The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-06-15
First Ladies' Aid Society Was Or
ganized in the City of Phila=
delphia Early in 1861.
The Sons of Veterans and L. A.
Are in a Flourishing Condi=
ton in This State.

Princeton this week entertalnS
within her gates as invited guests the
Minnesota Division, Sons of Veterans,
and our people delight in honoring the
direct descendants of the men, who
gave up all in the Sixties for the saliva
ton of Our common country and the
honor of the flag. For the purpose of
informing our readers more fully about
the organization which this year has
accepted our hospitalities, to hold an
annual State encampment here, the
UNION presents a condensed and au-
thentic history Of both the National
and State organizations of the Sons OF
Veterans.
THE ORDER ATLARGE.,
The organization, Sons Of Veterans,
U. S. A, as a national body, to become
eventually the successor of the Grand
Army of the Republic, originated in
the early eighties. Major A. P Davis
of Pittsburg, Pa, is generally con
ceded to be the founder and mentor OIL
the order. The cradle of the organic
alton in fact was at Pittsburg, where
the first camp was organized in 1881
During hat year the work was all OF
a preliminary character, but on Octo
Der Is of the following year the first
session of the Commandery -in-Chie
was aheld at Pittsburg. Only three
states were then represented, each
having two representatives. the state:
being New York, Ohio and Pennsylva
MIA. Gen. H. T. Rowley, of Pittsburg
was elected AS the first Com,namder-in
Chief, and he chose H. W. Walker a.
his adjutant. But a year later at thu
second session of the Commandery thu
representation comprised q states an(
three grand divisions, showing a mos
rapid growth The official record
show that during 1883 the Grand Arm,
of the Republic invited the Sons Q
Veterans to appear before their ma
tional encainpment at Denver and pre-
sent the plan OF organization and plat
form OF principles. This was done
and by Il resolution Of the encampment
official recognition was given to tn,
Sons of Veterans.
From that date began a remarkabl
growth and progress OF the order il
every section OF the United States I'm
til to-day cam s are in existence ever
in. 'Dixie Land''. ~ -@- =.
The latest division to be organized i
that of the Gulf, comprising the south
ern states, where the membership i
also on the increase.
In the early years of the orders ex
istence there was some rivalry extan
on account of the system of posts, con
trolled by the ''Earp" faction. Blu
gradually all these were absorbed int
the general organization, and division
were organized in every state having
sufficient mum Der Of camps. Each di
vision is a jurisdiction within itself 70
local legislation, which is adopted il
/ the annual encampments, where ais
are elected the delegates to the ses
sions of the Commandery -in-Chiet
which controls the legislation for tn
order at large.
Once in the history of the order
/ Minnesota entertained the Nationa
body, when Minneapolis was the hos
| in 1891, the event still being vivid,
remembered by the older members
This year the national meeting vii
take place at Indianap polls during til,
. month Of September. Last year til,
lsession took place at Louisville but n,