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TAPS SOUND FOR MAJOR
ALMON
Maj. Samuel Harrison Almon, one of the best-known residents of Butte, died
at this home, 1207 West Silver street, at 8 o'clock yesterday morning
after an acute illness, which began Friday, April 10 [1907]. Bright's
disease was the cause of death. The major had been in failing health for
some months past although he bore up under his troubles, attending to his
duties as United States gauger and bailiff of the United States court
until a few days before he was stricken down. He became unconscious Monday
and did not rally.
Major Almon was a native of Green County, Ill, where he was born May 6,
1834. His parents died when he was a small boy, and he was reared by his
grandparents in Kentucky, where he lived until he reached young manhood,
returning to Southern Illinois, where he engaged in the mercantile
business with the man who afterward became his father-in-law, Colonel
Rees. |
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His War Record
At
the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted at Egypt, Ill, in the
Thirty-first Illinois voluntary infantry as a private, Colonel Rees being
his commander. He was attached to 'Fighting' John A. Logan's division, and
as such his regiment made a record as one of the best fighting regiments
in the army. Major Almon rose in rank rapidly, and at the end of the war
had been promoted from a private to major. His first promotion, as a
sergeant, came at the battle of Fort Donelson. Among other events in which
he participated were the battle of Fort Henry, the siege of Vicksburg and
Sherman's memorable march to the sea. He was once captured, and for nine
months knew the horrors of prison life. He was confined at Charleston.
When he was exchanged he returned to his regiment and fought throughout
the remainder of the war. In July 1864, occurred two of the events of his
life, the saddest as well as the happiest.
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Siege
of Vicksburg
During
the siege of Vicksburg and while Fort Hill was being stormed, his
commander Colonel Rees, fell mortally wounded. For three days he lingered
between life and death, and then succumbed to his wounds. Just at the
union army was on the point of victory, Captain Almon was assigned the sad
duty of taking the body of his colonel and former partner to the old home
for burial. He did so, and while he was away married the daughter of the
dead soldier, her name being Marie L. Rees. After a few days with his
bride, Almon, now winning recognition for his dauntless courage, returned
to the field of battle and fought with the union forces during the rest of
the war, retiring as a major after peace had been declared. He returned to
peaceful pursuits and took up the burden where he had left it off at the
beginning of the war.
After
the War
At
Tomaroa, Ill. he engaged in the hotel business, his faithful bride joining
him. There they lived for many years, and six children were born to them.
The three daughters that came to gladden their home all died in infancy.
The three sons are still alive and all were with the mother at the bedside
when the end came. They are William Almon of Kansas City; Norton L, in
charge of the baggage room of the Northern Pacific in Butte; and Worth C,
a resident of Helena.
The family came west in 1888, remaining in Salt Lake City for a few
months, but finally coming to Butte, arriving here in September of that
year. Major Almon's first business venture was in real estate, and he
became a partner in the firm of Mantle & Warren. Here he remained for
some time, afterwards engaging in the insurance business. Still later he
was elected justice of the peace, a position which he held for four years.
Still later he was appointed United States gauger and bailiff of the
federal court, which positions he held until death claimed him.
He was a member of the Masonic society, having belonged to that order for
48 years. The Grand Army of the Republic was the only other order with
which he had affiliation, being one of the first in Illinois to join the
order. When he came to Butte he transferred his membership to the local
lodge, Lincoln Post No. 1, and has held all of the important offices,
being adjutant for 11 years and post commander for two terms.
Grand
Army Delegate
At
the last grand encampment of the Grand Army at Minneapolis, the major was
a delegate from Montana. There he met a great many of his former comrades
and the event was an epoch in his life of which he loved to tell. He was
kindly and genial, always cheerful and had a good words for all who
crossed his path.
The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 at the Masonic Temple,
and the burial will be in the Grand Army plot in Mt. Moriah cemetery. The
Masons and Grand Army veterans will participate in the exercises. The body
will be removed from the home to the temple at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning
and will lie in state, surrounded by a guard of honor of the Grand Army.
Eulogy
on Samuel H. Almon - Eulogy delivered by Department Commander, B.N. Beebe
at the Memorial Day Celebration at Mount Moriah Cemetery, Butte, Montana
1907
"We have parted company from a comrade who was a man. Reared in the
mighty West, he was cast in a rugged mold and endowed with a fearless
sense of justice and a personality of undaunted courage.
"The records show that early in the struggle for the preservation of
the Union and our flag he, our lamented comrade, responded to the call of
the Immortal Lincoln, and enlisted as a private, ready to offer up his
life if need be that his country might live and be in truth a land of the
free--a gallant soldier when his country needed defenders. In those time
his sword flashed in the enemy's face, fear was not a part of his
composition. By courage, loyalty to duty, and ability, he rose from
private, through the several non-commissioned grades, to captain, and at
the close of the war, was honorably discharged as a major of volunteers.
Truly a brilliant record. We, his comrades, who have associated with him
in Grand Army duties, both in post and department encampment, have no
doubt that his companions during the dark and bloody days of the awful
civil war learned to love this noble man, as we in times of peace and calm
have learned to do. We know him to be a patient, cheerful, yet brilliant
example of patriotism and heroism, as an office in civil affairs. He won
the confidence of his associates by faithful integrity and devotion to
duty. His courtesy, cordiality and obliging disposition were ever manifest
in the everyday transaction of his busy life.
"In the post and department meetings he was a wise counselor, a safe
guide in all matters pertaining to the good of the organization , a cause
dear to him. While always conservative, any measure that to him appeared
questionable, always received his condemnation in plain terms, though
always in such a spirit as not to wound a comrade.
"Comrades and friends, while eulogy and praise are proper in the
present case touching the character of the late comrade as a soldier and
Grand Army man, there was another and greater side to him--love and
affection. As a husband through the long life which he passed with the one
he chose as his mate in early manhood, and who soothed and comforted him
as he was passing down into the shadows of the valley obscuring the other
shore, this scene portrays the noble character of the soul which passed to
the great beyond. For this noble wife, bereave and sorrow-stricken, our
hearts go out in sympathy and condolence, realizing that ties of affection
and love entwined, interwove, and cemented for nearly 44 years, become as
heart tendons, the severance of which come next is taking life.
"This true woman loved wisely, and had a subject strong, brave, noble
and generous, on whom to rely and depend upon for comfort and protection.
"With the sons of the departed veteran, we mourn. We extend our
sincere condolence. They have lost a father, a worthy model for them to
copy in building their character as citizens.
"Taking Major Almon all in all, viewed from every point, by which we
judge men, he was a true specimen of the grandest work of God and
man."
The
Anaconda Standard
Anaconda, Montana
4/29/1907 |
