USA > Pennsylvania > Susquehanna County > History of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. from a period preceding its settlement to recent times, including the annals and geography of each townshipAlso a sketch of woman's work in the county for the United States sanitary commission, and a list of the soldiers of the national army furnished by many of the townships > Part 68
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588
HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
$25 from one individual ; $15 from another ; $10 at different times from others, and many a five dollar note from as many friends were all so many spurs to our industry, as well as to procure material upon which to exercise it.
In August, 1863, at the thanksgiving services, after great Union victories, a collection of $25 was taken up and sent to the Christian Commission. Several young misses held a fair at the residence of H. Drinker, realizing $42.48, which was forwarded to the Sanitary Commission.
Owing to the departure of the president of the society, Mrs. Wootton, for Georgetown, D. C., to take charge as matron of the Volunteer Officers' Hos- pital, Mrs. Isaac N. Bullard was elected to fill her place, and it is pleasant to record here the unanimous opinion of the society, that we were singularly happy in having presiding officers of such energy and faithfulness, and to whose excellent judgment very much of our efficiency was due. A tribute is fitting here also to the recording secretary, Miss Ellen Searle, of whose valuable service we were about this time deprived by her removal to Pitts- ton, Pa., where her death occurred, in October, 1867.
In November, '63, the society sent two barrels. valued at $100, to the prisoners at Richmond. During this month Miss Walker responded to the request for a report of the Aid Societies of Susquehanna County, from which we learn that there were at that time 21 societies. One township had three societies, three or more townships sent their contributions to the Montrose Aid, and in two instances two townships acted in concert. This, with our 27 townships, left but few where there was no organized effort. Before the close of the year two more societies were added to the list. When this re- port was read before the Board of Managers of the W. P. B. of the U. S. San. Com., December 7th, 1863, "it was on motion, resolved, that the secre- tary be requested to convey to Miss Walker the thanks and gratification of the meeting for the same, and to express through her to the societies of the county this appreciation of the noble efforts they are making in behalf of the Commission and our great cause." In forwarding this to Miss W., the secretary, R. M. Lewis added : " It affords me great pleasure to have this opportunity to express my cordial wish for the continued increase of your work, and to say how much we are indebted for it to your unwearied exertions as our associate manager."
Prior to 1864, the Montrose Aid had forwarded 82 barrels, boxes, and firkins, containing supplies for the sick and wounded. More than half of them went to the W. P. Branch.
The Mite Society, Miss Kate E. Searle, sec., continued to hold its meetings or "sociables," the avails of which were expended in the relief of absent soldiers' families. Thus, undesignedly, the young people imitated the noble example of Westmoreland (Wyoming). in 1777, when, at a town meeting, it was " voted by this town, that the committee of inspection be empowered to sup- ply the sogers' wives and the sogers' widows, and their families, with the necessaries of life."-[ Miner's History of Wyoming, p. 207.]
In January, 1864, the societies of the county were represented by Miss Walker at the Grand Council of the different branches of the Sanitary Com- mission at Washington, D. C. The following month she sent her appeal (lithographed) to the Aid Societies in behalf of the Great Central Fair at Philadelphia, to swell the receipts of the U. S. Sanitary Commission. Feb- ruary 26th, the Montrose Aid held a sanitary fair at the Keystone Hotel, realizing about $400.
April 11th, a meeting of the citizens was held at the Court House, "to take into consideration the best method of representing the patriotism and ability of Susquehanna County at the great fair, in June next, at Philadel- phia." Township committees had been appointed and requested to procure subscriptions to the fair ; Wm. H. Jessup was appointed to prepare a circular for the use of the several committees. The Aid Societies acted as committees in all townships where organized. The result was most gratifying. More than
589
APPENDIX.
$3000 were contributed by the county, the Montrose Aid collection being one-tenth of the amount. Several valuable relics were given up and disposed of, that the proceeds might comfort the sufferers of the national army.
Three or four copies of a large picture of the Fair buildings on Logan Square, Phila., drawn from nature, and on stone, and printed in oil colors, were presented to the Montrose Aid by the managers of the fair. Total re- ceipts of the fair, about $1,200,000.
During the progress of the fair, a paper was issued by the commission, en- titled ' Our Daily Fare.' Miss Walker procured fifty subscriptions for this, at $1.00 each. Other ladies in the county served the cause in a similar man- ner, but to a less extent.
In the mean time, the ordinary work of the society was not suspended. The fifty-seventh consignment was made to the W. P. B., the day after our box for the fair was forwarded.
Early in August, '64, an urgent appeal came to us, as to all contributing to the W. P. B., for blackberry brandy.
" We are losing," it stated, "lives valuable to home and country for the want of this remedial agent. We append a receipt, that no one may be at a loss as to the mode of preparing it. What is done must be done quickly. Old linen and muslin, and bandages are also needed in large quantities. Hos- pitals, crowded with wounded men, are suffering for want of them. Act promptly ; send largely."
In response to this, the society sent five boxes of blackberry syrup, in the month of August, '64. A dramatic association of ladies and gentlemen of the place, assisted by visitors, gave to the society, this month, $150.
At the suggestion of the associate manager, a call for a county council of soldiers' aid societies was made in the fall of 1864.
The following reports show the response it received :-
Secretary's Report, October 18, 1864.
" The Ladies' Aid Societies of Susquehanna County in council, and friends of the soldiers, met at the court-house at 2 o'clock P.M., on the 18th inst. Hon. Win. J. Turrell was elected president of the council, and, on taking the chair, addressed the meeting with a few well-timed remarks. The following were elected vice-presidents : Hon. C. F. Read, B. R. Lyons, M. C. Stewart, Miss Sarah Walker, Mrs. L. Hewen, Mrs. Wade, Mrs. Cooley, Mrs. Stanford, Mrs. Thomas, and Mrs. M. C. Stewart. Secretaries, Dr. C. C. Halsey, Thomas Nicholson, and G. A. Jessup.
"Miss Sarah Walker, associate manager for Susquehanna County, from her list, called on the different societies to report. Reports were made (some at length, and some briefly and verbally) by the following, viz: Montrose, Elk Lake, Springville, Lawsville Center, West Herrick, Auburn, West Auburn, Jackson, Glenwood, Rush (Eddy), Clifford, Dimock, Bridgewater, West Harford, Liberty, Fairdale, and Franklin.
" Hon. C. F. Read reported, as chairman of the county committee to the sani- tary fair, that over $3000 had been sent to the Central Fair at Philadelphia from this county, and Miss Walker added the testimony of one prominent in the Sanitary Commission, that the direct supplies thereto from this county had not been lessened by this great contribution to the fair, as had been the case in many other counties. Mrs. D. Parisli, of Philadelphia, made a brief address. Mrs. Holstein, of the same place, who has for the most of two years labored for the Sanitary Commission, and has recently come from the front, made a very in- teresting report, and many important suggestions. Said the organization here was more complete than in any other county she knew of. She had seen no rooms equal to those of the Soldiers' Aid Society in this place.
" In the evening, Dr. Parish, of Philadelphia, addressed the meeting at length -gave a full and very interesting account of the operations of the Commission. Rev. Mr. Cather, of Philadelphia, also spoke at length on the same subject.
590
HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
" Hon. Wm. J. Turrell made a brief address.
"One of the resolutions unanimously adopted by the meeting was this :-
" Resolved, That we regard the labors of the Sanitary Commission as second in importance only to the actual service of the soldiers in the field, and that our confidence in its efficiency increases more and more as we become thoroughly acquainted with its operations.
" Dr. Halsey, secretary of the Council, at a later date, reported :-
" A few societies were unable to report by reason of the loose manner in which their accounts had been kept. Deaths, sickness, and removals are the reasons, in some cases, of imperfect reports. A large number sent in complete returns containing lists of all articles forwarded, with estimated cash value, while some sent complete lists, with cash value of only a part, or the cash value of all that had been done, with only a partial list of articles. Some have only a list of articles, and others only the cash value.
"Montrose, Harford, Uniondale, Franklin, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Rush, Forest Lake, Friendsville and Forest Lake, West Harford, Laws- ville, Center, Dimock (two societies), Friendsville, West Auburn, Clifford, Springville, Auburn, East Bridgewater, and Little Meadows aid societies have sent to the Sanitary Commission, 1247 shirts, 174 sheets, 588 pair drawers, 720 pillows, 755 pillow cases, 212 arm slings, 291 dressing gowns, 247 pairs slippers, 342 pairs socks, 1913 towels and handkerchiefs, 126 quilts and blankets, 295 bottles of wine, 71 gallons of wine, 1 keg of wine, 1 cask of wine, 28 gallons syrup, 507 cans of fruit, 2709 pounds of dried fruit of all kinds, 13} bushels dried fruit, 273 packages dried fruit, 31} firkins of pickles, 100 pounds of but- ter, 5 tubs of butter, 1 firkin of butter, 50 pounds maple sugar, 1125 cakes maple sugar, 173} dozen eggs, 1 keg eggs, 16 coats, 64 hop pillows, 2 pairs shoes, 3} bushels apples, 10 quarts vinegar, 12 cans honey, 14 cans sundries, 11 bushels potatoes, 110 needle-books, etc., 61 pads, 1 sack dried corn, 8 quarts dried corn, 12 pounds horseradish, 17 pounds corn starch, 32 pounds cheese, 6 pairs mittens, 4 pairs pants, 110 lemons, 300 and more packages of unenumerated articles.
"Large quantities of bandages, lint, old cloth, reading matter, dried beef, sage, hops, fruit, combs, jelly, tea, green currants, pie plant, currant shrub, raspberry and elderberry vinegar, peaches, pears, eggs, beans, etc., are reported, of which no exact account can be given.
"Great Bend, Glenwood, Elk Lake, Brooklyn, Upsonville, and Jackson Aid Societies report estimated cash value of articles sent at $943.62; donation from Welsh citizens, $200; sent to central fair articles valued at over $3000; making considerably more than $4000 in addition to the foregoing list of articles.
" West Auburn and several other societies that were struggling to keep up the good work acknowledge, with thanks, $10 donations for their encouragement from unknown friends, by liand of Miss S. M. Walker.
" Mrs. Grier, of Philadelphia, wrote to the associate manager, ' I am so de- lighted with the report and summary you have sent ! It is, indeed, most gratifying and full of encouragement to earnest, faithful workers, as showing them, through you, what fidelity, and perseverance, and faith can accomplish. I feel like saying, 'Hurrah for Susquehanna County !' I have been so worn out this summer and fall that such things refresh me.'"'
The thanksgiving collection, November, 1864, and a second supper, given at the Keystone Hotel in December, so replenished the treasury of the Mont- rose Aid, that, notwithstanding the large expenditures of the year, there was a good balance on hand.
The following, prepared by Mrs. Webb, is a summary report for each year of the society, from its organization to the close of 1864.
The receipts of the society for the year 1862 were · $446 19 Expenditures for the same year . 259 21 . . .
Leaving balance of ,
. · MISS KATE HILL, Treasurer. · $186 98
591
APPENDIX.
The receipts for the year 1863 were :-
Balance from last treasurer .
$186 98
Received from society . .
.
461 88
$648 86
Expenditures for the same year .
412 87
$235 99
MISS HETTY D. BIDDLE, Treasurer.
Receipts for the year 1864 were :-
Balance from last treasurer .
$ 235 99
Received from the society
.
$1508 71
Expenditures for the same year
1351 29
Balance
Total receipts .
.
$2180 79
Expenditures
2023 37-$157 42
MRS. H. J. WEBB, Treasurer.
It must be understood that Bridgewater had no separate organization from the Montrose Aid until late in 1864.
Hitherto little has been said of difficulties encountered by the Montrose Aid, and, in contrast with those known in scattered neighborhoods, they had none; but at least one difficulty they had in common. This arose from the often repeated stories derogatory to the San. Com. Respecting these, Mr. Knapp, special Relief Agent of the San. Com. at Washington, wrote :-
" At times the supplies at our store-houses in Washington have been very short, and some of the demands for the hospitals could not be met ; but as a general thing nineteen-twentieths of all the real needs which come within their proper province to supply, have been met.
" A great many requisitions are made upon the charity of the people, through the Sanitary Commission, for supplies that can and ought to be obtained from the Government, and it is made an especial duty of our hospital visitors to en- deavor to insure to the patients such supplies through that legitimate channel, rather than by distributing of the Sanitary stores. I inclose to you a list furnished me direct from the books kept at the store-house of the Commission, of articles given out by the agents of the Commission in Judiciary Square Hos- pital (where it is stated that little or nothing was furnished) during the four months prior to December 1st, 1864. You will perceive that of wool shirts, there are nearly 400; wool drawers, 230; socks, 251; towels and handkerchiefs to- gether, over 500; blackberry wine, 95 bottles. These were distributed in small quantities from week to week, to meet real needs, although at times more would have been issued and wisely had the stock on hand been larger.
"Our hospital visitors endeavor, each one in his or her own assigned hospitals, to go through all the wards at least once each week, and learn the needs, and so far as is right supply them. These hospital visitors are all, I believe, con- scientious, earnest men or women, doing their work with thoroughness, and with no dainty hands-visiting the bedsides of the men themselves and ministering to them. None of the agents referred to keep house in the city-but all board, with one exception, at the simplest tables with the ordinary accommodations. That one, for good reasons, boards at a hotel.
"With one exception, also, the vehicles used by these agents in visiting the hospitals, and conveying the supplies, are simply covered wagons-one horse and wagon being assigned to a visitor who attends to three or four hospitals. For that one person, excepted for good reasons (connected with the work of visiting with other hospitals, the post hospitals, and the hospitals of various forts at long distances from each other), two horses and a comfortable carriage are pro- vided."
. 1272 72
.
$ 157 42
592
HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
Extracts from Mrs. Grier's letter to Miss Walker :-
"The Sanitary Commission in every city is composed of the very best and wisest men who could be selected for an important trust : such men as dying fathers trust their children and fortunes to. In Philadelphia we have no more honored names than those who compose our Ex. Com. of gentlemen. You know of them yourself. It is the same in New York and Boston. The Com- mission itself is composed of men known for character and intellect all over the country. I ask these doubters whether they think it likely such men would lend themselves to establish a great fraud, or even to cover it if it had crept into an institution without their knowledge ? Why, their very honored names are at stake in the fair fame of the Sanitary Commission. It is impossible, too, that anything really wrong should go long undiscovered if it were caused by minor officials. Think of the constant system of checks and guards kept upon the employees of the Commission.
" For instance in our office, I am certain it would be utterly impossible for roguery to go undiscovered for a week. I know the general work of the Com. is so conducted. Then think of the watching people all the time on the lookout for mismanagement of the trust they have reposed in the institution. The Christian Commission is also a first-rate police force to see that the Sanitary does no wrong."
The same month the Montrose Aid were in receipt of a letter from Miss Ellen Mitchell, in which she says: "The Sanitary have adopted a new plan of distributing their stores in the hospitals around Washington. And with what they are doing for us at present, and the manner of doing it, I am satis- fied entirely."
The last year of the war, and the closing up of the work of the U. S. San. Commission, found the Montrose Aid faithful to the last.
After having had the use of Mr. Lyons' rooms two and a half years, wc were offered the pleasant parlor of the engine house, No. 1, by the Rough and Ready Company, upon the former being needed for another purpose.
The first meeting at the engine house was held March 2, '65, during a severe snow-storm, which, however, did not prevent a large number from being in attendance, or keep away the indefatigable Associate Manager, who rode ten miles to meet us and return. Four barrels were packed that day for the W. P. B. The young misses of the place contributed patchwork ready for quilting with a text of scripture written on each block, for hospital reading.
In May, a box of Syrian curiosities, valued at $100, and a box containing small blocks from the ancient cedars of Lebanon, valued at $50, were sent to the Northwestern Fair at Chicago ; and the society received in return a handsome silk flag, now in the keeping of the compiler. The total receipts of that fair were $325,000.
May 15th, the several branches and societies of the Sanitary Commission were requested by the President, Dr. Bellows, to maintain their usual system and activity up to the 4th of July following. The last regular meeting of the Montrose Soldiers' Aid occurred on the Thursday previous to the latter date. The following summary of consignments by the society was then given by the secretary :
"Forwarded in 1862-3, 82 bbls .- Ellen Searle, Recording Secretary. 1864, 48 bbls .- Maggie Baldwin, Recording Secretary. 1865, 22 bbls .- Mrs. H. C. Tyler, Recording Secretary. Total 152 bbls.
One hundred and three of these bbls. were sent to the Sanitary Commis- sion, 5 bbls. of unenumerated articles to the American Union Commission, for Refugees, 2 bbls. to our prisoners in Richmond, and 42 bbls. were dis- tributed promiscuously."
[This statement does not include the donation sent to Chicago.]
"The ladies proposed to give a dinner, on the 4th of July, to all the returned soldiers in the county who might accept the invitation ; but finding them- selves unequal to the labor requisite, they consented to give the enterprise
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APPENDIX.
into the citizens' hands, accompanied by $100 from their treasury. At the dinner, the members of the society waited upon the tables, happy in having their labors culminate in rendering " honor to whom honor " is due.
By request the Treasurer submitted the following summary report of the Mont- rose Soldiers' Aid, from its commencement, in July, '62, to its close, in October, 1865 :
Total receipts in cash. $2505 22.
Mrs. H. J. WEBB, Treasurer.
Recording Secretary's Report .- The Recording Secretary also gives the follow- ing report of consignments from the Montrose Soldiers' Aid since its organiza- tion, in July, 1862, to October. 1865. The following articles were forwarded : 808 shirts, 452 prs. drawers, 181 dressing-gowns, 142 prs. slippers, 328 prs. socks, 360 pillows, 365 cases, 61 sheets, 7 prs. mittens, 951 towels and handkerchiefs, 33 quilts and blankets, 332 housewives, 12 prs. pants, 17 collars, 9 vests, 4 coats, 324 cans of fruit, 830 boxes dried fruit, 91 gallons wine, 325 bottles wine, 3 boxes blackberry cordial, 4} bbls. green apples, 5} bbls. potatoes, 1 cask cider apple-sauce, 35 firkins pickles, 1 barrel pickles.
The value of these articles is estimated at $4345.83. Many valuable pack- ages which were sent cannot be fully estimated. Of these are corn-starcli, tapioca, gelatin, maple sugar, soap, catsup, dried corn, canned chicken, horse- radish, apples, leather, mustard, farina, raisins, packages of lint, linen and bandages.
We feel that the above estimate is lacking by some hundreds of dollars the value of the articles sent.
MAGGIE BALDWIN, Secretary.
In the fall of 1865, friends in Montrose and vicinity sent $40 to the fair for the Soldiers' Home in Philadelphia. Packages both to the Home and the Lodge were forwarded about the same time.
In 1866, a barrel and a box of supplies for the Thanksgiving dinner of the disabled soldiers of the Home were sent from Dimock, Bridgewater, and Mont- rose, which were so thankfully acknowledged, that the same parties have contributed, every succeeding fall, more or less liberally for the same purpose ; all the packing has been done at the residence of G. V. Bentley.
APOLACON TOWNSHIP. LITTLE MEADOWS.
The society at Little Meadows was the second Soldiers' Aid in the county, the date of its organization being September 17, 1862. Other neighborhoods, such as. Upsonville and West Harford, contributed comforts to our soldiers as early, and perhaps earlier ; but no society was then formed in those places, and permanent work was not anticipated.
At Little Meadows the ladies enlisted " for the war," and served, as an organization, the full term of their enlistment; though the corps of fifteen, engaged during the first year, was reduced the last year to five, and conse- quently the amount of labor accomplished was greatly diminished.
The borough of Little Meadows, so remote from the center of the county, and bordering on the State line, is allied by business to Owego, rather than Montrose, and the volunteers of the Union Army from that section were, for the most part, connected with the 109th Regiment N. Y. S. V.
The ladies of the Aid Society were, as a general thing, represented in the army by members of their own households, for whom they were laboring directly, thus diminishing their work through the Sanitary Commission.
The officers of the society were : Miss Mary Barney, President, and Mrs. Adda Louise Beardslee, Secretary and Treasurer.
For the first six months their stores were sent to the U. S. Sanitary Com- mission at Washington ; but in May, 1863, they made their first consignment to the Women's Pennsylvania Branch at Philadelphia, and thereafter were 38
594
HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
confident of a wise disposal of their contributions. The clothing forwarded was principally of new material. The following is from a letter to the secre- tary :-
" I do not believe you are aware how well Susquehanna County is doing, and I think it quite right to appeal to your county pride by way of stimulating and encouraging you. I believe we have more Aid Societies in Bucks and Susque- hanna than in any other counties.
" I am, very truly yours, " M. C. GRIER,
" Chairman Executive Com. U. S. S. C."
A Festival and Concert at Little Meadows, held under the auspices of the Aid Society, and aided by volunteer musical talent from Owego, yielded a fund of upwards of $125. The borough contributed over $60 in cash and articles of value to the Great Central Fair. The number of boxes forwarded to the Commission is not given, but from the number of articles we can specify enough to show something of the industry of the society. Over six hundred garments, including bedding, were made; over two hundred pounds of dried berries and currants, twelve bushels of dried apples, eight and a half gallons of blackberry cordial, one barrel of cucumbers, three firkins of pickles, one box of onions, one box of lemons, potatoes and tomatoes in quantity, and a variety of smaller packages for hospital and field use were sent; and, with donations to the Grand Central Fair and for " Special Re- lief," were too moderately estimated at $600.
DIMOCK.
A Soldiers' Aid Society was formed at Dimock Corners, October 7, 1862. A box soon filled, and valued at $37, was sent to the Sanitary Commission at Philadelphia. Nothing more was accomplished until after the reorgani- zation of the society and its connection with the W. P. B., July, 1863, when a new impetus was given to its efforts by Miss Walker and friends and the efficient officers-Mrs. Lyman Blakeslee, President; Mrs. Mason Ting- ley, Treasurer ; Miss Fannie Woodruff, Secretary.
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