Submitted by prudy@hcis.net


'TAPS" SOUNDED FOR LATE COL. BARGER

FIRING SQUAD OF CIVIL WAR VETERANS
PERFORMED LAST SAD RITES

FUNERAL HELD MONDAY

Former Associates and Comrades at the Home Selected for Pallbearers

"Taps" the last act of a soldier's day, was sounded at the funeral of Col. Martin Barger, late governor of the 
National Military home, as the body of veteran was being lowered into the grave at Springhill cemetery Monday afternoon.  
A firing squad of civil war veterans from the home, standing beside the open grave, performed this last sad rite, 
as a flitting closed to a soldier's career.
A dirge of the band from the National Soldier's Home was played as the body was being lowered into its last resting place.
The band and the firing squad had gathered at the entrance to Springhill cemetery to await the cortege, and acted as a 
guard of honor to the burial place.  The cemetery gate served as a distinct demarcation between the civil ceremony 
for the dead and the military services.

			At the family home
At the home, 212 East Williams street, where the funeral was held at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon there was very 
little suggestion of soldiery, except for the gathering of a large number of the comrades of Co. Barger.  
Rev. George H. Simonson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, was in charge of the service there. 
In compliance with the wishes of the family the service was short and simple in every detail.
The pallbearers were selected by officers at the Soldiers Home and were designed to represent the official, the 
comradie and the civilian portions of the Home.  They were as follows:  Major Joseph Zeising, treasurer; 
William H. Platt, adjutant; Lieut. J. M. Wright, quartermaster sergeant; Capt. H. B. Durham, commandant of 
Company A and barracks; M. B. Moffett, clerk to the adjutant and Henry B. Caldwell, chief gardener.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin of Chicago, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter L. B. Barger of Fairmount, W. Va., were among the 
relatives called here to attend the funeral.  Samuel Barger, a son, last heard of at High Point, N. C. could not 
be located in time.

(Omitted information regarding military)  
After the war Col. Barger returned to Illinois and settled on a farm near Bismarck and devoted himself to 
agricultural pursuits.  Married three times April 19, 1868 to Miss Mary A Stewart.  She died August 17, 1870, leaving 
one son Walter R. Barger.  On Sept 25, 1873 married to Miss Margaret Richie, she died March 30, 1891.  
The children born of this union were:  Anna M., now wife of Robert W. Martin, Samuel B, and John W.  For his third wife, 
whom he married in 1886 Col. Barger chose Miss Laura Belle Leonard of Blount township, she bore him one child, Helen B., 
now wife of Ira Jones of this city.

	Col. Barger removed from Bismarck to this city in 1881 and took a position as a clothing salesman for the late 
Joseph Goldsmith in the Oak Clothing store at the corner of the public square.  He remained elected circuit clerk 
and recorder of the county.  In 1901. he was appointed treasurer of the National Home with title of major and 
in 1909 succeded the late Gov. Isaac Clements as governor.  He retired from governoship four years ago.



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