The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-08
A Woman Who Served in
the Late War as a Spy.
Remarkable History of Eliza
beth Stiles.
Husband Murdered BY Guerillas.
Then She Servet the Union.

A Providence lady, who is mcmber
OF local G. A. X. Relief Corps, gives
the Gossiper a very interesting account OF
recent visit she paid 20 tho Woman
Relief Corps home at Madison, O. ono
OF the least conspicuous and most unas-
suming inmates OF the institution, she
saws, is Mrs Elizabeth w. STILES, who
has had an Cxperience probably not
another woman in this country can boast
She was born in East Ashtabula o.,
August 81. 1916. and her father was John
II. Brown, familarly known as "Corker
Brown. Miss Browns early life was not
very eventful. but rs she neared the state
of Young womanhood she became quite
noted for two mplishments-ono WAS
her success as a nurse, the other was her
ability 10 make cheese just little better
than others were able to make At the
age of 81 Miss Brown went 10 Chicago,
where she resided number Of years In
1916 she was married TO jacob stiles, and
thirteen years later thoy took up their
residence in ShawDeetown, Kan, whore,
in October 1862 Mr.. Stiles was murdered
at his own gate by bard of lGO gueril las
under command OF the famous chieftain,
Charles Quantrall.
The gler.llns came dressed in the blue
uniforms of Union soldiers after mid
night. and the color Ceceived the Union
sympathizers. They were taken bv sur.
prise. Mrs. Stiles had not yet retired,
but they got her husband out of led and
took him prisoner as far as the gate,
where their blooothirSty proDensit'es got
the better Of their Judgment and they
shot him down before the eyes OF his
frightened wife. who stood on the porch
and witnessed the murder. At the haIno
time another guerilla, with revolver in
his hand was ABOUT 10 shoot Mrs. stiles.
but Quantrall stopped him under threat
uf death. The widow was allowed Eor
liberty, hut thereafter was sorely persc-
crrted by sympathizers until her residence
in Shawneetown became absolutely un
safe A company of Union soldiers was
sent from the fort at Leayenworth TO o..
oort her and her children to the fort for
protection.
At one time when Mrs Stiles was
fenching school MT Shawneetown she and
n neighborng school teacher arranged n
picnic for their pupils. Before leaving
the villuge the pupils marched around the
liberty pole IN the village square, waving
the Stars and Stripes. A man rode up
and handed Mrs. Stiles note departing
without n word. The note informed her
that IL she allowed the scholars to repeat
the libcrty-pole parade she might expect
a coat Of tar and feathers liz was a
known fact that Mrs. stiles had aided the
Union i'm several Instances by little jobs
of detective work, which accounted for
the peculiar spite against her Ii YVES
not long after that she was called "a
Washington by "A letter from General
Lane, which WAS als) signed Y President
Lincoln. Senator Marsin of Missouri.
and "a company Of 15 others were about "a
start for washington und Mrs Stiles nc
coinpanied them. Upon arrival there, she
learnci that she was sent for 10 take a
place In the service as spy, and upon
her acceptance she received her instruc-
tions In few months she returned tn
Leavonworth for her children. Taking
them TO Washington sho placed two ~
them in school and took Ecr daughter
Clara with her in the detective service Of
the government. All through the Civil
war she was in almost constant service
and during the time did special work in
l9 different states and Canada irdving
the crude methods Of travel and the ex-
posuie 10 all kinds of weather for love OF