Decatur County, Indiana - Chapter 18: Decatur County S Military Record, 1915 (part 2 of 2)

The cause which led to the organization of the Woman's Relief Corps can be traced back to the first battlefield of the great Rebellion. The work of American women in tfie great conflict for the preservation of the Union was that of relief upon the field of battle, and in the hospital; relief for the wives and children of those at the front; relief for the widows and orphans of those who never returned.

The Grand Army of the Republic was organized ])y the "boys in blue" soon after the close of the war, to perpetuate the principles of fraternity, charity and loyalty, and to relieve the wants of their needy comrades. It soon became evident they needed the assistance which only loyal patriotic women could give. In response to this demand, many societies were formed under various names; but it was not until July, 1883, by invitation of Paul Vandervoort, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, that representatives of societies from sixteen states met with the national encampment in Denver, and perfected a national organization to be known as the National Woman's Relief Corps, which was at once adopted by the encampment as the auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic. From this little band of fifty-six meml'.ers, the membership is now more than one himdred and sixty thousand.

The objects of the Woman's Relief Corps are to assist the Grand Army of the Republic in caring for the Union veteran and his dependent ones; to perpetuate the memor\' of their heroic dead, and to inculcate lessons of

Patriotic teaching in the public schools was adopted in 1893. Thousands of flags, Declaration of Independence charts, oliographs of the origin and history of the Stars and Stripes, patriotic primers, flag drills and salutes have been presented the schools; one thousand primers and five hundred oleographs were sent to the commissioner of education in San Juan, Porto Rico, for distribution in their schools; one thousand primers and five hundred oleographs to Honolulu; five hundred primers and two hundred and fifty oleographs, with hundreds of flags, to the schools in the South. Flags and patriotic -literature have also been sent the schools of Panama and New Mexico.

"Pap" Thomas Corps No. 113 was instituted at Greensburg, May 21, 1888, with twenty-seven members, by Miss India Hackleman, assisted by Mrs. Ben Smith, Mrs. Mary Conover, Mrs. Lon S. Havens and Mrs. J. B. Reeve, all of Rushville. The charter members were, Joanna Elder, Clara Creath, Louisa M. Bone, Ella Hightower, Versie Bell, Ella Straisinger, Jane Stage, Mary L. Hearne, Elizabeth Leswing, Martha J. Alyea, Stella Alyea, Catharine Jones, Rose Bruner, Matilda Davis, Margaret Johnson, Flora B. Theis, Mellie D. Drake, Louisa V. Knox, Martha E. Garrison, Mary W. Scobey, Ella Childs, Eliza J. Crisler, Cyrena White, Margaret Trusler, Margaret Conquest, Alice M. Dowden and Lottie M. Ehrhardt. Of this number, eighteen are living, nine have been called home, and seven have withdrawn.

Our blessed Lord framed a memorial to perpetuate His own memory throughout all time when He said, "This do in remembrance of me." And when, in 1868, Gen. John A. Logan, then commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, designated the 30th day of May for the purpose of "strewing with flowers the graves of those who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet church-yard in the land," he builded for himself and them a memorial which will never disappear from American history.

And, believing it fitting that the living should also be remembered, in 1890 the Flower Mission was introduced, and like the mustard seed it has flourished, its branches reaching almost three thousand corps. By it, many darkened homes and sad hearts have been made brighter.

Fifty-one orphans have been placed in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Knightstown, where they have every advantage of the children of well-to-do parents. A number of them now occupy positions of honor and trust.

Six hundred and ninety dollars have been spent for relief, and nine hundred and fifty dollars in necessaries for relief. Each year ten dollars is turned o\-er to the post, and five dollars for Memorial day in the South and for the Christmas fund.

Two large flags, ten by twenty feet in size, have been furnished city schools ; one hundred patriotic primers, and one hundred oleographs of the origin and historjr of the Stars and Stripes, with flag drills and patriotic selections, have been presented the teachers of Decatur county; and Declaration of Independence charts furnished each school in Washington township.

Through the Woman's Relief Corps, a law was enacted by the Indiana Assembh- in 191 1. b\- which every school in Indiana may be provided with a flag, if the teacher asks for it.

Daughters Of The American Revolution

The Daughters of the American Revolution was organized on October II, 1890, in Washington, D. C, with eighteen members. The first president-general was Airs. Caroline Scott Harrison, wife of Benjamin Harrison, then President of the United States, which position she held at the time of her death, October 25, 1902. The late Airs. Charles W. Fairbanks, also of Indiana, held this position from 1901 to 1905.

The objects of the society are, to perpetuate the memory of the men and women who achieved American independence; the protection of historical spots and the erection of monuments ; the encouragement of historical research in relation to the Revolution and the publication of its results; the preservation of documents and relics, and of the records of the individual services of Revolutionary soldiers and patriots, and the promotion of celebrations of all patriotic anniversaries; to carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, "to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge," thus developing an enlightened public opinion and affording to young and old such advantages as shall develop in them the largest capacity for performing the duties of American citizens; to cherish, maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom; to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty.

Any woman is eligible for membership who is eighteen years of age, and is lineally descended from a patriot, man or woman, who aided in establishing American independence.

On March i, 191 5. one hundred fourteen thousand one hundred and sixt}'-six had been admitted to membership. There were one thousand four hundred and thirty chapters in the United States, and one each in Cuba, Mexico and the Philippines.

Memorial Continental Hall, at Washington, D. C, erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution, at a cost of more than five hundred thousand dollars, is the only such building erected by women, and was built by voluntary contributions, the chapters of Indiana contributing almost ten thousand dollars. It is of Vermont marble and in design and general appearance is a copy of the classic buildings of our Revolutionary period. The corner stone was laid on April 19, 1904, under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity; the gavel used was the one with which George Washington laid the corner stone of the national capitol in 1793. In this building all documents and records of the society are preserved, also priceless relics of the past. It is furnished tljroughout with magnificent old-time furniture and rare paintings, the gifts of chapters and indi\'iduals. The continental congress of the national society is held in this building.

Lone Tree Chapter No. 743 was organized in Greensburg by the state regent, Mrs. William Guthrie, April 6, 1907, with the following charter members : Mrs. Mary M. Tarkington Alexander, Mrs. Lida Montgomery Cobb, Mrs. Elizabeth Montgomery Craig, Mrs. Emma A. Donnell, Mrs. Eliza McNabb Eddleman, Mrs. Maude Kitchin Johnson, Mrs. Ella Robbins Kitchin, Mrs. Juliet Spliker Lemon, Mrs. Alice Gray Markland, Miss Sarah Gageby Montgomery, Miss Sue M. Montgomery, Miss Rebecca Montgomery, Miss Elizabeth Fulton Shirk, Mrs. Lizzie Woodfil Turner, Mrs. Pearl Kitchin Woodfil, Mrs. Eliza Talbott Wolverton, Annetta Wampler Shannon, Mrs. Ensebia Craven Stimson and Mrs. Rose Hendricks Zoller.

The first officers were Mrs. Ensebia C. Stimson, regent ; Mrs. Lizzie W. Turner, vice-regent ; Emma A. Donnell, secretary ; Pearly K. Woodfil, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Eliza T. Wolverton, treasurer; Elizabeth F. Shirk, registrar, and Sue M. Montgomery, historian. The past regents are, Mrs. Stimson, Mrs. Turner, and Miss Donnell. The present (1915) officers and members are : Mrs. Jessie Riley, regent ; Mrs. Maude Kitchin Johnson, vice-regent; Mary Wolverton, secretary; Mrs. Oliver Dickey Gilham, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Irma Cory Douglas, treasurer; Rebecca Montgomery, registrar, and Anna L. Riley, historian; ]\Irs. Mary 'SI. Tarking-

The chapter has lost, by death, ]\liss Sarah Gageby ^Montgomery, Mrs. Juliet Spilker Lemon, Mrs. Sarah Ann Gageby Montgomery, Mrs. Mary Jane Quick Mendenhall, Miss Bessie Craig and Mrs. Amanda Gageby Siling; by withdrawal, Mrs. Eliza M. Eddleman, Mrs. Alice G. ]\Iarkland and Mrs. ]\Iary Hendee Fradenburgh; Ijy transfer, Mrs. Anna G. Stagg Magill.

At the last state conference, IMiss Emma Donnell was elected state vice-regent, an honor well bestowed, and appreciated by the local chapter. On July 4, 1908, a large flag was presented to the public library, at which time an appropriate program was rendered. Markers have been provided for the graves of four Revolutionary soldiers, and ninety dollars contributed to the Memorial Continental Hall at Washington, D. C. The Alichigan road, the most historic in Decatur county, will be marked with a handsome boulder bearing a bronze inscription tablet, to be presented to the city on Flag day, June 14. 1916, as Lone Tree Chapter's part in the celebration of the anniversary of Lidiana's admission into the Union. The committee in charge is Pearl A. Williams, Mrs. Eliza J. Crisler and Mrs. Ensebia C. Stimson. The boulder will adorn the triangular lot at the intersection of North Michigan avenue and Ireland street, and will be a lasting tribute to the honored pioneers and a spot where the present and future generations may pause in reverence to the memorj' of the sturdy ancestors who opened the way to the present advanced civilization.