MERCER COUNTY PAGenWeb Project

United Spanish War Veterans – Thomas Evans Camp No. 12 of Greenville received its charter Oct. 14, 1904. It succeeded an organization formed in Greenville soon after the return of Greenville’s Co. K, 15^th Pa, Vol. Infantry, from its service during the War with Spain in 1899, but which did not function efficiently. It was named in honor of Thomas Evans, a member of the original Company K of Greenville and the first member of his company to answer the last roll call.

 First officers of the were: Commander D. P. Packard; senior vice-commander, William A. Waugh; junior vice commander, James B. Christy; chaplain, Charles D. Rissell; officer of the day, Harry A. Reed; adjutant, A. R. Seiple; officer of the guard, James Hunter; trustees, M. A. Reed, William H. W augh and James Y. Karnes.

The camp has been in continuous existence for 44 years and has participated in Memorial Day programs every year, first with the G.A.R. and later with the World war veterans. It now has a membership of 42.

Present officers are James W. P. Hart, commander; C. E. Mizner, senior vice commander; Ira H. Shoemaker, junior vice-commander; John Paxton, adjutant; L. Roy Beatty, quartermaster; Troy Speir, trustee; F. D. Hans, surgeon; H. D. Webster, chaplain; William McCall, officer of the day; J. B> Christy, officer of the guard; James L. McClimans, sergeant major; Harry Herrick, quarter-master sergeant; C.D. Rissell, senior color sergeant; C. E. Mizner, junior color sergeant; E. R. Mertz, chief musician.

Adjutant John Paxton has served in that capacity for 21 years and is believed to have had the longest continuous service in that office in the organization of any person in the United States.

An auxiliary was formed under the name of Thomas Evans Aux. No. 65, in Sept. 1927. First officers were Mrs. C. D. Rissell, president; Mrs. Cora Christy, senior vice-president; Mrs. Mary J. Paxton, junior vice-president.

Present officers are Mrs. Florence Mizner, president; Mrs. Lou Golden, senior vice-president; Mrs. Ellen Christy, junior vice-president.

Company K, 15^th Reft was called to service in the U.S. Army and reported at Mt. Gretna the morning of April 28, 1898. It was reviewed with the regiment by the governor May 3, 1898 and the men were given opportunity to volunteer. The company was recruited to 75 enlisted men and on May 11 they were mustered into the United States service.

The officers from Greenville were Colonel W. A. Kreps, Captain John H. Martin; First Lieutenant Charles Betts, Second Lieutenant Walter Carnes; First Sergeant Harry A. Reed.

The regiment was mustered as 15^th Pa. Vol. Inf. With 36 officers and 605 enlisted men. Company K remained at Mt. Gretna until June 11, 1898, when they were ordered to report to Sheridan’s Point, Virginia, arriving there June 12. Pursuant to telegraphic orders from the War Department the regiment was relieved from duty at Sheridan’s Point and on Sept 9, 1898, proceeded to Camp George H. Mead and reported to the commanding general of the second Army Corps. It was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps. The regiment was ordered on provost duty Sept 17 and relieved Oct. 2, 1898. It participated in the Peace Jubilee in Philadelphia on Oct. 27. On Nov. 11, Company K proceeded to Athens, Ga., arriving Nov. 13, 1898, and was finally mustered out there Jan. 31, 1899.

The roll of Company K follows:

Privates:

Frank Aldenderfer	Benjamin Alexander	Guy Artman,	James W. Ayers	Fred Battelger
Harry Beaver	Howard Beck	Louis Benjamin	Walter G. Bovard	William Bright
Robert S. Davis	Louis Day	John A. Duvall	Raymond Dynes	Thomas Evans
William A. Fetzer	William Fisher	Robert Gardner	Alex D. Gillespie	Frank Golden
Walter Gongaware	William Gregory	Ralph Grimm	Roy L. Haas	Samuel Hamor
Fred L. Hans	William Harris	William Hellman	Harry Herrick	Ernest W. Hilliard
Arthur J. Holbrook	Romanzo Hovey	Frank P. Humes	James Hunter	Norman Hunter
Toner Hunter	Gunnlauger Johnson	George H. Johnston	George A. Keck	Frank Leehan
William Lewis	Samuel Limbert	Harry Lindsey	Ross A. Loutzenhiser	Henry Love
Frank B. McCartney	Joseph L. McClimans	John Meredith	Edward Mertz	John H. Metcalf
Arnold Miller	North S. Monroe	Amos Moore	Lynn Moore	Charles Moohead
John Ralston	Charles D. Rissell	Loren A. Roberts	Edward J. Rodgers, Robert L. Rodgers	Audral Scrivens
Alpheus Seiple	Harry Seitz	John F. Sheehan	Frank skinner	George Skinner
Winslow H. Steadman	William F. Stewart	Dee R. Stitt	John G. Stitt	James E. Stivason
James H. Stuart	Allason K. Tate	George R. Tate	Charles A. Throup	Patrick H. Tobin
Samuel Wagenman	George E. Wagner	Fred M. Wertz	Benjamin Wheaton	Charles E. Wheaton
John M. Wheaton	Gomer Williams	John Wolfe	Maurice McQueen

Corporals, Lester R. Beatty, Louis Harnevious, Clarence Onstott, Ervin E. Reed, Charles Rice, William H. Waugh.

Sergeants, George W. Boulger, Horatio A. Bouger, William Kugler, quartermaster sergeant; Milton A. Reed, Harry A. Reed, first sergeant.

Musicians, George Buck, Gilbert P. Symons; Wagoner, Troy Spier, artificer, George Wile.

Colonel, William A. Kreps; captain, John H. Martin; first lieutenant, Charles Betts; first lieutenant, Daniel P. Packard; first lieutenant and quartermaster, Benjamin F. Perkins; chaplain, Ken C. Hayes; battalion adjutant, George R. Kreps.