Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-21
HISTORY OF ITS ORGANIZATION


The patriotic order of the Sons of Veterans
was organized in 1879 by Commander David
Knapp of Post 81. G.. A. r. The establishment
of the order the result of desire on the
part OF the veterans of the late to have their
sons join some sort of a semi-militarv organiZn-
tion,in order to perpetuate their memory. PEila-
del hia was the place where the organization
was born. Several camps were formed in the
state of Pennsvlvania. and until 1882 they had
no regular plan of organization.
In that year the thought was suggested to
Maj. A. p. Davis of Pttsburg to write a ritual
and laws governing permanent organization.
This was nearly completed when Gen Bangs of
Elaine was called to take charge of what is
known the first grand DIVISION comprising
all the New England states. Gen. Z. W. Ross
of Baltimore was put at the head of the second
and fifth grand divisions, the former consisting
OF the middle states. with Virginia, West Vir-
GINA and Kentucky, and the latter all the other
southern states. AT this time also Gen. Baum
of Denver Col, assumed charge of the third
grand division which consisted of all states
west of Ohio. Then the work of organizing
camps began in earnest Gen. Bangs and his
staff and Gen. Ross and staff being part ularly
jealous in the task.
Singularly enough it may seem, the
promoters OF the new organization found con-
siderable opposition among the veterans, and it
was long time befo-e the veterans ognized
the body. ven now many veterans in the
G.. A. r. are opposed to the sons organization.
The camps that were formed prior to 1882 had
little if any funds in their treasures, nor b. I
they kept records and reports.
FIRST NATIONAL ENCAMPAENr.
The work of organizing the camps proceeded
under numerous difficulties, and during the
first year under the ritual the organization
foarished, and in 1888 the first national en-
campment was held. Pittsburg was the place
where it was held. and partial organization
was effected, and the next year the annual
meeting was held at Columbus, Ohio. The
progress made in two years satisfactory to
all interested in the order. The men who had
originally been placed in charge pushed for
ward the work until the fall of 1884, when they
turned over the fully organized body to the
several officers elected ut the first annual sos
sion of each grand division. Since then the
work OF organization has gone on, until there
are camps in twenty-seven states and terri
tories, and the total number is considerably
over 1900.
The annual encampments were held at various
cities and the commanders elected from time
to time were as follows: Frank z. Merrill, Bos-
ton, Mass; George B. Abbott, Chicago Charles
+. Griffin, Hammond, Ind; George W. Marks
BROOKLYN; Louis n. Wagner, Philadelphia; A.
P. Davis, Pittsbury; Leland j. Webb, Topeka,
Kan George I. Brown, Brooklyn. NY. Ed
win carp, jr., Lynn, Mass; Walter s. Payne.
Fostoria, Ohio; Barlow s. Weeks, New York
city.
The last meeting Of the order was held at
Helena, Mont, when officers were elected as
follows: Marvin E. Hall, Michigan, commander
in-chief; George W. Pollitt. New Jersey, senior
VICE commander; John w. Miller, Montana,
junior vice commander quar- .ermaster gem
eral was elected, the Office having been made
elective, with term of three years and a salary
Of 81 500. Rudolph Lobenstein Of Missouri was
elected.
The commander-in-chief appointed the fol-
lowing members Of his staff:
Adjutant general, Elias P. Lyon, Hillsdale,
Mich
Inspector general Henry Frazee, Ohio. IRE
appointed).
Judge advocate general, W. Scott Beebe,
Portland, Ore.
Surgeon general. d.. R ". wilcox, New
York