Missouri Commandery

Welcome to the home page of the Missouri Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. As you will see, the Order is one of the oldest veterans/hereditary organizations still in existence in the country. Please read over our history and our role today. We would appreciate hearing from you and about your officer ancestors who helped save the Union in 1861 - 1865.

SONGS OF THE MISSOURI MOLLUS COMMANDERY FROM 1905
Commandery End of 2023 Report
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56th USCT Infantry Ceremony
Walt Busch, a member of the US Grant Camp #68 (SUVCW) and companion of the Missouri Commandery, spearheaded a remembrance ceremony of the 56th U. S. Colored Troops (USCT), which was sponsored by the Camp. This took place on October 20, 2023, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.
Returning from Arkansas in 1866, many men of the regiment died of cholera while waiting to muster out at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. They were quarantined on an island in the Mississippi, where many died and were interred. Later their remains were brought back to Jefferson Barracks and were buried in a mass grave. Their first commander was Col. Charles Bentzoni, who later joined the Illinois Commandery of MOLLUS.
The outdoor ceremony included instrumental music (including bagpipes and bugle by MOLLUS companion Daniel Jackson), singing, prayers, and speakers. U. S. Army Major General (Retired) Byron S. Bagby gave keynote speech, "The 56th USCT, They Served Proudly." A local Air Force JROTC and a Marine Corp League provided color guard services. The event was well-attended by members of the community, including classes from a local Lutheran grade school, and was covered by two television stations.
Past Missouri Commander Gary Scheel participated as a part of the honor guard. Missouri Commander Sumner Hunnewell and his wife, Sylvia, laid wreaths at the 56th USCT cenotaph as representatives of MOLLUS and DOLLUS, respectfully. A reception was held afterwards at the nearby Missouri Civil War Museum, which the students toured courtesy of the Camp.
New Member Gregory LeVal Thayer of Saint Louis, MO

Occupation: Owner - Big Bend Electric, LLC
Descends From: 1LT/2LT Luther Washburn - Captain Jackson's Company & Captain Farris's Company, First Northeast Missouri Infantry Regiment (Home Guard)
(Consolidated into the 21st Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry [U.S. Volunteers].  Rank was 1LT in Home Guard and 2LT once Federalized.  Hawkins Taylor Commission not applicable, as contemporary proof of Federal service was provided and a pension was awarded.)
Relationship to Qualifying Ancestor: Great-Great Grandson
Membership through the Commandery of: Missouri

Welcome to our newest hereditary Companion,
Daniel Sauerwein, from North Dakota!

He is the Great x 4 Grand-nephew of Capt. Peter C. Spencer of the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B. The captain's life is well documented in the History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania [click here]

Daniel is a Reference Specialist with the State Archives at the State Historical Society of North Dakota, where he assists patrons in doing research with their collections. He has previously taught History, Geography, and Political Science and the college level. He completed all but the dissertation towards a Ph.D. in History from the University of North Dakota, and may try to finish in the near future. 

He engages in Civil War living history as a member of 5th Minnesota Infantry, Co. D, presenting programs on Civil War soldiers and frontier army life to state and local museums in the Dakotas and Minnesota. He also enjoys historical miniature wargaming, genealogy, and playing guitar.

Missouri MOLLUS
at
General of the Armies US Grant Remembrance Day
22 July 2023 - US Grant NHS, Affton, MO

Missouri's Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS)
reenactment of the 1897 dedication of the Revolutionary War Cannons at Lafayette Park in St. Louis on 30 October 2022.
CURRENT 2024 OFFICERS

Commander – Daniel Jackson

Senior Vice Commander – Randal Burd
Junior Vice Commander – Gary Scheel
Recorder – Walter Busch
Registrar – Sumner Hunnewell
Treasurer – Dale Crandell
Chancellor – Timothy Baker
Chaplain – Gary Scheel
Council 1 – Daniel Sauerwein
Council 2 – Timothy Baker
Council 3 – Gary Scheel
Council 4 – Randal Burd
Council 5 – Sumner Hunnewell (Past Commander)

Webmaster: Walter Busch (CORRESPONDENCE w/ MO MOLLUS - CLICK HERE)
Missouri Commandery History

The Missouri Commandery was chartered in 1885 and has included many notable Missouri names including Generals Eugene A. Carr, John W. Noble (Sec. of the Interior of the U.S.), John Pope, William H. Powell, Missouri Governors Thomas C. Fletcher, and Thomas T. Crittenden, and Arkansas Governor Powell Clayton.  After a number of years of dormancy, the MO Commandery was reactivated at the National Congress held at Gettysburg, PA in October of 1996.  Since that time we have been reestablishing our position working with other Civil War and military/hereditary organizations, building a membership with varied interests and backgrounds, and working to preserve the rich history of the Commandery and the Civil War in MO.

The Missouri Commandery has won the U.S. Grant Cup (largest percentage increase in new members) 1997-2001 and the Daugherty/Thompason Cup (largest total number of new members) in 1999 and 2001. CDR Niermeyer has also served as National Commander-in-Chief 2003-2005.  The Missouri Commandery participates in various local and national annual programs and ceremonies; including, Memorial Day Services at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, MO; Lincoln Tomb Ceremony in Springfield, IL; Remembrance Day Ceremonies in Gettysburg, PA; and Lincoln Birthday Ceremonies in Washington, DC.

             Missouri and the Civil War Missouri Commandery Projects
                                        (click on names and titles to go to link)

GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES 
MOLLUS SPECIFIC RESEARCH MATERIAL
OTHER SOURCES
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States is 501(c)(10) organization and is approved (1974) by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as an organization to which tax deductible gifts can be made pursuant to Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code, provided that said contribution are used exclusively for the Charitable purposes specified in section 170(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. The MOLLUS also maintains a Loyal Legion Memorial Fund Trust which is a 501(c)(3) organization and is approved (1967) by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as an organization to which tax deductible gifts can be made pursuant to Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.