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The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin

Compiled and Published Under the Direction of

J. D. Beck, Commissioner of Labor and Industrial Statistics

©1907 Democratic Printing Company, State Printer, Madison [WI]

Part V. Grand Army Data -- The Sons of Veterans

[pp. 814-815]

One of the most active organizations auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic is The Sons of Veterans of the United
Sates of America. The order was established Nov. 12, 1881, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, by Major A. P. Davis, and it has grown rapidly. It is based upon the following:
Principles--(1) A firm belief and trust in Almighty God, and a realization that under His beneficent guidance the free
institutions of our land, consecrated by the services and blood of our fathers, have been preserved, and the integrity and life of the nation maintained.
(2) True allegiance to the government of the United States, based upon a respect for, and devotion and fidelity to, its
constitution and laws, manifested by discountenancing anything that may tend to weaken loyalty, incite to insurrection, treason or rebellion, or in any way impair the efficiency and permanency of our national union.
Objects--To keep green the memories of our fathers and their sacrifices for the maintenance of the Union; to aid the
members of the Grand Army of the Republic in caring for disabled and helpless veterans; to extend aid and protection to their widows and orphans; to perpetuate the memory and history of their heroic dead, and maintain the proper observance of Memorial Day; to aid and assist worthy and needy members of our order; to inculcate patriotism and love of country, not alone among our members, but among all people of our land; and to spread and sustain the doctrine of equal rights, universal liberty and justice to all.
Membership--Members must be at least eighteen years old, and the sons of deceased or honorably discharged Union
soldiers. The sons of members of the order are eligible to membership on becoming twenty-one years of age.
The following is the report of the number of members June 30, 1906:
Divisions. Number of Camps. Number of Members.
Alabama and Tennessee 10 260
California 15 498
Colorado and Wyoming 2 66
Connecticut 19 572
Illinois 42 1,180
Indiana 27 1,181
Iowa 13 329
Kansas 14 393
Kentucky 8 189
Maine 32 1,055
Maryland 10 330
Massachusetts 122 4,487
Michigan 8 118
Minnesota 14 478
Missouri 16 589
Nebraska 7 72
New Hampshire 32 953
New Jersey 23 1,074
New York 75 3,197
Ohio 69 2,309
Pennsylvania 153 9,616
Rhode Island 10 320
Vermont 29 737
Washington 5 150
Wisconsin 15 448
Total
 780 30,601
The present national officers are: Commander-in-Chief, Edwin M. Amies, Altoona, Pa.; Senior Vice Commander-in-
Chief, F. T. F. Johnson, Washington, D.C.; Junior Vice Commander-in-Chief, F. D. Wolfrom, San Francisco, Cal.; Patriotic Instructor, Rev. W. J. Patton, Mason City, Iowa; National Secretary, Horace H. Hammer, Reading, Pa.
Officers of the Wisconsin Division are: Commander, Fred W. Craff, Sheboygan; Senior Vice Commander, F. A.
Kremer, Madison; Junior Vice Commander, H. B. Simcox, Marinette; Division Council, J. F. Smith, Bloomer, Wilber Perkins, Jefferson, E. B. Mattoon, Sheboygan; Adjutant, Eugene A. Hickey, Shebogyan; Quartermaster, Otto C. Knabe, Shebogyan; Counselor, H. S. Siggelko, Madison; Chaplain, Rev. H. Erffemeyer, Racine; Sergeant Major, F. B. Fox, Meehan; Inspector, William Warner, Thorp. Division headquarters are now at 717 Pennsylvania Ave., Sheboygan. The first camp in the Division was organized at Waukesha in 1883, the first annual encampment was held in Oshkosh in 1884, and the first Division Commander was Dr. John Finney, Clintonville.
The following named men have been division commanders: John Finney, 1884-85; S. F. Peacock, 1886; F. J.
Walthers, 1887; J. P. Sheridan, 1888; C. H. Hudson, 1889-90; H. S. Fuller, 1891; G. W. Wing, 1892; R. L. McCormick, 1893; W. C. Winter, 1894; B. H. Wood, 1895; Thomas L. Jacobs, 1896; W. J. Patton, 1897; C. C. Townsend, 1898; R. M. Smith, 1899; J. W. T. Ames, 1900; M. A. Grasse, 1901; G. A. Geisler, 1902; B. S. Fox, 1903; F. H. B. McDowell, 1904; John H. Hazelwood, 1905; Fred W. Graf, 1906.
Memorial University--The Sons of Veterans have established at Mason City, Iowa, a Memorial University costing, so
far, a quarter of a million dollars, and dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic. It receives both men and women as students. It has several full courses of study, but emphasizes the value of American history,--the development, growth and preservation of our free institutions. Instruction there is neither sectarian nor partisan, but is intensely patriotic. There are more than forty instructors and lecturers. In establishing this school the Sons of Veterans have given a worthy example of practical patriotism.
The annual encampments of the Sons of Veterans are held at the same time and place with those of the Grand Army of
the Republic. The next meeting will be held June 3-6, 1907, at Oshkosh.
Return to Chapter 5.
Return to the 1907 WI Blue Book main page.
 
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