The Portland daily press., 1885-06-22
Sons of Veterans

Prior to 1881 Major A. P. Davis, of Pittsburg
Pennsylvania, and many other soldiers of the
! late war, aware that few years hence not many
of them would be living, and aware that those
who lived would be unable to keep up an organ
ization, had in mind the formation of national
order Of sons OF soldiers to carry on the work Of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
FORMATION OF THE ORDER.
Various local organizations existed prior to
1876 These were established without general
or similar laws, as some were called cadet corps,
some camps and others posts Considerable riv-
airy existed between these primaries, as each
had some peculiar features of organization and
government that were considered preferable to
all others. These different organizations took the
common title of Sons of Veterans, and really were
of one brotherhood with the objects and prin-
ciples, and only needed some master mind to
unite them and form national auxiliary to the
Grand Army of the Republic. Such a one was
found in Major A. P. Davis who, in the winter of
1881 and 1882, became interested in the organiza-
ton Of examined the organic laws of each faction.
and from them drafted constitution, rules and
regulations, combining what, in his judgement,
seemed the best In each. Proposed the same to the
young men OF Pttsburg, and with their approval
and assistance procured charter for tile new
order from the State of Pennsylvania good under
sane sanction Of United States law In every state He
tions to form national order, with proposed sub
divisions, under the chartered title of "Sons of
Veterans of the United States of America" In
October, 1883, provisional encampment Of this
order was called at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania at
which twelve states were represented The
elected and Installed, and constitution, rules
and regulations, and ritual were adopted.
ORGANIZATION.
The several constituted bodies of the associa-
tiOn are: First subordinate organizations
known as camps; second. state organizations,
known as Divisions; third, five Grand Divisions,
(group Of States); fourth, Commandery-in-Chief.
ELIGIBILITY TO MEMBERSHIP.
Tie sons not less than eighteen years of age of
deceased or h0norably discharged soldiers
sailors or marines, who served in the Union army
or oI navy during the civil war of 1866, shall be
eligible to membership; also, upon attaining the
age of twenty-one years, all sons of members of
the order In succeeding generations.
There are over five hundred camps in the coun-
try with a membership of about seventeen thou
sand The officers of the order are:
Commandcr-in-Chief-H. W. Arnold, Johnstown,
1t. Commander-in-C hief-Frank B. Perkins.
Manchester, N. H.
Vice 1t. ommander-in-Chief-J. B. McCabe,
Chief of Staff-A. E. Case Chicago, Ill.
Aolutant General-Charles w. Marsh, Johns
QuartermaSter General-W H. Statler Johns
town, Penn.
Inspector General-C. Day Rudy, Harrisburg,
Chief Mastering offcer-Geo. W. Penniman,
Minneapolis MINI.
dale, Michigan.
Chaplain-in-Chief- Frank Hayford, Lewiston,
Maine.
The First Grand Division New England States)
mas headquarters for the ensuing year at Man
ehestef, n H., Frank Fl. Challis Grand Division
COMMANDER, Manchester, n. II.
ihere are thirty-four camps in the Maine Di-
VISION with membership of thirteen hundred.
The ofieers Of the Maine Division are:
Gommander-John G. Blake, Bangor
y. Coinmander-Charles H. McKusick, Port
Bangor. '
Chaplain Edgar NJ. Crosby, Monson.
AdJutant-F. L. Edgcomb, Auburn
QuartermaSter-F. w. Davis. Auburn
lnSpect0r-Frank. f. Webb, Saccarappa
mastering Officer U. G. Soule, Augusta
Judge Advocate--H. j. Chapman, Bangor
Shepley Camp, No. 4, Of this city, was organ
lied January 30th, 1888 1t was one of the first
camps in the State; its record for two years is
one OF which it may be proud, and to-day is
tne strongest Camp in the Maine Division. The
camp IS named in honor of a man who was re-
spected on every hand by his fellow men; a patri-
QUO cltlzen, soldier in the late war-such man
was Brigadier General George F.. Shepley, of
Portland, Maine. The officers of the Camp are:
Captain-E. E. Philbrook
1St Lleutenant-J. A. Burr.
md &C. A. Crockett
ordnance Sergeant-Waldo H. Perry.
Quartermaster Sergeant-Wam A. Love-
Waldo H. Perry