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 71
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In the fall of 1864, the receipt of $10, per Miss Walker, gave the West Herrick Society the means, six weeks later, to send a box principally of dried fruit and delicacies, valued at $27.84, and a firkin of pickles. The reception of these was promptly acknowledged by Mrs. Plitt, of the W. P. B., who added :-
" I think Susquehanna will be the banner county in her efforts to relieve the sufferings of our soldiers in this hated rebellion. She never tires. Her loyal women are always on the alert, always doing, always giving."
The Welsh citizens of Herrick, Clifford, and Gibson contributed liberally to societies in these townships, but no aid society was established by them as a community ; this, among those accustomed to work as a distinctive body, is another mark of the delightful oneness of feeling that characterized co- workers for the Sanitary.
UNIONDALE.
September, 1863, the ladies in the southeast corner of Herrick contributed generously to a box sent from Montrose. In the fall of 1864, the Uniondale Aid Society reported, Mrs. M. A. Arnold, president and treasurer ; Mrs. D. D. Reynolds, secretary, and Mrs. M. Dimmick, Mrs. S. Miller, and Mrs. L. Coleman, solicitors.
They contributed at least one box of bedding, clothing, and dried fruit, valued at $32, and $7.50 cash, which was returned to them, with $10 from Miss Walker's fund, to be doubled. The total estimate is given at $54.70.
Through the winter, storms and bad walking made meetings of the society impracticable, but the secretary wrote, " The little we can do we will do, thanking God we are permitted to labor in so worthy a cause."
JACKSON.
Before a soldiers' aid was organized here, contributions to the value of $75 to $85 had been forwarded for the comfort of soldiers. The first regular meeting was held August 1, 1863. During the next ten or eleven months, the society, small in the beginning and growing smaller, still were able to send to the W. P. B. four barrels, three of them filled with fruit, wine, bedding, and clothing ; one with vegetables.
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APPENDIX.
An ice-cream and strawberry festival was held at the hotel in Jackson, on the afternoon and evening of the fourth of July, 1864, the net proceeds of which were $105. Of this sum the society appear to have made good use within the remaining ten months of their organization, as the total amount of consignments for the benefit of soldiers is given thus : eight barrels, one box of canned fruit, one keg of strawberry wine, one keg of blackberry syrup, one tub of butter-the whole valued at $313.82. The members of the society were separated by distance and met only once in two weeks, and sometimes not as often. The officers were : Mrs. James A. Bingham, president; Mrs. S. M. Foster, corresponding secretary ; Miss Jane Nason, recording secre- tary ; Mrs. G. W. Slaysman, and Mrs. E. Tucker, treasurers in succession.
The North Jackson Aid Society, Mrs. P. Hall, secretary, is incidentally mentioned by the secretary of the former, but no, account of its operations was ever made to the associate manager for the county.
GIBSON.
The Soldiers' Aid Society of Gibson was organized the 8th of August, 1863, with the following officers : Mrs. Ellen Whitney, president; Mrs. W. T. Read, vice-president ; Miss O. D. Tuttle, secretary ; J. G. Stiles, trea- surer ; directors, Mrs. C. P. Hawley, Mrs. S. S. Ingalls, Mrs. C. P. Edwards, Miss Eleanor Read. On the 12th of September, 1863, a box was made ready for the W. P. B, and another on the 3d of October following. Their con- tents were : Feather pillows, woolen sacks, handkerchiefs, hop pillows, one comfortable, six double gowns, pillow cases, shirts, drawers, lint and linen rags, 34 lbs. dried currants, 1 bushel of apples, 8 bottles of blackberry cor- dial and raspberry vinegar, besides various packages of dried fruit. It is unfortunate that no cash estimate was made of the value of these boxes be- fore forwarding. Material for clothing had cost . $56 22
Gibson sent to the Great Central Fair one box valued at $100 and cash $7 45 107 45 ·
South Gibson sent a box to the Christian Commission, Sept. 1864. Gibson Hollow and Gibson Hill, a box to the same, November, 1864 23 00
Cash raised by subscription and sent to the Sanitary Commission, December, 1864 75 50
Collection on Thanksgiving Day, sent to the Am. Union Com. for refugees 45 40 . Net proceeds of a festival, divided equally between the Sanitary and Christian Commissions . 205 24
Total
. $512 81
[We are indebted to the pen of Hon. U. Burrows for intelligence of what was done for suffering soldiers after the disbanding of the Aid Society.]
In addition to his liberal cash subscription, George H. Wells sent one bbl. of onions.
Mrs. Burrows, Mrs. Read, Mrs. Ingalls, Mrs. Edwards, and Mrs. Kennedy were engaged in preparing the last box when they received $10 from Miss S. M. Walker from the fund entrusted to her. This furnished them flannel, which they made up and forwarded to the Commission as above. Without estimates of a portion of the supplies, we have contributions to the value of more than five hundred dollars.
There is no common business centre in Gibson, business being distributed among four different places in the township; this was "one cause that em- barrassed the successful and regular working of a soldiers' aid society, and made the efforts of the people somewhat spasmodic."
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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
LATHROP.
"The ladies of Lathrop organized a soldiers' aid, August, 1863, in re- sponse to an appeal from the associate manager in behalf of the Sanitary Commission. From a letter to her written by the secretary we are permitted to quote :-
" We find a great amount of opposition, but the greatest difficulty is the unaccountable ignorance of many respecting the workings of the Sanitary Com- mission. We are met on all sides with, 'The soldiers will never get it; 'twill be devoured by surgeons and nurses ;' then follows an account of 'boxes lost,' etc., which, of course, were sent to friends in regiments. If we can succeed in making them understand the difference between the U. S. Sanitary Commission and local ' Aid Societies,' we can do much more."
The officers first reported were : Mrs. Thayer, president (afterwards Mrs. I. A. Newton took her place) ; Mrs. Silvius, treasurer; Mrs. George Bron- son, secretary ; Mrs. J. M. G. Baker, corresponding secretary. The latter made strenuous exertions to secure the interest of others in the cause ; and not wholly without success, as the report of supplies forwarded attest. Un- like many other societies, their efforts seem to have been far more abundant during the last six months prior to July, 1865, than at any previous time. This was owing, in part, to the encouragement received from the avails of the oyster supper given by the society at the house of Captain Lord, March 2, 1865. Notwithstanding a storm prevailed at the time, the receipts were $125.13. Not long previous they received, per Miss Walker, $10, and, before the close of their work, another $10, " to be doubled." With a list before us of the articles sent to the Commission, we are constrained to feel that the total estimate, $134.22, is much too low. Besides five barrels of vegetables, three firkins of pickles, five gallons of spiced cabbage, one ham, five quarts prepared horseradish, a half bushel oats, 4 lbs. hops, 7 lbs. old muslin, reading matter, and one or more small packages, there were 40 lbs. dried berries and peaches, and 8} lbs. dried apples included with the consign- ments, which were even more directly the result of the industry of the ladies at their meetings, viz., 17 shirts, 5 pairs drawers, 4 quilts, 9 pairs socks, 1 dozen linen napkins, 8 towels, 5 pairs pillow cases, 2 pillows, and 2 hop pil- lows, 38 thumb stalls, 15 pads, and arm slings with splints, 15 lbs. bandages, 2 lbs. lint, 3 handkerchiefs, 1 cushion.
'The operations of the society appear to have been in the central portions of the township, and principally along Horton's Creek.
LENOX.
The organization of the Glenwood Soldiers' Aid Society, November 26, 1863, and its successful operation, may justly be considered due to the efforts of Miss Jessie Hartley, its secretary. Miss Sarah J. Hartley was chosen president, and Miss C. Conrad, treasurer. At the first three or four meet- ings only five or six ladies were present; but, at the fifth meeting, nine convened. The former number was the average attendance. Two ladies volunteered to go through a portion of the township of Lenox and solicit contributions, the result of which was a consignment to the W. P. B., De- cember, 1863, of which the modest valuation was less than $20. Several per- sons refused to assist, with the plea that the articles sent would never reach the soldiers, but be appropriated dishonestly. In view of this the secretary thought that " perhaps their misgivings might be allayed through the medium of the county papers, if some persons in possession of facts concerning the benefit done by other aid societies of our county should consider the matter of sufficient importance to publish them."
In reply to this the associate manager published, in the ‘ Montrose Repub- lican', statements that were considered satisfactory. The ten members of the
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APPENDIX.
Glenwood Society were able, on the 23d of June, 1864, to forward the second barrel of supplies, when the treasurer reported forty cents remaining in the treasury-" all our capital-for we have nothing beside; not the smallest scrap of anything whatever was left ;" and yet, one month later, the forty cents had swelled to forty dollars. The latter constituted the proceeds of an oyster supper given by the ladies. Often was there " not a scrap left," after consignments by other societies ; but faith and works soon brought in a new supply for succeeding demands.
In the fall of 1864 the Glenwood Society received $10 from the fund dis- bursed by Miss Walker, and, in acknowledging it, a just tribute was paid to her as a laborer in the cause " in which," says the secretary in a letter to Miss W., "you have and are still performing a part unparalleled, as far as I have known, in noble results."
For some months previous to October 28, 1864, no meetings had been held, and yet, up to that time, having been in receipt of only $66.70 in cash, the society had forwarded 117 lbs. dried apples, 52 lbs. dried berries, cur- rants, etc., 3} bushels of green apples, 124 lbs. butter, 5 gallons pickles, 12 cans fruit, etc., 10 gallons blackberry brandy (valued at $40), 1 bottle wine, besides the bedding, socks, etc., making a total value of about $90 00 .
Cash sent to G. C. Fair, per Mrs. F. P. Grow 24 00
Individuals in the northern part of Lenox, who at one time contributed, through Mrs. Lucy Z. T. Oakley, to the Glenwood Aid Society, had, at length, March 27, 1865, an organization of their own, by the distinctive ap- pellation of the "Lenox Soldiers' Aid ;" of which the following report was given, not long afterwards, in the columns of the ' Republican' :---
" We had almost concluded our numbers too small and scattered, most of whom had sent forth their companions, brothers, and sons, thus leaving them to struggle alone in rather destitute circumstances. But the call to aid our released prisoners could not be passed by without notice. The cause being earnestly presented before the community, an appointment was made for the organization of a society for this object. Accordingly, on the 27th March, a few wended their way to the 'Old Red School House,' and, after calling to order, made choice of Mrs. D. E. White, president ; Miss Cordelia Tingley, vice- president ; Mrs. Lucy Z. T. Oakley, secretary ; Miss J. Lord, treasurer ; appointed Saturday, April 1, for our next meeting at the house of D. C. Oakley. At this meeting committees were appointed to visit and solicit funds. Thus we have met each week, at places designated by the society, and have had our hearts cheered as our numbers have doubled every meeting. We have, with united effort, been able to fill one barrel containing various articles, such as shirts, drawers, socks, slippers, handkerchiefs, pillow, pillow-cases, thread, bandages, 1 quilt, sheet, combs, housewife, dried apples, dried berries, dried beef, sugar, tea, butter, onions, and a quantity of reading matter. Also, one keg of pickles ready for use. All valued at $45.20."
One barrel, one box valued at about $15, and one keg of pickles-the sum total of their consignments (as the work of the Sanitary Commission closed in July) does not represent the value of their organization to themselves or to others. It was a self-sacrificing effort made by a scattered community, at a season when their energies were taxed to the utmost for the erection of a house of worship. The secretary wrote respecting those connected with the Aid Society : " Many that have contributed to it were really needy them- selves ;" and of their church enterprise: "Having always met in a school- house, and that becoming very poor, we need, greatly need, a house more comfortable." This was not the only instance in the county where a neigh- borhood struggling to secure a comfortable (not luxurious) house of worship. supplemented their work with effort for the Sanitary Commission ; but of such spirits are most good enterprises begotten.
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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
LIBERTY.
In response to Miss Walker's appeal, July, 1863, for organized effort here, the following reply was given by a lady who contributed through the societies of other townships, prior to the formation of a soldiers' aid in Liberty :-
" I would gladly do anything I could, but the people here are so friendly to the South, they will not hear nor do anything."
This is not quoted to revive old prejudices, but to state the facts as they existed at the time ; it was not only in Liberty, but in other localities, such a state of things existed, to ignore which, would be to hide from view the greatest difficulty then encountered by the loyal women in prosecuting their work through the U. S. Sanitary Commission. Then, too, they had their own griefs. It was painful to see a man drafted, being unable to serve, and yet being obliged to pay his $300 to stay at home; but there were women who could bear to see this even in their own families, and still exert them- selves for those who had been able to answer their country's call. It is only by considering these and kindred circumstances, that one can rightly esti- mate the sacrifice made by the ladies in sustaining a soldiers' aid society.
Miss Walker, accompanied by three officers of the Montrose Aid, had met the ladies of the township at the Baptist church, and incited them to organize, January 13th, 1864, under the name of Lawsville Center Aid. Mrs. D. Stanford was elected president; Mrs. Garry Law, vice-president ; Miss Edna M. Cowles, treasurer; and Miss M. A. Smith, secretary.
After the third meeting the secretary wrote of very "good success," and as if sanguine that an increase of interest would be felt in their undertaking ; but "the members were widely scattered, and it was with much difficulty they could get together. Then came reports that the Commission did not make good use of the means put in their hands. Mrs. Stanford was energetic and faithful, but there was very little responsive activity. The last effort that she made to get the society together, only two members met with her, and the notice of the meeting was read in the Baptist and Presbyterian houses." With all this array of discouragement, it is gratifying to know that the organization was far from being non-efficient. Though the cash capital amounted, in all, to but $41, of which $9 were returned to the asso- ciate manager at the close of its operations, $32 were so judiciously invested as to be much more than quadrupled in the value of the supplies forwarded by the society. The first box was not estimated, but it must have been quite valuable, containing 9 quilts besides 60 minor articles. It was sent April 7th, '64. The next, July 9th, following, was valued at $39.84. A firkin of pickled cucumbers was forwarded, November 26th, and one of sauerkraut, December 30th, '64. The last box was filled and sent February 17th, 1865, after which the society appears not to have been in active opera- tion, though it was not formally closed until July 1st of the same year. The total estimate then made of their contributions was $135. Remnants were made into garments for the freedmen.
RUSH.
During the fall of 1863, Mrs. Dr. Dunham called upon a number of the ladies of Rush to notify them of the appeal of Miss Walker, for their united efforts for the relief of suffering soldiers; but, it was not until the 16th of February, 1864, that the ladies met and effected an organization. This was at the residence of N. Granger, Esq., and Mrs. Dunham was called upon to preside, after which the following officers were elected : Mrs. Amos Sher- wood, president; Mrs. Loring Hewen, secretary ; Mrs. Norman Granger, treasurer ; Mrs. C. Perrigo, solicitor for the north district. The other dis- tricts, outside of the one in which the meeting was held, were not represented. The resolutions then adopted show that after-meetings were held upon a dif- ferent plan from that in Montrose and some other places, where a room was
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APPENDIX.
secured for the purpose, and no one was burdened to furnish a supper for the workers. The afternoon and evening of every alternate Thursday was appointed for their meetings, which were to be held from place to place upon invitation, according to the 2d resolution which concluded thus : "Our hos- tess shall give us nothing but plain, soldiers' fare for our supper, and no re- freshments in the evening." A " mite" was required of every person coming in, in the evening ; and the sum thus raised was not inconsiderable, as the young people understood that play and not work was intended.
During the first nine months after organization the society received, in cash, $194.72 ; and the estimated value of the consignments to the W. P. B. for the same time was $313.20.
These included only the results of labor in 1864.
In March, 1865, another valuable box was forwarded, the cash receipts through the winter having greatly increased ; and just two months later the last consignment was made, the last " mite" collected, (nearly $300 being the total amount of cash receipts) and the work was closed up by sending $51.75 (the balante in the treasury) to the Freedmen's Fund at the Am. Baptist Home Mission Rooms, Nassau Street, N. Y. This, or a similar, disposal was made of the funds remaining with other soldiers' aid societies upon their regular disbanding.
The total contents of the boxes filled during fifteen months bear testimony to the activity and patriotism of the ladies of Rush. Besides 4 firkins of pickles, 26 gallons blackberry syrup, 118 lbs. dried fruit, 36 cans of fruit, 12 bottles horseradish, with smaller quantities of various articles of diet, there were made or contributed 73 pillows and 19 cases, 8 sheets. 6 bed quilts. 59 shirts, 40 prs. drawers, 44 prs. socks, 24 dressing-gowns, 34 towels, 119 hand- kerchiefs, 2l arm-slings and pads, 114 needlebooks and "housewives," and several miscellaneous articles of clothing, and large quantities of old linen bandages, and reading matter accompanied them.
EAST RUSH.
Prior to September, 1864, the ladies near Eddy church had attempted something in the way of a separate organization, Miss Maggie Bertholf, president, and Mrs. Frederick Fargo, treasurer and secretary, but their contributions found their way to the Women's Penn. Branch, via Montrose and Dimock Aids, and were not estimated. Mrs. Fargo herself, a soldier's wife with three children, wrote of their discouragements :-
" Our place is so full of soldiers' wives and widows, and fatherless children, that it is hard to do much, but we will try to do more, though it is my daily prayer that our labors may not be needed long, but that the brave soldiers may soon return to be nursed by wife, sister, or mother."
On the 30th of November, 1864, encouraged by the receipt of ten dollars per Miss Walker, and by the helping hand of the minister of their parish, the ladies had a meeting at Mrs. Fred. Fargo's, and reorganized by electing Mrs. James Fargo, president; Mrs. J. More and Mrs. Fred. Fargo, vice- presidents ; and Mrs. J. M. France, secretary; the N. E. corner of Auburn being represented. This society continued in operation through the winter, and sent to the W. P. B. bedding, clothing, dried fruit, scrap-books for con- valescents, etc. etc., amounting to more than $80. They sent to the Chris- tian Commission $10 cash.
The associate manager of the county, and three representatives of dif- ferent aid societies, visited this society at the house of E. W. Gray, in East Rush, February 11th, '65, encountering drifts that made the effort perilous ; but it was rewarded at last by a welcome from a group of ladies earnestly at work for the soldiers. The society sustained itself under difficulties that would have wholly disheartened members less enterprising and patriotic.
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HISTORY OF SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY.
JESSUP.
The party mentioned in the foregoing paragraph, proceeded to Jessup, where, two hours later, they found a company of forty gathered at the " Bolles school house," where needles and shears were busy. On the previous even- ing a mite society, tributary to the aid, was held in the same township, and twenty dollars were collected and added to their treasury.
In four months the Jessup Aid had forwarded three consignments, and the fourth was ready.
The associate manager read here, a letter from Mrs. Grier, of the Commis- sion, relative to the statements afloat derogatory to its reliability. The reply made by Miss Ellen Mitchell to an inquiry respecting her own observation of the workings of the Commission, was also given. Here we quote the account given by one of the visitors : "Then followed a novel 'tea-taking.' Since the days when we went, basket in hand, making our early essays up the Hill of Science, we had not feasted in a school-house ; and, not then, as now, with the bountifully spread table enlivened by the contents of the 'hissing urn,' or its less pretending substitute. By the way, why would it not be well for all the district societies to follow the plan of Jessup-meet in the forenoon, have a picnic dinner, and spend the whole day, once a fortnight ?"
The mite society of Jessup was organized Jan. 15, 1864, by electing L. B. Pickett, president ; Edgar W. Bolles, secretary ; Fannie Cornell, col- lector; and Libbie Baldwin, treasurer.
For nine months this was the only effort made to obtain funds for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers ; but it was the most efficient one of the kind in the county, mite societies in almost every other instance, being simply auxiliary to regular aid societies. This society held eighteen meetings, at which the whole amount collected was very nearly two hundred dollars. ($199.15.) The last meeting was held April 7th, 1865.
The Jessup Aid Society was organized in the Bolles school house (District No. 4), October 28th, 1864, by the election of Mrs. Dr. Bissell for president ; Mrs. Sally Bolles, Cordelia Bolles, Mrs. Mary Wheelock, Mrs. Kate Olm- stead, Mrs. Amy Blasdell, vice-presidents ; Miss V. M. Chatfield, recording secretary and treasurer ; and Miss Jessie Bissell, corresponding secretary.
The society met weekly until Christmas, when they had prepared two barrels of clothing, dried fruit, etc., for the Sanitary Commission, and one firkin of pickles, which together were valued at $95.73. Their great suc- cess, in so short a period, was due to the fact that the mite society, after sending $72.64 to the Philadelphia Fair, had given into their hands $40; which, with an equal amount collected by E. W. Bolles on election day, (Nov. 8, 1864), and $10 from the fund held by Miss Walker, gave them advantages at the outset, enjoyed, it is believed, by no other society.
After New-Year's, 1865, the meetings were semi-monthly only, but by the 11th of March following, two more barrels were packed and forwarded to the Commission. The society then had thirty-eight members, and the secre- tary wrote : "There seems to be a lively, persevering interest manifested in its behalf. We have many a willing heart and hand to aid in this good cause."
It is but just, in writing of woman's work in our county during the war, to attribute much of its efficiency to the pecuniary aid furnished by the stronger sex. Indeed, in very many ways were we indebted to them, and in none more than as they made us feel their confidence in our success.
The greater part of the Fire Hill District contributed to the East Rush Society. Prior to Oct. 1864, Jessup had sent liberal supplies to the Mon- trose Aid, and also directly to soldiers, but no cash estimates were then made. But, aside from these, the cash donations from individuals, and from
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