The Part Taken by Women in American History/The Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic

by Mrs. John A. Logan

The Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic.

Introduction by Mary M. North.

When the war cloud hangs darkly over a land, then is the strength of woman made perfect, and she is ready with the kindly ministrations which can only come from the sympathetic hand of the home-maker—the mother, wife, sister, daughter, sweetheart—the loyal woman.

When the dove of peace had taken its departure from our own fair land, and the boom of cannon was heard upon that fateful day in April, '6i, then there arose the need for the kindly ministrations of woman, and as ever, she was ready with a response, and everywhere little bands gathered, or a woman alone did "what she could," for those who had answered their country's call.

Not only did she put her hand to the plow, and start the loom with its many bobbins, harvest the crops which she had laboriously planted and tended, but she also sewed, picked lint, made bandages, and knitted socks and numberless other things for the men and boys at "the front."

Societies sprang up and worked steadily all through the Civil War, and even when peace was declared, many found that their work was not done, for there were maimed and invalid veterans to care for, there were widows and orphans who needed succor, and homes had to be provided for hundreds who had no loved ones to look after them.

With the call of duty ever before them they could not disband, and all over the north, the east, and the west, they were still working when their ability and help were recognized by a veteran who was at the head of the Grand Army of the Republic,—Paul Van Der Voort, commander-in-chief.

An invitation was sent out to all loyal women all over the country to assemble at Denver, July 25, 26, 1883, to perfect a National Order, which should include within its folds loyal women from every state in the Union, who were willing to unite in a fraternity which should be of assistance to the Grand Army of the Republic, in all their works of beneficence.

The National Organization was effected at the Denver meeting, and recognized as the auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic in accordance with a resolution by that body passed in Indianapolis, in 1881: "Resolved, That we approve of the project entertained of organizing a 'Woman's National Relief Corps.' Resolved, That such 'Woman's Relief Corps' may use, under such title, the words, 'Auxiliary to the G.A.R.' by special endorsement of the Grand Army of the Republic, June 15, 1881."

They were accepted, and left free to work for the veterans in their own way, which as time has fully proven has been a wise one.

Among those present at the Denver meeting were: Mrs. Florence Barker, Mrs. Kate Brownlee Sherwood, Mrs. Sarah E. Fuller, Mrs. Lizabeth A. Turner, Mrs. E. K. Stimson, Mrs. Emily Gardner, Mrs. J. M. Telford, Mrs. I. S. Bangs, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. McNeir, Mrs. Hugg, and Mrs. Charles.

The officers elected were

• National President, Mrs. E. Florence Barker, Maiden, Massachusetts.
• National Senior Vice President, Mrs. Kate Brownlee Sherwood, Toledo, Ohio.
• National Junior Vice President, Mrs. E. K. Stimson, Denver, Colorado.
• National Secretary, Mrs. Sarah E. Fuller, East Boston, Mass.
• National Inspector, Mrs. Emily Gardner, Denver, Colorado.
• National Chaplain, Mrs. Mattie B. Moulton, Laconia, New Hampshire.
• National Conductor, Mrs. P. S. Runyan, Warsaw, Indiana.
• National Guard, Mrs. J. W. Beatson, Rockford, Illinois.
• National Corresponding Secretaries, Mrs. Mary J. Telford, Denver, Colorado, and Mrs. Ellen Pay, Topeka, Kansas.

At this first meeting it was voted that all loyal women were eligible to membership, and the growth of the organization has shown the wisdom of the vote.

CHARTER MEMBERS, W. R. C.

• E. Florence Barker, Maiden, Mass.
• Sarah E. Fuller, East Boston, Mass.
• Lizabeth A. Turner, Boston, Mass.
• Helen S. Bangs, Waterville, Me.
• Kate B. Sherwood, Toledo, Ohio.
• Lenore K. Sherwood, Toledo, Ohio
• Mary E. Lanning, Columbus, Ohio
• Annie W. Clark, Columbus, Ohio
• Emma K. McCammon, Carthage, Ohio
• Lottie M. Meyers, Canton, Ohio
• Ella McCammon, Carthage, Ohio
• Helen M. Santmeyer, Carthage, Ohio
• Mary Timmerman, Leipsic, Ohio
• Marion A. Gillis, Cleveland, Ohio
• Amelia A. Moore, Youngstown, Ohio
• Frances S. Runyan, Warsaw, Indiana
• Frances Elliott Olney, Warsaw, Ind.
• Henrietta Norton, Rockford, Ill.
• Jane W. Beatson, Rockford, Ill.
• Kate Hobart, Rockford, Ill.
• Emily T. Charles, Washington, D. C.
• Louise V. Bryant, Washington, D. C.
• Lizzie Anderson, Topeka, Kan.
• Ellen M. Pay, Topeka, Kan.
• Sarah E. Devendorf, Topeka, Kan.
• Jennie Fensky, Topeka, Kan.
• Emma B. Alrich, Cawker City, Kan.
• America Anderson, Denver, Colo.
• Olive Hogle, Denver, Colo.
• Mary A. Stimson, Denver, Colo.
• Mary Jewett Telford, Denver, Colo.
• Augusta B. Henderson, Denver, Colo.
• Angenette Peavy, Denver, Colo.
• Josephine L. Peavy, Denver, Colo.
• Frances A. Collar, Denver, Colo.
• Julia A. Lynd, Denver, Colo.
• Nora Mclntyre, Denver, Colo.
• Maria F. Gray Pitman, Denver, Colo.
• Emily Gardner, Denver, Colo.
• Mary A. Ingersoll, Denver, Colo.
• Margaret Freeman, Denver, Colo.
• Mary E. Lattin, Denver, Colo.
• Henrietta F. Mills, Denver, Colo.
• Harriet B. Jeffries, Denver, Colo.
• Lizzie M. Tarbell, Denver, Colo.
• Harriet L. Heard, Denver, Colo.
• Mary Berwick, Denver, Colo.
• Louise E. Sherman, Colo. Springs, Colo.
• Mary L. Carr, Longmont, Colo.

Mesdames

• S. O. Ver Plank, Denver, Colo.
• F. A. Driscoll, Denver, Colo.
• H. B. Ayers, Denver, Colo.
• W. H. Savage, Denver, Colo.
• J. F. Lather, Denver, Colo.
• C. E. Hanly, Denver, Colo.
• S. D. Hunt, Denver, Colo.
• H. L. Wadsworth, Denver, Colo.
• W. H. Leaverns, Denver, Colo.

The Woman's Relief Corps is now the largest beneficent and patriotic organization of women in the world, their membership at last report being about 166,000.

They have spent in relief for the veteran or his dependent ones since organizing, more than three and a half millions of dollars, and upon their twenty-fifth anniversary, presented the Grand Army of the Republic with $5,000, and every year a gift of $1,000 is made for their permanent fund.

At the last convention of the Woman's Relief Corps the treasurer reported $27,267.18 as the total assets, with no liabilities.

At that convention it was voted, to set aside $3,000 for the Grand Army of the Republic, subject to any call of the commander-in-chief for aid of needy veterans; $2,000 for the aid of army nurses who do not receive pensions, and by reason of advanced age cannot provide for themselves the comforts they need; $1,000 for a memorial tablet at Andersonville Park upon which is to be inscribed the source from which the government received its sacred trust of that hallowed ground.

The Woman's Relief Corps has owned very much valuable real estate, notably Andersonville Park, Andersonville, Georgia, and the National W. R. C. Home, in Madison, Ohio, but the latter was turned over to the state of Ohio as a gift, several years ago. Last year Andersonville Park was also turned over to the government as a gift free of encumbrance.

The way the Woman's Relief Corps acquired this property is interesting: The department of Georgia Grand Army of the Republic, purchased the old prison site, of the owners, but found that as their number was growing less year by year, and as it required a great deal of money to keep up the place, it would be better for them to offer it to the auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic. When the Woman's Relief Corps was in annual session in St. Paul, Minn., in 1896, representatives of the Georgia Grand Army came before them, and offering the old prison, asked them to accept the gift and keep it from desecration. The women accepted it as a sacred trust, and immediately appointed Mrs. Lizabeth A. Turner, of Massachusetts, as chairman of a board to beautify the grounds and make a park of them. A house for a caretaker was needed, and as the women did not want to build it within the old stockade, more land was purchased making the acreage within the enclosure about eighty-seven. A ten-room house was erected, a caretaker installed, and then the tedious process of making a park was begun. Bermuda grass was planted root by root, a pear and pecan orchard set out, and a rose garden planted, with rose bushes sent from almost every state in the Union, and then the desert began literally "to blossom as the rose." Several states were given ground upon which to erect monuments to their sons. These were Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. Mrs. Turner having died while in discharge of her duty, the Woman's Relief Corps also erected a monument to her memory in the park. This beautiful spot, the mecca for all the country side every Sabbath, and for the nation upon Memorial Day, was last year accepted by the government, and this year upon May 30, the memorial tablet set up by the donors, was unveiled, in the presence of a vast concourse of people, Mrs. Sarah D. Winans, chairman of the Andersonville Board, presenting it to the National President of the Woman's Relief Corps, Mrs. Belle C. Harris, who in turn presented it to the government through Captain Bryant, superintendent of the Andersonville Cemetery. Upon the tablet are the names of the incorporators of the Woman's Relief Corps, Mrs. Sarah D. Winans, Mrs. Jennie E. Wright, Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood, Mrs. Cora Day Yound, Mrs. Mary C. Wentzell, Mrs. Mary M. North, Mrs. Sarah E. Phillips, Mrs. Lizabeth A. Turner, Miss Clara Barton and Mrs. Allaseba M. Bliss. Also the names of the Board of Trustees for 1909-10, Mrs. Sarah D. Winans, Mrs. Abbie A. Adams, Mrs. Allaseba M. Bliss, Mrs. Sarah E. Fuller, Mrs. Carrie R. Read, and the names of the committee on transfer to the government, Mrs. Kate E. Jones, Mrs. Kate B. Sherwood, Mrs. Mary M. North and Mrs. Mary L. Gilman.

The aims and objects of the Woman's Relief Corps are:

"To specially aid and assist the Grand Army of the Republic, and to perpetuate the memory of their heroic dead.

To assist such Union veterans as need our help and protection, and to extend needful aid to their widows and orphans. To find them homes and employment, and assure them of sympathy and friends. To cherish and emulate the deeds of our army nurses, and of all loyal women who rendered loving service to our country in her hour of peril.

To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America; to inculcate lessons of patriotism and love of country among our children and in the communities in which we live; and encourage the spread of universal liberty and equal rights to all.

This organization was the first to introduce the salute to the flag in the public schools, and to make the observance of Flag Day general, by preparing and carrying out suitable programs.

There are two salutes to the flag taught in the schools, the one for the older scholars being, "I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands; one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

The other is taught the younger pupils, and is, "I give my head and my heart to God and my country, one country, one language, one flag."

The Woman's Relief Corps has been instrumental in having flag laws passed in many states, and through their efforts an appropriation was made by Congress for flags for the school houses of the District of Columbia, the writer of this having made the first draft of the bill which was put in shape by Mrs. Belva A. Lockwood and presented to Congress. Upon the roster of this order are the names of women in the highest walks of life, and any who are loyal and of good moral character are welcome to the ranks of those who are banded together for such patriotic work as that of the Woman's Relief Corps.

Those who have served as National President, National Secretary and National Treasurer since the organization are the following:

NATIONAL PRESIDENTS.	NATIONAL SECRETARIES.	NATIONAL TREASURERS.
E. Florence Barker	Sarah E. Fuller	Lizabeth A. Turner
Kate B. Sherwood	Emma D. Sibley	Lizabeth A. Turner
Sarah E. Fuller	Eleanor B. Wheeler	Lizabeth A. Turner
Elizabeth D'Arcy Kinne	Nellie G. Backus	Lizabeth A. Turner
Emma Stark Hampton	Armilla A. Cheney	Lizabeth A. Turner
Charity Rusk Craig	Hettie M. Nichols	Lizabeth A. Turner
Annie Wittenmyer	Abbie Lynch	Armilla A. Cheney
Mary Sears McHenry	Hannah R. Plimpton	Armilla A. Cheney
Sue A. Pike Sanders	Ella Cobean	Armilla A. Cheney
Margaret Ray Wickins	Flora Preston Hogbin	Armilla A. Cheney

NATIONAL PRESIDENTS.	NATIONAL SECRETARIES.	NATIONAL TREASURERS.
Sarah C. Mink	Sarah E. Phillips	Armilla A. Cheney
Emma R. Wallace	Jennie Bross	Armilla A. Cheney
Lizabeth A. Turner	Harriette L. Reed	Isabelle T. Bagley
Agnes Hitt	Ida S. McBride	Isabelle T. Bagley
Sarah J. Martin.	Mary H. Shepherd	Isabelle T. Bagley
Flo Jamison Miller	Mattie Jamison Tippett	Isabelle T. Bagley
Harriet J. Bodge	Charlotte E. Wright	Sarah E. Phillips
Mary L. Carr	Fannie D. W. Hardin	Sarah E. Phillips
Calista Robinson Jones	Mary Ellen Conant	Sarah E. Phillips
Lodusky J. Taylor	Ada E. May	Sarah E. Phillips
Sarah D. Winans	Jennie S. Wright	Isabelle T. Bagley
Fanny E. Minot	Helen McGregor Ayers	Sarah E. Phillips
Abbie Asenath Adams	Mary R. Morgan	Charlotte E. Wright
Carrie R. Sparklin	Belle C. Kimball	Charlotte E. Wright
Kate E. Jones	Eliza Brown Daggett	Charlotte E. Wright
Mary L. Gilman	Maria W. Going	Charlotte E. Wright
Jennie Iowa Berry	Georgia Wade McClellan	Charlotte E. Wright
Belle C. Harris	Ida Wilson Moore	Charlotte E. Wright