Organizer Extraordinaire

During the 1915 Department Encampment, 24 year-old Lew McComb was elected Department Commander. A wave of national patriotism was helping swell the ranks of organizations like the Sons of Veterans. Lew Wallace McComb was born in 1891 to Robert B. and Eliza Elma McComb, who were early settlers in Stoughton, Wisconsin. Robert was appointed a town assessor for Pleasant Springs township in 1848. Later, as "Humane Officer," he monitored the humane treatment of farm animals in the area. The elder McComb served in Company B, 49th Wisconsin Infantry from February to November 1865. After the war, he became a charter member of Stoughton's Philo C. Buckman GAR Post #153.

Stoughton's Sons of Veterans' W.L. Vilas Camp #11 was chartered on September 25, 1910, with 22 members. Enthusiastic 19 year-old Lew McComb was key in the Camp's organization and early leadership. His efforts were recognized at the Department Encampment in 1912, where he was appointed Assistant Organizer, and in 1914, when he was elected Dept. Junior Vice Commander.

During World War I, McComb enlisted in Co. B, 1st Wisconsin Infantry, which later became part of the 128th Infantry, 32nd Division. McComb was assigned to the Headquarters Company, serving in France. He was mustered out a corporal at the end of the war.

In January 1920, PDC McComb organized the first VFW post in Wisconsin, Stoughton's Badger Post 328,. and was elected the post's first commander. The following year, he was appointed the Wisconsin VFW's patriotic instructor. He was also active in the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans. He attended the 32nd Division's reunion in Nuvoe, Illinois in 1922 and was a delegate to the National VFW convention in 1934 and '36.

In 1920, the Sons of Veterans National Encampment moved to change the name of the Order to Sons of the Grand Army of the Republic. The motion was defeated. Similar Wisconsin Department proposals in 1921 and 1922 went nowhere. It's probable that McComb was involved in the proposals.

Years later, when the Dept. Commander was about to organize a neighboring Camp, the Stoughton Camp became jealous and PDC McComb established a new organization, the Sons of the Grand Army of the Republic, with chapters in Madison and Stoughton. McComb was that Order's Commander-in-Chief.

At the 1931 Dept. Encampment in LaCrosse, Counselor C.W. Dodson read his report, concerning the actions of PDC Lew McComb. The matter was referred to a special committee, chaired by PDC (Judge) Kremer and staffed by Brothers Dissler (Milwaukee), Lien (Beloit), Leonard (Kenosha), and Swan (Eau Claire).

Later at the encampment, the special committee recommended the next Dept. Commander continue the investigation. It recommended two issues be referred to the Commander-in-Chief: 1) Improper use of the ritual, and 2) Rank and status in the Order in light of attempting to organize a rival Order.

The 50th National Encampment heard the recommendations and tabled the matter. It also moved that the incoming CinC appoint a committee to attempt a reconciliation with the heads of the Sons of the GAR. It doesn't appear efforts were successful, as the Sons of the GAR continued meeting into 1936.

Br. McComb was employed as a guard in a government building in Washington, D.C. for the last few years of his life. He came back to Wisconsin for hospitalization, when he became seriously ill a few weeks before his death. He died in a Madison hospital following an operation on December 2, 1940. He was 49 and was buried in Stoughton's Riverside Cemetery. His sister, Mrs. Ed E. Buche, of Oregon, Wisconsin, survived him.

Biography researched and compiled by PCinC Steve Michaels.

Information Sources:

Find-A-Grave Memorial #38140266
State Capitol Journal
SUVCW 50th National Encampment Proceedings
Wisconsin State Journal, December 3 and 4, 1940

Last Updated: 1 January 2019