Descendants of Union soldiers find a home in Las Vegas

Friday, Jan. 11, 2002 | 4:26 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

On her deathbed, May Gertrude Peterson, the granddaughter of a Civil War veteran, made her son, Alan Peterson, vow that he would help keep alive the memory of his great-grandfather, Rufus Miller, and all veterans of that conflict.

Peterson, then a resident of Rhode Island, joined the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War there and was long active in the organization. When he moved to Las Vegas two years ago, he quickly discovered that the "Battle Born" state had no active Sons of the Union chapter and set out to change that.

Today during a ceremony at Arizona Charlie's RV Park recreation hall at Boulder Highway and Indios Road, Peterson will fulfill his mother's wish when he becomes a charter member and first commander of the Wm. B. Keith Camp No. 12, the first Sons of the Union chapter in Southern Nevada.

"I'm sure she would be very proud because she knew her grandfather, who served with the Rhode Island 3rd Heavy Artillery, and she spent 50 years in the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and in the SUVCW Auxiliary," Peterson said.

"I now I feel I have kept the promise to carry on the legacy."

Today's 2 p.m. ceremony will include SUVCW California-Pacific Department Commander Bob Lowe presenting the charter. Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald will be the guest speaker.

The organization is open to anyone who is a direct descendent of a Civil War veteran of the North. However, auxiliary membership is available for others who have a keen interest in the war that divided America from 1861-65.

While the 121-year-old Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is making its debut locally, the Daughters of Union Veterans was established in Las Vegas in 1947.

Leonard Becker, the great-grandson of Union soldier Christian Becker, has helped the women's organization through his wife, member Emmaline Becker. Now, as charter member and senior vice commander of the Sons, he has a vehicle to further help educate the public about the Civil War.

"I'm retired Army and I've always enjoyed military things, so this new camp will give me the opportunity to do a lot more research into the Civil War," Becker said.

In 1997 the Beckers made local headlines for their research that led to the discovery of what was believed at the time to be the only two Civil War veterans buried in Las Vegas -- Union veteran William Keith, for whom the new camp is named, and Confederate soldier Joseph Graham.

In Las Vegas in the early 1900s the two former foes met, became friends and decided to spend eternity together. Keith and Graham are buried in the same grave at Woodlawn Cemetery under a private monument that Keith paid for and under official government markers the Beckers and others helped obtain.

"Since then our research has discovered five other Civil War veterans buried at Woodlawn -- three other Union and two other Confederates," Becker said.

Ted Quill, one of 13 charter members of the new camp, is an accountant for the state of Nevada and a longtime Civil War buff.

"When I was 8 I visited the battlefield at Gettysburg, and I got hooked," said the great-grandson of Union Sgt. Christian Rossing of the 5th Wisconsin.

"As a boy I also read the (self-published manuscript) 'The Life of Christian Rossing' by my uncle, David Quill, and was even more fascinated. I've lived in Las Vegas for more than 20 years and I'm glad we finally have a camp."

Peterson, Becker and Quill say that while they respect so-called Civil War re-enacters -- those who dress in period uniforms and re-enact battles -- they want it clear that this is not what their group does.

"Our organization is about preserving the memory of our ancestors through education," Peterson said.

While researching the history of post-Civil War Nevada, Peterson discovered that Northern Nevada once had a Sons of Union Veterans chapter, but it has become inactive.

Quill, who will serve as secretary-treasurer of the new chapter, said it is surprising that given Nevada's history more attention is not devoted to remembering the Civil War.

"We hope our camp will help increase such awareness," Quill said.