1 week Ago By Joni Lincoln, special to The Citizen
Looking back on previous November columns, I have commented that the year gets busier and busier. That has certainly been my experience the past few weeks — it is as though we are all fitting in as much as possible before the first flakes of snow or the first snowstorm. Amazing Grace Parish blessed prayer shawls recently.
I celebrate the crocheters and knitters who share their talents so graciously. Prayer shawl blessings by Amazing Grace Parish. Our outreach on Halloween was successful beyond our dreams.
About 60 children came through the pavilion and at least 10 cars came to participate in the trunk-or-treat, even to dress up and decorate vehicles. What fun it was! We are definitely planning on next year. Halloween celebration setup at the Conquest Recreation Field.
An Election Day bake sale offered goodies to voters. Fortunately, it was a mild November day to set up our outside tables. Thank you to all our bakers and folks who stopped to buy our pies, cakes, cookies and breads.
We also gathered to celebrate the life of George Halstead on Election Day. His 93 (almost 94) years were filled with devotion to his family, community, fire department and his beloved wife, Nancy. It is part of who we are that even on a busy day, cooks and bakers honored George’s life by gathering and paying tribute to this gentle, hard-working man.
It will be hard to drive by his home, but the memories and good stories will continue to play in our hearts. One of my favorite images is of George directing traffic at a fire or accident scene. Using flags or flashlights, there was never any doubt as to where you could safely progress through — his actions were definitive and directive! He will always be remembered for his quiet wisdom and guidance.
The Conquest Fire Company hosted dozens of creative crafters and bakers on Nov. 9. What an array of talent and luscious treats! It was good, as always, to come together to support each other and help our fire department.
For the past few years we have gathered on Veterans Day to honor the men and women who have served their country. This year the folks whom I had tried to recruit to speak were not available, so we dipped into our history files. Joni Lincoln Thank you to the folks who came to honor these memories: Members of the 111th Civil War brigade came from Cayuga and Wayne counties, eight from Conquest.
Myron R. Seymour was only 19 on Aug. 3, 1862, when he enlisted, to serve three years.
He mustered in as a private in Company H on Aug. 20, 1862. He was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.
After his recovery he continued to serve and was captured while on picket at the Battle of Mine Run, Virginia, on Dec. 1, 1863. He was paroled and mustered out on June 6, 1865, at Rulison Hospital, Annapolis Junction, Maryland, on June 6, 1865.
We can only assume that he had some medical problems. A news article from Rochester on Oct. 19, 1893, described him as a paralytic who walked into the canal with an overcoat carrying a satchel.
He was rescued, but the overcoat and the satchel went to the bottom of the waterway. He was a vet sorely in need. Charles M.
Green enlisted on Sept. 2, 1861, to serve one year. He mustered in as a private on Sept.
3. He was captured in action on Oct. 30, 1861, at Petersburg, Virginia.
He died of starvation on Feb. 15, 1865, at Andersonville Prison in Georgia. Andersonville prisoners were deprived of medical care and lived under horrible conditions.
The general in charge of this camp was executed for war crimes at the end of the Civil War. We are grateful to George McGraw for keeping the stories and ideals of the 111th alive. A memorial statue will be erected and dedicated in Lyons.
The Amazing Grace Parish will be hosting a community fellowship dinner at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec.
7, at Victory United Methodist Church. All are invited; for more details or if you need a ride, please give me a call. The CIViC Heritage Festival of Trees will be on Saturday, Dec.
14, at the history center in Cato. We will have music, fantastically decorated greenery and lots of fun. Later on that same day, a Conquest community holiday celebration is planned.
Join us, young and old, for a visit by Santa and our always mischievous Grinch! Have a blessed Thanksgiving, dear readers. Take care of one another. If you can help with Thanksgiving baskets, please reach out to your local food pantries or give me a call at (315) 776-4726.
Joni Lincoln is the historian of the town of Conquest. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!.
