G. A. R. BEN SHELDON POST NO. 136
Brandon, Wisconsin
Following the end of the Civil War in 1865, veterans across the country organized
themselves into G. A R. posts to keep the memory of their service alive. The first Post
chartered anywhere in the country was Post Cassius Fairchild, No. 1, organized in Madison
on June 10, 1866.
Brandon's Ben S. Sheldon Post, No. 136, was chartered on March 7, 1884. In 1926
following the death of the Post's last member, John G. Dunning, the Brandon Times
reported the names of the Post's 24 charter members and 34 later members:
Charter Members:
M. C. Short, Chas. Herman, Aug. Middlestaedt, George W. Gee, L. Ferguson, Asa
Holmes, James Connor, Ed. Stickles, A. E. Austin, A. M. Bly, J. E. Gee, H. Giffy [Giffey],
Jac. Carter, Robt. G. Eaton, J. G. Dunning, Robt. Williams, James E. Reilly, James
Patterson, Adrian Daane, Geo. W. Rogers, Chas. Riemer, James E. Thompson, F. Ausman, and
S. S. Spaulding.
Additional Members:
W. Auglum, W. R. Brown, Ed. F. Briggs, Francis A. Bush, John Batise, Chas. C.
Birum, L. F. Blanchard, Ct. Carpenter, Mason Cheesebro, John Cole, Chas. Marshall. Louis
Draves, John Dumas, Z. Ellis, William Heron, Chas. Jaquins, Joseph Kimble, Aug. Laubee,
Frank Munn, Canfield Marsh, E. Merry, Wm. Marsh, James C. O. Neil, R. T. O'Connor, E. W.
Pride, Frank Paddock, E. W. Robinson, R. B. Shannon, James Turner, and Henry Vanhouton.
Geo. W. Pratt, A. O. D. Kelly, Ben. Connor, and Marshall Chase.
For more than 50 years following the end of the war, the Wisconsin Department of the G.
A. R. maintained records of the Posts represented during the annual Wisconsin encampments.
Among the records recording the participation of the Sheldon Post are the following:
Fortieth Annual Encampment, 1906:
Commander--A. O. D. Kelley
Representative--L. P. Blanchard
Alternate--H. Giffey
Past Commanders--L. Ferguson, Wm. G. Marshall, A. E. Austin, R. B. Shannon, A. O. D.
Kelley
Fifty-First Annual Encampment, 1917:
Commander--Herman Giffey
Representative--L. P. Blanchard
Alternate--Robert Williams
Past Post Commanders--Leander Ferguson, William G. Marshall
Fifty-Seventh Annual Encampment, 1923:
(5 members)
Commander--William G. Marshall
Senior Vice Commander--Herman Giffey
Representative--H. Giffey
Alternate--J. G. Dunning
Past Post Commanders--Leander Ferguson, Herman Giffey, William G. Marshall
Fifty-Ninth Annual Encampment, 1925:
(4 members)
Commander--W. G. Marshall
Adjutant--J. G. Dunning
Representative--H. A. Giffey
The last two members of the Sheldon Post died within three weeks of each other in 1926.
The November 1, 1926 Brandon Times reported the death of Herman Giffey:
Veteran is Buried Tues.
Herman A. Giffey, aged 77, died at the home of his son Harry in
the town of Springvale Saturday evening at 8:30. He had suffered a stroke about five weeks
ago while on his way home from the national G. A. R. convention.
The Congregational choir and Legion post of Brandon assisted at
the funeral held Tuesday at 1:00 at the house and 2:00 at the Rosendale Congregational
church, Rev. McClelland officiating. Burial was in the Rosendale cemetery, where Miss
Evelyn Schiller assisted the Legion squad with the final rites. The Ben Sheldon post flag
was used in the ceremonies. Mr. Giffey's death leaves John Dunning of Brandon the sole
survivor of the 44 who formed the post.
The deceased was born in a log cabin Oct. 22, 1849 near West
Bend, Wis. His parents were August Giffey and Catherine (nee Kortmann.) At the age of six,
he moved with his parents to Fond du Lac. Five years later the family moved to the family
home which can still be seen, the next house south of the Harry Giffey place.
Mr. Giffey's service in the war was twice refused because of his
youth. The first time he enlisted he got to Milwaukee and the second time he was returned
from St. Louis. Finally, at the age of 14, he was accepted as a drummer boy. He celebrated
his 15th birthday at Appamattox Court House, where he was on duty. He was a member of Co.
I, 17th Wisconsin Volunteers. He participated in Sherman's march to the sea, and was
imprisoned in the Libby prison for two months.
He was wounded in the leg and captured at the battle of Wilcox
Ridge. This wound caused him to limp the rest of his life, and he carried a cane during
his last years. After his release from the army in the spring of 1865, he returned to
Springvale, where he spent the balance of his life.
He was married to Frederika Kaschube March 15, 1881 by Rev. Peter
Rech. Five children survive this union, George, Harry, and Mrs. Mabel Draves of
Springvale, and Jessie and Neil of Sheboygan Falls. His brother John lives across the
road, and a sister-in-law, Mrs.Charles Giffey, lives in Manitowoc.
On November 19, 1926, the Times reported the death of John G. Dunning:
J. G. Dunning Passes Away Thursday a. m.
Last Veteran of the G. A. R. Ben Sheldon Post No. 136, answers Final Roll Call
Thursday, Nov. 18, 1926
John George Dunning, nearly 90, died at his home here at 1:30
Thursday morning, Nov. 18, 1926. He was the last of the Brandon boys who wore the Blue,
the last member of the Ben Sheldon Post. With his death, the post secretary, Florence
Dunning, will make her final report to the state adjutant, turn in the post paraphanalia,
and the local G. A. R. post will have then been dissolved.
John George Dunning was born Feb. 28, 1837, near Quebec, Canada.
At the age of 12, he came to Wisconsin with his parents and three sisters, together with a
colony of neighbors, who settled on Kennedy Island, Fox Lake.
When out country called for volunteers, Mr. Dunning cheerfully
responded. He enlisted in Co. E., 29th Wisconsin Infantry on Aug. 15, 1862. He was made a
corporal after showing himself to have been a good soldier.
Corporal Dunning was wounded on May 1, 1863 at Port Gibson,
Miss., The second finger of his left hand was shot away while he was loading his gun. He
was mustered out June 22, 1865, after which he returned to Fox Lake. After a year's
residence there, he came to Brandon.
Mr. Dunning was one of the 24 veterans who formed the Ben Sheldon
G. A. R. Post No. 136. He held the office of quartermaster and always carried the flag on
Memorial Day until he became too feeble to march.
He was one of the oldest citizens of this village. He was a
carpenter by trade. In 1870 he married Ada M. Hilts of Berlin, Wis., who passed on before
him in 1905.
They had two children, George Wakeman and Florence Mae, both of
Brandon, who survive him. Florence has remained at home since her mother's death, giving
untiring devotion to her father in his declining years.
Mr. Dunning enjoyed excellent health until the last two years. A
week ago Sunday he contracted a cold from which he recovered. But he was left so weak that
his body failed to respond to further calls for strength.
Funeral services will be held at the Dunning residence Saturday
afternoon at 2 o'clock, with interment at the Brandon cemetery.The Harley Mattox post,
Brandon american Legion organization, together with Rev. McClelland of Rosendale, will
have charge of the final rites.
The village flag has been placed at half mast out of respect for
the deceased. Merchants are requested to place their street flags at half mast on Saturday
until sundown.
Following John Dunning's death, in its article listing the former members of the
Sheldon Post, the Brandon Times reported:
Miss Florence Dunning, secretary of the Brandon G. A. R., the Ben Sheldon Post
No. 136, will wind up the affairs of this organization this week. She will send the
charter and other post records to the department adjutant at Berlin, while the flag goes
to Madison where it will be added to the collection in the Memorial Room in the capitol.
