Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-09-16
MOTHER HOLIDAYS WAR RECORD.
Her Eighty-Eighth birthday Celebrated
Nesferfny

There was JOYOUS time iu Disciples
Church. across the creek. last evening, the
affair being iu the nature of % surprise re
ccptiou tO Mrs Lydia Holiday. genillly
known as Mother Holiday The mem-
bcrs of Holiday Post. G.. a. r.. and also
the members of the Relief Corps were
present iu large numbers % 90 honor 90 the
occasion 10 was Mrs Holidays Ssth
birthday, and with a war record such as
she possesses. 10 was fitting that the occasion
should be observed with something more
than passing notice Mrs Holiday was
present In person, and none seemed %
more thoroughly enjoy the pleasant affair.
The programme was largely musical, and
after prayer by Rev Mr. Hopkins, came
well rendered solo by Mrs Oscar Seeley,
with choir accompaniment solo by
Mr. Seeley was next on the number, and
was loudly applauded, and after further
pleasing songs by Mrs. Sceley, w. b. Day
and others and the congregation as whole,
Prof. W. II Anderson presented Mrs.
Holiday. on behalf the Relief Corps with
a handsome easy chair, and Oscar Seeley,
on behalf of the Post, with gold thimble.
Grafton NaylOr also presented her with
choice flowers ON behalf of her many
friends Mrs Holiday was SO overcome
by the marked attentions, that she re
sponded but briefly, although feelingly. II
was Il pleasant occasion
Mrs Holiday, although nearly 10 years
of age, is remarkably active, both in body
and mind. and huently conversed with
REGISTER reporter who visited her coy
home on Eotl street yesterday afternoon.
She was born in Kent county, Delaware,
and in her earlier years lived with her
parents on a farm, but subsequently re
ag.faIH faaF
whence she came 10 Wheeling j6 years ago,
and at time when there were only two
houses on the other side of the creek
bridge. Mrs. Holidays father was a well
known mechanic, and was master work
man of the first bridge that crossed the
Susquehanna river She well recalls many
of the scenes and incidents Of the war Of
! 1872. and for many years took an active in
terest I'm politics, being AN out and
| out Wing i'm -ner sympdthies. An
! uncle of Mrs Holiday, James
| Wilson was one Of the signcrs of the Decla-
ration of Independence. The subject Of
| this sketch was married I'm lS!2, and had
| four sons and two daughters. One of the
sons. now dead, after whom Holiday Post
of c.. A. X is named. was John W. Holt
| day, who was Lieutenant Colonel of the Fif-
tecnth Virginia. Another, Wilson Holli-
]
was shot by a spy while ON Official business
/ for one of the Generals. Her two sons now
! living are Thomas Holiday, of Columbus,
Ohio, aud HarryC. Holiday, of Wheeling
! Her two daughters are Mrs. Henry HIg-
gins and Mrs. Sarah Conley.
! At the time the civil war broke out Mrs.
| Holiday became deeply imbued with the
spirit of the hour, and may have said 90
| here begun her war career by giving up all
her bed clothes 20 swell the welcome con-
/ tributions 20 the soldiers. Not content
with being so far away from the scene of
the conflict and about which She had feel
ings of such deep concern, She started soon
after 10 the age of 6O for the war, and al
though not "a regular army nurse, for many
months did practically the same kind OF
work, and all as volunteer in the true
sense of the word She iustiuctIvciy
felt a call % the field as a duty
she owed 90 humanity. and the
wounds She healed. the pains She allevIated,
and the general suffering she aIlayed can
never be told. Carefully, assiduOuSly
and Systematically did She care for the vie
Tins who were dragged OF the field. With
but few interruptions She served through
out the war, and the good work She accom-
plished for suffering humanity can never
be forgotten Many a night Mrs. Holiday
remained out of doors all night tending "a
wounded comrade, and considering the
many exposures and privatOus of those
years, her present good health at such an
advanced age seems all the more remarka-
| bic. Well does she recall the sOrrOwing
scenes around the valley of Stony Creek,
/ the details Of which she relates with
singular accuracy. She remembers with
la good deal OF pleasure a
! big meeting of the army officers one day at
station between Stanton ana Winchester,
where many bands were cOngregated, and
when all the voices and Instruments went
up In the tune of "Old Hundred Seldom
/ in her life has she so felt the sweet I'M
spiration of music n was grand. And
| I'm that vast throng that was gathered on the
scene she was the only woman present
Mrs. Holiday believes she is still young,
and thinks too many people age fast on
account of sitting around, and Tuning and
frctting over imaginary Ills and aches, and
all the time thinking they are ON the edge
of the grave "ll there is anything hate
on Gods green earth" said Mrs Holiday,
lit is the growcr" Mrs Holiday has four
children. eighteen grand children and
twenty groa! grand children. and cOuSpi-
Cious at the gathering last cvcnngwas "a link
of the fifth generation in the person Of lit
tie Grcttd Turner daughter OF Richard
Turner Mrs Holiday has many friends
i'm the city who wish her many more years
NJ luurtfra.-