Grand Army of the Republic Records (Mendota)

The first post of the Grand Army of the Republic organized in Decatur, Illinois on April 6, 1866. Soldiers and sailors of the United States Army, Navy, or Marine Corps and the men of the United States Revenue Cutter Service who served during the Civil War were eligible for membership. The organization sought to preserve the fraternal feelings of men who fought together, to provide for the support, care, and education of soldiers’ orphans and widows, and to protect and assist disabled veterans. The C.A. Andress Post No. 135 from Mendota, Illinois was chartered on April 25, 1882 and held their first meeting on April 28, 1882. At the first meeting Charles J. Yockey was elected Commander; William Conkey, Senior Vice Commander; William Parker, Junior Vice Commander; R.F. Shipley, Quartermaster; W.H. Lives, Chaplain; George W. Haar, Officer of the Day; and M.D. Palmer, Outer Guard; John Smith, Adjutant; Henry H. Eby, Sergeant Major; and Henry Richards, Quartermaster Sergeant. The G.A.R. post was named in memory of Lieutenant Colonel C.A. Andress. Andress was a member of the Eleventh and later of the Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry. After being promoted to lieutenant colonel he commanded a regiment on Sherman’s March to the Sea. The post was in existence until on January 22, 1935 when the last surviving member, John Bellinghausen, passed away.

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