News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Tuesday December 23rd 2025
Martin L. Nicks, in MN via TB, died, was 1st burial GAR Lot Civil War often set family vs. family, brother vs. brother
TIMOTHY MCCALL
The tombstone of Martin Luther Nicks is a comparison as it usually looks (left) and how it looks when the sun light hits it at the correct angle (right).
Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery
By TIMOTHY McCALL
157th in a Series
Martin Luther Nicks has been something of an enigma, an unknown. Even his marker, which was placed nearly 140 years ago, simply lists him as “U.S. Soldier.” There has been a consistent rumor that he was actually a veteran of the Confederate Army who had been mistakenly buried in the G.A.R. lot. While I”'m not certain of the origin of this rumor, I wouldn”'t be surprised if it was because he was from Tennessee, had lived in Minnesota less than a year before his death and that there were no known records of his service. With the few facts available, it seemed likely that Martin could have fought for the Confederacy. However, as more information has become available, it appears that Martin chose conscience over family and state.
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Memorial Day observance
TIMOTHY McCALL
BY TIMOTHY McCALL
This Fife and Drum duo signaled the 150th Memorial Day observance at Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery May 28, 2018 at Lake and Cedar Avs. Fifes, an ancient instrument have been in use by armies (in its modern form) since the 16th century. Fifes originally accompanied companies of men providing music on the march, usually songs from home. Drums have always had a military role going far back into history when drummers and fifers to signaled preparatory alerts and execution signals as well as times of days for the troops; when to rise in the morning and retire at night, when to eat, when to assemble, and to sound an alarm. It became customary for each company of 100 or so men to be assigned 2 fifers and 2 drummers to sound signals, hours and alarms, as well as play popular music on the march. This pattern was also practiced in the U.S. services from the Revolutionary War up until the late 19th Century. The fife and drum here were part of two dozen Union Army 1st Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Re-Enactors on Monday May 28. In historic appropriateness they were joined by the Seward Community Band to set the cadence and mood of the event”'s speeches and patriotic traditions in remembrance of military personnel who “gave their last full measure of devotion” for their country.… Read the rest “Memorial Day observance”
Cinema in the Cemetery
TIMOTHY MCCALL
By TIMOTHY MCCALL
The 1st Cemetery Cinema audience of 2018, Sat. May 25th watching the older genius of Buster Keaton in “The General” with the superb, newer creative genius of Dreamland Faces led by Karen Majewicz and Andy McCormick who both compose, record, and record music for silent films. Their repertoire includes original instrumental pieces, modern classical music, and many art songs by composers such as Hanns Eisler.
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