The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-09
MANY MEN OF MARK.
Sons of Veterans Who Are
Division Commanders.

THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE this week pre-
ents on its first page the portraits of many
Division Commanders of the Sons of Veter-
ans Below will be found brief biographical
sketches of these and others:
Col Leon w Friedman, Commander of
the Division of Alabama and Tennessee, was
born at Chattanooga, Tenn, October 1871.
He is a resident of Birmingham, Ala. Col.
Friedman attended private schools and col
leges. He is a newspaper man, correspondent
for 10 wellknown newspapers throughout
the United States His father David Fried
man, enlisted in Co L, I'd Ohio, April 10,
1861 and left the service in June, 1865, as
Captain, Co f, l08th Ohio Col. Friedman
was mustered into George II. Thomas Camp,
/, birmingham, in August, 1889 served as
Delegate to the Division Fncampment IN
1890; rs Guartermaster-Se Sergeant for four
years, and as Captain. He has served the
Division as Secretary Of the Council in 1898;
Delegate to National Encampment il 1874;
Quartemaster in 1885, and Senior Vice
Commander III 1896. Col. Friedman has
surrounded himself with Past Division Com
manderS as his personal staff, something
without parallel in the history of the Order.
The Division has retained all It's Past Com
manders, and they are working to increase
the membership. Col. Friedman is Quarter
master-Sergeant of George II. Thomas Camp,
j; Vice Chancellor, Dirego- Hines Lodge, rs,
Knights of Pythias; Member of Magic City
Camp, 4, Woodmen Of the World; Chairman
of the Membership Committee of the Y. NJ.
II. A.; Member of the Entertainment Com
mittee Of the phgnix Club, and City Park
Commissioner
Col. Charles L. Pierce, Commander of
the Division of California and Hawaiian
Islands, was born in Allegheny City, Pa,
July q, lS56, and comes OF patriotic Ameri-
can family, as he traces eight generations of
ancestors, born in America. Not everyone
has the fortune of being born on Independ-
ence Day. Immediately after his birth his
mother callei for an old American flag-an
heirloom of the family which hex grandfather
had carried through the Revolutionary war
and, wrapping her hoy III it. dedicated him to
his country. Col. Pierce's father served in
90 c, 9th Pa. Reserve Corps Col. Pierce's
childhood days We're partly spent in Camp
PieIpont, on the Potomac, as his mother
visited her soldier husband while the army
was encamped there. 1t was quite natural
that Col. pieFce's ambitions should take IL
y
career began III ST. Louis Mo. where he
Joined the militia rs a private and was pro-
noted through all the grades 10 Major. In
1850 he novel 10 II Paso, Tex FL Paso is
Indebted TO Col. Pierce for lis magnificent fire
department, OF which he was the organizer
and first Chief. lie left Texas to organize
business firm at San Francisco. In Lis new
home he has devoted himself Loyalty to the
advancement of The interests OF National
Patriotic Orders in the far Nest He served
as National District President OF the State of
California Patriotic Sons Of America, and
President OF the American Party in Alameda
County. He joined Col T. d. Baker Camp
;, at Oakland, IN 1894. lie has served as
Division Surgeon. Col Pierce is a prominent
Mason he holding the 23d Degree In 1886
he was chosen Grand Commander of the
Grand Consistory OF California. Since he
assumed command of the Division it locks rs
though the Order on the Pacific Coast is about
to experience Il boom.
Col Harlan Thomas, Commander of
Colorado Division, was born in nes Moines.
Iowa, in 1870. and is the son OF Capt Thomas
44th Ind His father enlisted at the organ
ization of the regiment, and was promoted
through all the grades until he COM
manded his company. Col. Thomas is a
graduate of the Mechanical and Engineer
ing Department Of the Colorado State Agri-
cultural College, and during years sojourn
in Europe in 1895 spent his time in studying
architectural designs in the Ecole DIES Beaux
Arts at Paris. He has been a member OF the
Sons OF Veterans since 1891, and was Dele
gate 10 the National Encampment of 1892.
! Col. Thomas is an enthusiastic Son
| Col. w. w. Wheeler, Commander of
| Connecticut Division was born ut Hunting
| ton, Conn. in November 1864 His father,
David ;. Wheeler, served rs q member of Co
! ID, 23d Conn. Col Wheeler received his edu-
cation IN the District School OF Huntington,
in the High School Of Derby. and at the East
man National Business College. Poughkeepsie.
| \. y, graduating from The latter institution
in July, 1884. 1t was through his efforts
that Charles l.. Russell Camp, &c of Derby.
was organized in February, 1887. He became
| First Lieutenant, and the year following was
elected Captain. He was reelected, and has
filed many other Offices in his Camp In
1882 he was a Delegate to the National En-
campment at Minneapolis, Mimi He has
never missed a Division Encanpment since
Joining the Order. Col. Wheeler is proud
OF his membership in the Sons Of Veterans.
| which he believes III the near future will be
! the grandest of patriotic Orders
Col. z. w. Robinson, Commander Of
Gulf Division, was born in New Orleans
La, ~ years ago. His father. William NJ
Robinson, enlisted at Boston, Mass, in the
Spring Of 1862 in The Sth Mass battery. and
in 1863 was commissioned Captain, 10th {.
s. c. ii. A., and was breyetted Major. Col
Robinson was educated in the Public and
High Schools OF New Orleans. graduated in
law at Tuare University in 1891, and was
admitted TO practice by the Supreme Court
He became member of Louisiana Camp,
in 1859; served III various Offices and was
elected Captain in 1891; assisted in organiz-
ing the Division in 1885; served as Inspector
OF the Division Staff of its first Commander.
and was Judge-Adyocate last wear. The
Division of the Gulf includes the States of
Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi; the Camps
are few in number and widely separated
but Col. Robinson is fighting hard to make
them strong and extend the work into new
| fields.
Col. c. R. Clarke, Commander of Hi
nois Division, was born al Cambridge, Wis
% years ago. His father Lucius w. Clarke,
was Assistant Surgeon. 18th Conn. Col
Clarke received his early education in the
public schools; entered Wisconsin University,
graduating in 1880; graduated from the Law
Department in 1892. His connection with
the Sons dates from Dec. 10, 1885, when he
became a member of Col. Charles T. Gill