Parsons Camp - Sons of Confederate Veterans

Civil War Index || Corsicana Daily Sun Extracts

3/29/2002 Parsons Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans to organize Saturday

From Staff Reports

The William Henry Parsons Camp No. 415 Sons of Confederate Veterans will hold its organizational meeting at 4 p.m. Saturday at Bubba's Barbeque in Ennis (I-45 east service road south of Highway 34).

The Sons of the Confederate Veterans is an international genealogical and historical society composed of the male descendants of Confederate servicemen, organizing commander Howard Green said.

"We are a non-political, 501(c)(3) organization which is proud of our history," he said.

Green noted that the local affiliates are called "clamps" and not "chapters" and are named for prominent historical characters.

"We are naming our local organization after Colonel William Henry Parsons, who commanded the 12th Texas Cavalry and Parson Brigade," Green said. "Anyone familiar with local history will recognize his name."

Green explained that Parsons recruited his unit in Ellis and Navarro Counties in particular.

"Cemeteries in Ennis, Rice, Chatfield and Telico are full of men who fought with Parsons and returned home to become active and useful members of their communities for the rest of their lives," he said.

The descendants' organization will be headquartered in Ennis and will serve southern Ellis County and northern Navarro County, Green said.

"Although we will be actively recruiting members in this area," he said, "you can join the Parsons Camp no matter where you live."

He added the only requirements are an interest in the history of that time period and an ancestor who served anywhere in the Confederate army or navy.

Those who are not sure if they have a Confederate ancestor are still welcome to attend Saturday's meeting, Green said.

"We have extensive genealogical resources to help someone find a Confederate ancestor," he said. "If your family has lived anywhere in the South for a couple of generations, then there is about a 90 percent chance you have an ancestor who fought for the Confederacy. If he's there, we'll find him for you."

Saturday's meeting will be devoted to completing the Charter Application and anyone joining that day will be a charter member. Annual dues will be approximately $35.

Jim Templin, Commander of Waxahachie's O.M. Roberts Camp No. 178 Sons of Confederate Veterans, will speak to the group about organizing a local camp. Green stressed that the meeting is open to the public and anyone is invited.

For more information, call Green at (903) 326-7098.

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