On September 28,1878 the Sons of Veterans had been finally
organized. In August 1880 while attending the Ohio GAR Reunion at
the state fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio veterans discussed the need to
organize a Sons of Veterans camp in
Columbus. Since the national organization was founded in
1881, it
was now time to start a Columbus, Ohio
camp.
August 1,1882 Governor William Dennison Camp #1 was chartered
in Columbus. The camp was organized and incorporated by E. H. Gilkey, L.
M. Boda, G. M. Grant, A. Z. Boda, W. C. Wykoff, and William
Neil.
At the 1883 Ohio GAR Reunion, the Governor William
Dennison Camp #1 was presented at the fairgrounds under the command of General
John G.
Mitchell. In 1895 the camp held its meetings at Druid Hall, 111 1/2 S.
High Street every Tuesday evening, with Clark S. White as its Captain. Dennison
Camp #1 is the oldest camp in Ohio, and is the descendant camp of J. C.
McCoy Post #1 GAR. The camp is named for Governor
William Dennison. The current purpose of the camp was, as it is today, to promote the
memory of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Sons of Union Veterans membership badge