Founding Tent
May 30, 1885
Each Month or so Six Months of
The Founding Tent History
Will Be Presented
From The Years 1885-1890
Return Each Month For
The Next Six Months Of
Founding Tent History
January, 1886
through
June, 1886
Five young women, Harriett Knapp, Frances Merwin, Olive Howard, Eva Merwin, and Bertha Martin, stood at the edge of the Massillon, Ohio cemetery while Memorial Day services were held. They watched as their brothers and other young men, members of the Sons of Veterans, honored their fathers who had so valiantly fought for the Union Cause in the Civil War. They decided to form a group of daughters of Union Veterans so that they too could honor their fathers and other Union Veterans. They agreed to meet June 3, 1885 at the home of Eva Merwin. These young ladies were aged 15 and 16.
New officers installed-
President Any Merrill
1" Vice " Nellie King
2" Vice " absent
Secretary Daisy Roof
Treasurer Eva Merwin
Chaplain absent
Officer of the day Frank Merwin
Guard Olive Howald
Musician absent
Trustees Eva Merwin
Minnie King
Bertha Martin, absent
Moved, seconded and carried that we write to the M.C. Lilley & Co. for styles and prices of caps. It was moved, seconded and carried that we change pass and signs.
Moved, seconded and carried that on each ones birthday they are to pay as many cents as they are old.
January 23, 1886
Several applications received. It was voted by ballot that Ella Humberger be admitted to the society.
Moved by Bertha Martin and seconded that we postponed buying caps until we are better off.
Officers not installed at the regular installation were installed this day - Following installed - 2 V. President - Mame Huber, Musician - May Bowman, Trustee - Bertha Martin.
Committee appointed to investigate the applications of Lizzie Reavie & Stella Hering.
February 13, 1886
Cora Crone and Ella Humberger initiated. Levo Stevens installed as Chaplain. New pass word and sign adopted.
February 27, 1886
Moved by Minnie King that the secretary correspond with the Missouri Camp of S. of V.'s. Seconded and carried.
Bertha Martin and Minnie King went to see Mr. Ulman about our charter. He said we had our charter and could start other societies.
Voted by ballot that Stella Hering and Lizzie Reavie be admitted to the society.
President mentioned that we have some prospect of starting a society in Doylestown, OH.
March 13, 1886
Stella Hering initiated. Mrs. Frank Strobel, Nancy Wiseman and Stella McMillan balloted for. Accepted.
The committee of G.A.R. and Daughters, to write up the constitution, ritual etc., for the society, will meet at Mr. Pinn's office Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock. {Note, Mr. Pinn was a primary force in the GAR who worked for the recognition of DUVCW by the GAR.}
The president and advisory committee, spoke on the subject of revealing the secret works of the order. We had heard the grip had been given away.
Names taken of those that want caps
March 27, 1886
Several more names taken for caps.
Committee of G.A.R. and Daughters met, but on account of not having the necessary papers adjourned to meet again.
A member of the Sons of Veterans took an oath of allegiance to the Daughters of Veterans.
Mrs. Frank Strobel, Nancy Wiseman and Stella McMillan initiated. {Note, Stella was Mary Estella McMillan, the first National President of DUVCW.)
April 10, 1886
Moved and seconded we call our organization a tent. Carried.
Moved and seconded and carried that we ballot for Bell Doxsee today. Balloted for and rec'd.
Moved, seconded and carried that we admit no daughter into this society under 15 yrs. of age. Carried.
Treasurer read the am't of money rec'd into the society up to Mch. 31. Am't. rec'd. - $38.98. Am't. expended - $18.00. Am't. remaining $28.98.
April 24, 1886
Bell Doxsee initiated.
New constitution read and adopted by sections.
Moved, seconded and carried that we call the society the N.A.D. of V. of the U.S.A. instead of the Mass. D. of V.'s. {Note, new name: National Alliance Daughters of Veterans of the United States of America.}
Moved and seconded that article second be reread. Carried.
Moved and seconded that article second be adopted. Carried.
Moved and seconded that we adopt article third as read. Carried.
Moved and seconded that we adopt article fourth as read. Carried.
Moved and seconded that the time be changed to three (3) months instead of six (6). Carried.
Moved and seconded that we raise the admission fee to one dollar ($1.00). Carried.
Article fifth adopted with changes made.
Article sixth adopted as read.
Moved and seconded that we appoint a committee to have our constitution and bylaws printed. Carried.
Moved and seconded that we appoint a large committee to alter and add to the constitution. Carried. Committee - Bertha Martin, May Bowman, Eva Merwin, Ella Humberger, Levo Stevens.
Advisory committee. George Hawkins appointed as a member of our advisory committee in Charles King's place. Advisory committee and Constitution committee to be the same thing.
George Hawkins initiated. {Note, I believe he was obligated, not initiated.)
Subject of name discussed and was decided to leave it until next meeting, where each member is to bring in a name and history of said person.
May 8, 1886
Lizzie Reavie initiated.
Moved and seconded that the Pres. see if Mr. Merwin had ordered the caps. If not, to get Mr. Crawford to do so. Carried.
Moved and seconded that the president be instructed to see Mr. Crawford about getting the caps. Carried.
The committee's report on the constitution was very discouraging as they had not had a quorum at any meeting, nor could they get the constitution. Report of committee accepted and committee be extended two weeks longer.
Moved and seconded that the advisory committee be sent after Mr. Merwin and papers. Carried.
It was then moved that the Pres. appoint a committee to go and get Mr. Merwin and the papers. Seconded and carried.
The committee was appointed and went on their mission but did not succeed as they got neither Mr. Merwin or the papers. Moved and seconded that George Hawkins be appointed be get the constitution and bring it to the meeting in the evening. Carried.
Under new business a name for the Tent was discussed. Five were handed in; viz - Cornelia Ohden, Dorothea Dix, Jennie Way, Clara Barton and Emma E. Edman's.
A motion was made and adopted that we name it after Major McKinley's wife. It was suggested that we do not call it after her Christian name, but Mrs. Major McKinley's Tent No. 1. No motion being made to that effect it is still undecided which it shall be.
It was moved and seconded that the secretary write and inform Mrs. McKinley of the liberty we have taken in naming our Tent. Carried.
George Hawkins then, in the name of the S.V.'s presented the D.V.'s with their badges.
Evening Session
The constitution being at hand the business was transacted in the most speedy manner. Each art. and section being read and adopted separately.
Article 1 and 2 adopted as read. The Pres. First and Sec. Vice Pres. and then trustees were to be elected by the Tent. The Pres. is to elect her own staff.
Whether this passed as a motion the Sec. Pro. Tem does not know as she was busy writing.
In art. 5 Sec. 4, one black ball found in the ballot box after a member has been balloted for shall not cause her to be rejected, but three in every twenty cast, will. The rest of the constitution was adopted.
A short acc't of the objects of the Tent was read then and adopted as part of the constitution: the committee on the constitution was dismissed and it was given to M.E. McMillan to arrange and have ready in time for Mr. Charles Tinkler to take to the meeting of the S.V.'s at Jamesville, Tuesday P.M. Which she did not do. Whose fault is not known, but a copy was sent to the Grand Secretary at Jamesville in Convention Assembled.
An invitation was then read from the Hart Post No. 134 G.A.R. inviting the Daughters of Veterans to assist in the memorial services on the 31 day May A.D. 1886. {Note, this would become the first Memorial Day in which a DUVCW would participate. Mrs. Major McKinley Tent No. 1 members have participated in Massillon Memorial Day services continuously since then.}
The invitation was accepted and the sec. was requested to notify the G.A.R. of the same.
Another invitation to attend the wedding of Miss Mame Merrell, a daughter of a veteran, was read and accepted. It was moved and seconded that we get her a present. Carried.
The constitution was read and adopted and a committee appointed to write the By-laws. The committee was George Hawkins, Nellie King, Hattie Knapp, Lizzie Reavie, and James Merwin.
A motion was made and adopted that we be allowed to wear our caps to Memorial Service Sabbath evening.
May 28, 1886
An article from the Massillon Independence listed the "Daughters of Veterans" as one of the many groups to participate in the Memorial Day Program.
June 12, 1886
Committee reports - Bylaws were handed in and read and were adopted as read.
Chairman of committee on present for Mame Merrell not being present no report was given.
A committee was appointed to fix the Constitution. Committee - Bertha Martin, Levo Stevens, Miss Wiseman, M.E. McMillan, and George Hawkins.
The election of officers then took place.
President Bertha Martin
1. Vice Pres. Miss Wiseman
2. " " May Bowman
Trustees - Nellie King
Bertha Wendling
Minnie King.
Appointees - Minnie King - Secretary
Frank Merwin - Treasurer
Lizzie Reavie - Chaplain
Stella Hering - Guard
Any Merrill - Musician
Ella Humberger - Officer of the Day
June 26, 1886
Letters from Mr. & Mrs. Major McKinley read.
Our application received.
There was some discussion concerning our charter. Nothing definite
Moved and seconded that Lizzie Herdal be balloted for. Carried. Balloted for and Rec'd. Moved and seconded that she be initiated.. Carried.
Some discussion on who is to issue charters.
Moved and seconded that we ballot to see whether the advisory committee is to be selected from the G.A.R.'s or S.V.'s. Carried. In favor of G.A.R.'s.
Moved and seconded that the advisory committee be selected from the S.V.'s. Carried. Moved and seconded that the bylaws be returned to the committee and lengthened. Carried.
Featuring July, 1886 - December, 1886
