Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War: Catherine Duffin Tent Number 7 Records

The national organization was established in Massillon, Ohio on May 30, 1885 by Olive Howard, Harriet Knapp, Eva Merwin, Frank Merwin, and Bertha Martin. It ws incorporated on December 12, 1885 in Massillon, Ohio. The original name of the organization was the National Alliance Daughters of Veterans. The name changed to Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War at the 35th National Convention, held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1925. In 1944 at the 54th National Encampment, held in Des Moines, Iowa, the name was changed to Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865. The Federal Charter was granted by Public Law 99-172 on December 9, 1985. (Watson, Kathy. Headquarters, http://www.duvcw.org/index.php/about-us/headquarters.)

All daughters, granddaughters and all great granddaughters [etc.] of honorably discharged soldiers and sailors who served in the Union Army, Navy or Marine Corps and Revenue Cutter Service during the Rebellion of 1861-1865, and those who died or were killed while serving in the armed services of the Union between April 12, 1861 and April 9, 1865, and who have attained the age of eight years, are eligible for membership.

Local groups, called Tents, are named for Army Nurses who served in the Civil War or any loyal woman of the Civil War era whose patriotic deeds during the years 1861-1865 were recorded. The group honors Veterans through service projects which are of benefit to the public at the local, state and national level. National Headquarters is in Springfield, IL.

According to The Davenport Democrat and Leader published on Friday, June 30, 1916, "the Catherine Duffin Tent, Daughters of Veterans, tent No. 7 was organized at Memorial hall, the court house, Wednesday with 50 charter members enrolled." Organized on June 28th, the tent elected its officiers as follows:

President - Mrs. Georgia Worker

Senior Vice - Mrs. Florence Cook

Junior Vice - Mrs. E. T. Foster

Chaplain - Mrs. Cole

Secretary - Mrs. Ivah Crecelius

Treasurer - Mrs. Susie McGinley.

Catherine Duffin, the woman for whom the local tent was named, was the widow of Samuel Duffin, lieutenant and member of the 16th Iowa Infantry, Companies F and K. During the siege of Vicksburg he was given a gold medal for “the bravest and best” soldier of the Seventeenth army corps. He was wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia and died of his wounds in 1864. He is buried at the Marietta National Cemetery in Cobb, Georgia.

His widow, Catherine, remained in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa with her mother and children, becoming a dressmaker. In 1892 she was married a second time to Joseph H. Belken/Belkin in Scott County, Iowa. She died in November of 1901 at about 67 years of age and is buried at Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport. There is a memorial marker honoring Samuel in the same lot.

Information about the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War may be found here: http://www.duvcw.org/index.php/about-us.