Daughters of Union Veterans Keep Deeds of the Civil War Alive
February 8, 1998

PIX#! - Pat Day, president of the Fostoria Daughters of Union Veterans, Lynn Setser, Frances Daniels, Mary Evans and Michelle Robinson (back) and Katie Day, Megan Robinson and Breanna Robinson wear 1860s vintage clothing. The DUV keeps alive the memory of the Civil War era.

During the Civil War, 1861-1865, over two million men enlisted in the Union forces, "wore the blue" and went to war.

Those men are long dead and the war they fought to end slavery and preserve the American nation has receded beyond a century of history.

In spite of the long march of years, the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUV) continues to devote itself to honoring the memory of those who filled the ranks of the armies of the North. There is a chapter of the Daughters of Union Veterans here in Fostoria. The senior vice-president of the Fostoria DUV is Frances Daniels.

Frances explained that the DUV is an organization open to any woman related by direct lineal descent to a Union veteran. The DUV's purpose is "to perpetuate the memory, deeds and loyalty to those ancestors who sacrificed so much in the struggle to preserve the Union and establish freedom for everyone." Frances became involved in the local chapter three years ago.

"My sister got me into this," said Frances. "She started telling me, 'You should really get involved in this.' I thought, 'It's not for me.' But when I started reading up on the Civil War, I thought maybe it was for me."

The Daughters of Union Veterans is a national organization, itself over 100 years old. It was organized Memorial Day, May 30, 1885. All direct female descendants of Union veterans are eligible to join once they've reached age 8.

Local chapters are called "Tents." Fostoria's is Tent 139, chartered March 25, 1938. Each Tent is named for a Union army nurse or other Civil War era women whose patriotic deeds were recorded. Tent 139 is the Harriet Brubaker Tent. Little is known of Harriet except that she was an army nurse from Ohio.

Tent 139 was virtually extinct when Frances joined.

"We were down to two members, my sister and Mildred Few who is in her 90s and still an active member," said Frances.

But since then the group has experienced a rebirth. Tent 139 has 14 members and nine honorary members (members who haven't a Union veteran ancestor or who haven't yet established their lineal descent).

One of those new members is Frances' daughter Lynn Setser, Tent 139's patriotic instructor.

"My mom asked me to come to a meeting," said Lynn, a one year member. "I had no intention of going. But after I got there, I saw the few members we had put their whole hearts into it. I realized a few people can make a difference . . . As small as we were to start with, we've accomplished a lot."

Tent 139 has raised money with candy and bake sales, flea markets, a hand made quilt raffle and a Wendy's day.

The proceeds have been used for a wide variety of projects. Tent 139 has donated money to the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, Sharing Kitchen, Red Cross, the state and national DUV and the WFOB Giving Tree. The group participates in the Adopt-A-Highway program and has purchased wheelchair trays for a couple are nursing homes. The Tent has its own newsletter.

However, veterans, living and dead, are the focus of the DUV. This year Tent 139 participated in Memorial Day ceremonies at the Wood County Nursing Home, West Millgrove cemetery and Johnson's Island, Michigan, once the site of a prisoner of war camp for Confederate officers.

The DUV replaces the grave markers of Union veterans (with the consent of surviving family) if the stones are unreadable due to damage or weathering. Recently, Tend 139 placed a new memorial on the grave of Elihu Mason in Pemberton, a member of the famous Andrews' Raiders.

The Tent's attention to veterans also has a personal touch.

"We have adopted three veterans at the Wood County Nursing Home," explained Frances. "We make sure they get a gift on occasions like Valentine's Day, Christmas or their birthday and we make visitations. Once a month one or two members go to visit."

This past Christmas all the veterans of the Wood County Nursing Home and several veterans at the Good Shepherd Home received presents from the Fostoria DUV.

"I enjoy talking to the veterans more than anything," said Frances. "Some don't talk much, but the ones that do have some stories to tell. Every time we do something, we learn something new."

Frances' Union ancestor is her great-grandfather Pvt. Sndrew Jackson Christy, Company D, 14th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Mr. Chrisy joined the army Sept. 4, 1861 and served for the duration. He was born Sept. 9, 1842 in Wyandot County. He died April 4, 1920 and is buried in Napoleon.

Mrs. Christy fought in 14 separate engagements, the first being at Wild Cat, Ky. At Chickamauga, the Confederates defeated the Union army under Gen. William Rosecrans.

During that battle many Union regiments held their ground and retreated in good order to prevent a rout. Over a three day period, the 14th stubbornly beat back a dozen Rebel assaults before retreating when their ammunition ran low.

After the war, Mr. Christy returned to this area and made his living as a farmer.

Another goal of the DUV is to keep alive various aspects of life of the Civil War era. One way the women of Tent 139 do this is to dress in period costume and participate in events such as the Tiffin heritage Festival. They also work the gates at the Hayes Civil War Encampment in Fremont.

Both Frances and Lynn agree that the old-style clothing is one more attraction of the organization. Members make their won dresses. (Frances said before she made her dress, she "never sewed a seam") Lynn makes and decorates the hats and bonnets.

Dressing was no simple chore for women of that time. You put on your dress only after you had donned your stockings; pantaloons; your four, five or even six hoop skirts; and your overslip. Sitting down to a hoop skirt is no small task. Frances says you have to know just how to lift it so you can settle gracefully into a chair.

The motto of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War is, "Our Fathers Wore The Blue." Of course, they aren't fathers to anyone alive today. They are great-grandfathers and great-great-grandfathers to the current generation of DUV members.

We sometimes fail to appreciate history, to realize the extent to which the nation today is a product of the dedication and ideals of our forebears. Groups like the Daughters of Union Veterans do us all a service by keeping that history alive.

Ten 139 recently received a citation from the Ohio DUV for being the most active in the state. Any woman interested in participating in the DUV can call for more information at 288-2370 or 435-0732.