No reports are available for 1961, and the only event report available
for 1962 was the celebration of Lee Meriwether’s 100th birthday, held at
his home. Membership seems to have suffered a steep decline that year for
some inexplicable reason. A typed roster indicates that only thirty men
remained in the Camp.
1963 saw a new administration take charge of the Camp, and a further decline in membership. These should have been the premiere years for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, as the Nation Celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the War for Southern Independence, but for some reason interest was waning. Membership had gone from 55 members in 1960 to 19 by 1963. Paul Knabe was elected to Command the Camp during these trying times, and the venerable Lee Meriwether served as 1st Lieutenant Commander. This year, for the first time, there was no 2nd Lieutenant Commander, Quartermaster, Judge Advocate, Surgeon, Historian, or Color Sergeant appointed. This also indicates that there were evidently some underlying problems with the organization at this time. Col. Daniel Hundley served as Adjutant, Lynnewood Martin-Treasurer, and Fred Niemeyer served as Chaplain in 1962. One prominent member was the Honorable John M. Dalton, Governor of Missouri. 1962 membership included:
K. R. Cannon
John M. Dalton
Dr. O. P. Hampton Jr. Lorraine
F. Jones Jr
Dr. Drew Luten
A. Wellborne Moise
John Mosby III
John B. Peters
Dr. Thompson Rawls
Walter C. Rawls
Walter C. Rawls Jr.
Thomas J. Skinker
Charles S. Via
William Warren
The organization stabilized at 19 members in 1964, as two more members dropped out, one new one was added, and one past member was re-instated. The office of Treasurer was dropped, and the Camp Adjutant ( Col. Hundley) did both jobs. Paul Knabe remained as Commander, Lee Meriwether - Lieutenant Commander, and Fred Niemeyer - Chaplain. That year Commander Knabe died of a heart ailment (September 13th, 1964) he was 76 years old. Other members included:
K. R. Cannon
Gov. John M. Dalton
Dr. O. P. Hampton Jr. Lorraine
F. Jones Jr.
Dr. Drew Luten
Clint J. Murphey
A. Wellborne Moise
John Mosby III
John B. Peters
Dr. Thompson Rawls
Walter C. Rawls
Walter C. Rawls Jr.
Dr. Floyd Stewart
Charles S. Via
William Crowdus
By 1965 the membership was down to 16. Charles S. Via was serving
as Camp Commander, after the untimely death of Paul Knabe the previous
year. The venerable Lee Meriwether (now 103 years old) served as 1st Lieutenant
Commander, John B. Peters of Kirkwood served as Adjutant, Colonel D.H.
Hundley served as Treasurer, and Fred Niemeyer served as Chaplain that
year. Other members included: J. M. Alexander, K. R. Cannon, S. Courtney
Jr., W. W. Crowdus, L. Jones, D. Luten, D. Luten
Jr., L. Martin, A. W. Moise, C. J. Murphey, and H. C. Phillips. There is
no mention in the records of Camp participation in any of the activities
concerning the Centennial anniversary of the Appomattox surrender that
year.
1966 saw the passing of Compatriot Lee Meriwether on March 12th.
A special memorial meeting was held at the University Club on May
7th 1966 in his honor. The invocation was given by Reverend Lynnewood Martin,
and the Daughters of the Confederacy in attendance were welcomed by Commander
Charles Via. Adjutant John B. Peters served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Also in attendance were Dr. Gerald Anderson of the Kansas City SCV Camp,
and Mrs. Henry Frost Chadeayne, and G. Edward (Gus) Budde Public Information
Officer for the St. Louis Bi-Centennial Commission. Lee Meriwether had
been an esteemed member of the Camp for over 50 years.
Membership had increased to 23 by 1966 and included:
Wm. Atwood
Clinton J. Murphey
Kalford Cannon
A. Wellborne Moise
William Crowdus
John Mosby III
Gov. John M. Dalton
Frederic L. Niemeyer
William Dalton
John B. Peters
Dr. O. P. Hampton Jr.
H. C. Phillips Jr.
Colonel D. H. Hundley
Walter C. Rawls
Lorraine F. Jones Jr.
Walter C. Rawls
Alexander Jones
Dr. Thompson Rawls
Dr. Drew Luten
Courtney Shands
Rev. Lynnewood Martin
T. Dudley Petrie
Charles S. Via
In 1967 Colonel Daniel H. Hundley was elected Camp Commander, Charles
Via served as Lt. Commander, Fred Niemeyer served as Treasurer, and Courtney
Shands was Adjutant. Membership remained the same with the exception of
five new members; J. F. Vierling , J. L. Orten, James T. Pettus, H. S.
Pettus, and L. L. Pettus.
.
In spite of the fact that National dues were only $2 in 1968, membership
payments came in very slowly that year. By March only 9 had paid, in May
three more paid, and it wasn’t until August that the remaining 4 members
came forward and paid their dues. Membership dropped to 16 again this year.
Camp officers retained the positions they held in 1967.
In 1969 John C. Mosby III was elected Camp Commander, Fred Niemeyer
retained his position as Camp Treasurer, Courtney Shands served as Adjutant,
and the membership was back up to 23. Members included:
John A. Bryan
A. Welborne Moise
D. H. Hundley
R. E. Orten
J. B. Peters
J. H. Cunningham
J. Lee Orten
Lorraine F. Jones Jr.
Alexander Jones
Ivan Lee Holt
Vance Cherbonnier
J. T. Pettus
W. L. Atwood
Wm. W. Crowdus
J. M. Dalton
Dr. O. P. Hampton
Dr. Drew Luten
John McDermott
C. J. Murphy
H. C. Phillips
Charles S. Via