The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-07
MOTHER
BICKERDYKE.
Brief Sketch Of the Woman the
Veterans Honor.
All Kansas Will Unite in Me-
mortal Service.
HER SOTH BIRTHDAY,
July 10, Set Apart by Com
mander BOtkin.
Spending Her Declining Years
at Salina.
[ER SOTH BIRTHDAY,

July 10 is the eightieth anniversary of
the birth of Mother NJ. A. Bickerdyke
and the veterans. their sons, wives and
daughters viii unite all over Kansas on
that day to do especial honor in general
memorial services.
A few days ago Department Com
mander Theodore Botkin of the Kansas
G. A. r. issued an order setting apart
July 10 as Mother Bickerdyke day.
and requesting all true Kansans, espec-
tally the old soldiers, to unite in doing
honor to her Every soldier has heard
of her and thousands know her and
love her. From the beginning until the
close of the war she took an active part
as a nurse and director of the hospitals
and sanitary departments. Next to the
general in command she had more
authority than any commissioned Off
Ger on the field She was fearless, en-
ergetic and untiring. Through Mrs.
B1ckerQyke.S veins flows the blood OF
the Knickerbockers and Puritans. Her
reat-gTandfather, Thomas Rodg-
ers, was a passenger on the MaydOwer.
Her grandfather, John Rodgers, served
all through the Revolutionary war, and
representatives of the family were en-
rolled in the war of 1912. Her paterna1
ancestry was no less illustrious, being
connected with the lovely Mary Bail,
who married Augustine Washington
and became the mother of the hero
who is aptly called the father of his
Mrs. Bickerdyke's mother died when
she was but an infant. She was cared
for by her relatives and soon develop
ed the sturdy physical, moral and in
tellectual stamina of her race. At 16
she was an untiring student in Oberlin
college.
In 1847 she was married to Robert
Bickerdyke, and two children were the
fruit of this marriage. James r. Bick-
erdyke, the eldest SON now fills a chair
in Kansas Wesleyan university, at Sa-
lima. With this son she now makes her
home.
In 1856 Mr.. and Mrs. Bickerdyke
moved to Galesburg, Ill, in the vain
hope of recruiting his health. He died
soon after.
At the breaking out of the rebellion
the women of Galesburg got together to
devise ways and means to help those
who had gone into the heat of battle.
Knowing of Mrs. Bickerdyke's efficiency
a a nurse, the women proposed tC~IOOk
after her children If she would devote
herself to the unfortunate soldiers
Her first work as nurse was in Cairo,
Ill She soon demonstrated not only
her ability to nurse, but to command
everyone with whom she came in con-
tact.
The systematic manner in which she
brought order out of chaos at the
Cairo hospital, and the fact that Cen
eral Grant stood behind her, paved the
way to an easy surrender 10 her author
ity wherever she went.
Kansas history, Kansas climate and
her boundless unoccupied prairies and
resources induced Mrs. BickerdyI1e to
make this state her home. She chose
Salina, which was then a town of but
1000 inhabitants.
Encouraged by the Kansas Pacific
railroad, she opened an eating house at
this place. Here the raids from hostile
indians commenced Citizens on the
frontier were butchered, their wives
carried off, their property destroyed, /
their homes burned. Winter was at
hand. The poor settlers could not leave |
Again Mrs. Bickerdyke came to the res
cue. She visited the settlements. To
see was TO act. The accompanying let |
ter shows the result:
Lieutenant w T. Sherman, u S. Army:
Fort Harker, Kan, Jan. IL, 1862
General: At the request of Mrs. Bick- |
erdyke, I have the honor to state that |
after a personal inspection by her on
the Solomon, Saline and Republican
rivers, she reports no less than 1000 1
people, destitute and without necessary /
substance. I know of no order author /
izing the issue of rations to these peO-
pie If authority is given for the issue I
it will prevent much suffering. I am, !
general. very respectfully your obedient !
servant,
EARNEST LEIB,
Captain U. s. Cavalry, Brevt. Lieuten- |
ant Colonel. Z. s. A.
In accordance with these representa- |
tons Gen. Sherman ordered an issue of I
ratiOns for one thousand people for four /
weeks. This was a God-send, but not /
enough. Mrs. Bickerdylxe went to 1
Washington and secured further aid /
and, through the assistance of Major |
the state government, which apprOpri- I
ated a large sum for the purchase of |
seed, corn, potatoes, etc.