History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 127-129
When the Spanish-American War broke out there were, in the state of Wisconsin, only six companies of militia which could be called into the federal service. With these away, it became evident that if the war was to be lengthy and more troops required, the latter would have to be recruited. Knowing this, a number of the towns throughout the state began immediately to talk of organizing militia companies, which, it was obvious, would be admitted into the national guard, if another call for troops were made. Anticipating this, Mr. W. A. WYSE, of Reedsburg, who may virtually be termed the father of the local militia, wrote to the authorities for permission to organize a local company and sought directions for organizing. The replies were favorable, and on April 25, 1898, a meeting was held, at which there were present a large number of men who voiced their willingness to become members of a company of militia. A paper was circulated among the men for signatures and it received sixty names. The meeting adjourned to meet again on Friday night. The first meeting was held on a Monday.
The second meeting, Friday evening, April 29, 1898, was a much larger assemblage. "The Reedsburg Cornet Band opened the meeting with a copious amount of enthusiasm, after which," says an item of the day, "Mr. WYSE was able to make his stentorian tones heard by the members of the company." Since the first meeting he had received from the state authorities papers which were to be filled out and returned as an application for admission to the state guard, and all who desired to join signed the roll. Some of the names that appear to have been announced the first night were not affixed to the final roll. After the signing a captain and lieutenants were elected and authorized to appoint the non-commissioned officers of lower rank.
For several weeks the order was kept in suspense. It was not until Tuesday evening, June 28, 1898, that word was received that the company had really been admitted to the state militia. There was general excitement everywhere. But the fact that they had been elected as a National Guard Company did not necessarily mean that they would be taken into active warfare, because the state must retain some troops for home defense. Reedsburg had been one of eleven places selected for the organization of the companies: Kenosha, Oconomowoc, Port Washington, Waupaca, Milwaukee, Chippewa Falls, Rhinelander, Rice Lake, Ashland. W. A. WYSE, who was chosen captain of the local company, immediately notified Adjutant General Boardman that the company was ready for muster-in.
But it was not until Monday, July 25, 1898, that the company was mustered in. Captain George H. McNEIL of Madison and Colonel PATTON came to conduct the ceremony. Thus it was that the Reedsburg militia company became Company F, of the Fifth Regiment of the Wisconsin National Guard. Following is the muster roll:
Captain - W. A. Wyse
First Lieutenant - W. Burdick
Second Lieutenant - A. H. Clark
Quartermaster Sergeant - John Lee
First Sergeant - Forrest Darrenougue
Second Sergeant - W. J. Meyer
Third Sergeant - Rollin Foster
Fourth Sergeant - W. J. Hill
Privates
Bert Allen
H. J. Bennett
R. E. Bailey
J. H. Brimmer
William Brimmer
F. W. Jaynes
Frank Camp
L. E. Corsaw
John Lee
J. Sanders
Jesse Foster
H. A. Schultz
E. J. Wheeler
Charles Schoephoester
John B. Fosnot
W. F. Schroeder
A. Fisher
William Smith
D. Corbin
Joshua Claridge
Leo Darrenogue
William Beibe
J. O. DeBar
Leon Devereauxz
A. Devereaux
I. Dearholt
A. Karll
B. B. Hoadley
W. F. Heitman
H. R. Kellogg
F. Lawsha
F. W. Luhrsen
William Meyer
P. Polinsha
C. Richardson
R. C. Dame
W. F. Ray
C. A. Root
C. Smith
M. Goodsell
Earl Smith
David Healey
E. Schacke
J. B. Winchester
George Watson
Charles Sanders
F. C. Veeder
John Frank
William Zech
George Steffan
Frank Fessey
H. Schladen
John Fosnot
Charles Gloyd
P. F. Smith
James Slaven
Clyde Stewart
George Thayer
L. Titus
Submitted by Carol