The Appleton City Cemetery index maintained at the City Offices (a copy is also in the St. Clair County Library in Osceola) shows a site of five graves in the cemetery that was, "Purchased by G.A.R., 27 Apr. 1895 (enclosed by a low wall)". As can be seen in the picture, the "low wall" is similar to a cement curbing, and there is a tall monument in the center of the area.

Three sides of this monument are engraved. The west face says "G A R" and the east face says "W R C". I did not know what W R C stood for. Mr. Roger Heiple maintained a very nice G.A.R. Homepage at the time. I had written asking if he knew the meaning of WRC. His reply is as follows:

The WRC means Women's Relief Corps. It was organized in Denver in 1883 at the 19th Annual Encampment of the GAR as the offical aux. of the GAR. A number of women did not like the fact that any woman could join, so a few years later they formed the Ladies of the GAR which required a direct relation to a veteran. The two women's groups never got along, but the vets kept out of their way and were pleasant to both. The WRC is still active and I am friends with the current National President. Their museum/headquarters are located in Springfield, Illinois. Both ladies organizations helped the old vets in the later years and assisted in many duties relating to funerals.

Regards
Roger Heiple

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