Custer Post No. 6 of Tacoma, WA

Francis F. Thompson, post chaplain of the Grand Army of the Republic, Custer Post, shares a moment of prayer over the Oakwood Cemetery gravesite of an Army veteran with Custer Post patriotic instructor Charles "C.A." Cavender and Cavender's great-grandson, Tilford Gribble to commemorate Memorial Day, 1926. The young Tilford Gribble is solemnly placing an arrangement of roses at one of the headstones while Chaplain Thompson doffs his hat.  The men felt it important that the younger generations remember the sacrifices that were made in the name of freedom.  (Courtesy Tacoma Public Library)

Custer Post No. 6 was based in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington.  The map at the bottom of the page shows the exact location.

It is believed, but not certain, that the namesake for this Post was Major General George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876), who was killed in action at Little Bighorn, Montana, on 25 June 1876.

The Post was organized 24 May 1879 and chartered 2 June 1881, with eleven charter members.   The Post is associated with Custer Corps No. 2, Woman's Relief Corps (WRC).

The following Post history is from the Roster of Custer Post No. 6, Department of Washington and Alaska, Grand Army of the Republic, 1907:

Custer Post No. 6, Department of Washington and Alaska, Grand Army of the Republic

Custer Post No. 6 was organized May 24, 1879, by Major F. W. Sparling, Provisional Commander.  Its charter was granted June 2nd, 1881.  There were eleven charter members.  Five are still alive – Robert Miller, William H. Rock, Phineas Foster and William Peel who are still members, and Anthony P. Carr who lives at Spanaway.  Winslow A. Ramsdell, Augustus E. Alden, Job Carr, Howard Carr, Daniel Bentley and Henry A. Bigelow are dead.

It has had three Department Commanders, and 26 Post Commanders.  Only one died in office, and 20 are still living.  It has 14 members who have been Post Commanders, and two who have been Department Commanders in other Departments.  Every rank from Private to Major General has been members.  It is the largest Post in the Department, having 285 members in good standing.  Every state in the Union, except Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and South Carolina, is represented in its membership.  Southern, foreign and Northern copperhead papers during the war branded the soldiers of the Union Army as largely composed of foreign mercenaries who enlisted for the large bounties.  The following nativity shows the facts.  Of the 752 men who have been members, their birthplaces were as follows:

The 752 members served 582 different organizations and participated in nearly every battle of the war.  More than 100 were in rebel prisons and over 200 were wounded.  This record, we think, cannot be duplicated by any Post.  The Post has two blocks in Oakwood Cemetery, where it has buried 73 soldiers not members.  It has a block where its past members are buried, and 13 members and two wives are buried there.  It has a block for soldiers’ widows and has buried five.  Every grave is marked with a marble stone.  In the past 27 years it has distributed to indigent soldiers, their wives and children nearly $100,000.  One hundred and sixteen of the members have died.  In Tacoma, the oldest member is Robert Miller, 87 years; the youngest Allen A. Bartow, who enlisted at 15 years of age, and is 58.  Every profession – lawyers, ministers and doctors – every trade – every class of mercantile life – is represented.  We can build a complete ship, steamboat or locomotive.  Only one of its members has been convicted of crime.  Members hold office under the United States, State, County and City, and not one has ever been removed for neglect of duty or cause.  Can a better record be shown by any other organizations of equal numbers?

Charter Members

Comrades

Abbreviations used above: "Bty." is short for "Battery".  "Co." is short for "Company".  "F&S" is short for "Field and Staff". 

Note: This is not a complete cumulative roster of the Comrades (members) of this Post.  As additional Comrades are identified, they will be added.

If you find someone on this list who would qualify you for membership in one of our Camps or Auxiliaries, we have the documentation of his honorable service to the Union on file.

Membership inquiries can be directed to join@suvpnw.org and we will help you.