History of the Mary E Starkweather Tent #1

Local groups, called Tents, are named 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 National Order, Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865 was introduced to Minnesota when 22 daughters of Civil War veterans met on 4 June 1906 to organize the Mary E. Starkweather Tent No. 1 in Minneapolis. They had the honor of having the National President assist.

The new tent decided unanimously to honor a former Minneapolis woman, Mary E. Starkweather. Among her many accomplishments, Mrs. Starkweather was charter member of Women's Relief Corps, Garfield Corps, St Paul and was the first department treasurer of Minnesota. The next year she was chosen department president and served two terms. She filled other offices in the department and was chairman of the Soldiers Home Board for seven years, an office she held at the time of her death in 1895 at age 47 years.