HurtDocument Photo: Photo/Special to The Source Editor’s note: A portion of this paper was initially presented at the Prairieland Chautauqua and the annual Illinois State Historical Society conference of 2024. Have you ever visited East Cemetery in Jacksonville and noticed an old canon on a stone foundation with the letters G.A.R. carved in it? The G.A.R. stands for the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans’ fraternal organization that served both Black and white Union Civil War soldiers. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, it grew to 410,000 members by 1890, leaving a significant mark on history. The G.A.R. had two women’s auxiliaries, Women Relief Corp and Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. At its height, the G.A.R., Department of Illinois chartered 157 G.A.R. Posts, of which at least 10 were all-Black. These Black Posts were in Chicago, Quincy, Springfield, Cairo, Metropolis, Mound City, Murphysboro and Jacksonville. Morgan County had seven Posts, including two in Jacksonville — Matt Starr Post 378 and Gov. Richard Yates Post 687 — that both stood as a testament to the local community’s deep involvement in the G.A.R. The Matt Starr Post 378 was established in 1884 with 35 members and officers. It was named in honor of Matthew Starr, who rose from private to colonel of the 6th Illinois Cavalry within two brief years; he died in October 1864. By 1900, that Post had over 300 members. They met in many meeting halls downtown, including the G.A.R. Hall on West Morgan Street. This Post was responsible for the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument on the square. This Post ended in 1923. The second Jacksonville post was all African Americans and was called the Gov. Richard Yates Post 687, established in 1889 with 10 members. Originally named the Abraham Lincoln Post, it was changed to honor Governor Richard Yates, the Governor of Illinois through much of the Civil War, thus setting it apart from other posts. Founding members of the Gov. Richard Yates Post 687 included Emil Thomas (Johnson), Jona Brown, Albert Power, Paul Spaulding, George Washington 1st, Joseph Raymond (Reed), Davis Paxton, Nathan Watson, George Washington 2nd, John E. Barker, Alfred Smallwood and Jacob Davis. Despite as many as 90 Black veterans calling Jacksonville home at the time, the Post never grew past 20 members. This Post met in various locations throughout the downtown area, including present-day 231 South Main St. This Post also had two women’s auxiliaries, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic-No. 149 and Women’s Relief Corps No. 8. Throughout the 1890s and 1900s, both G.A.R. Posts of Jacksonville were united in their missions, such as honoring their fallen comrades through Memorial Day remembrances and military funerals. Besides burials and Memorial Days, both posts supported the Spanish-American War veterans, notedly when the Black 8th Regiment, Company G, returned from Cuba and was met at the Chicago & Alton Depot on East State Street in April of 1899. At the start of 1917, the Gov. Richard Yates Post 687 was losing members due to health reasons. This prompted the final letter to be written, “The Department of Illinois, June 29, 1917, to the Assistant Adjutant General, Chicago, Illinois. Dear Sir, I have done the very best I can with this report, but several members are sick and unable to get out. They seem willing to keep it up but are not able to. But it is left to me to see after, and I will do my best. Yours Truly, Joe Raymond.” The Post officially closed on February 23, 1919, when the final report from post commander Joe Raymond stated that only three comrades were left. Today, some veterans of the Civil War, Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII are buried around that old cannon in East Cemetery. The rounded-top headstones bear the veterans’ names, the veterans buried next to their comrades in arms. This enduring legacy of the G.A.R. posts invokes a sense of reverence and respect for the past.
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