The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-06
During the Civil War, When Her
Entire fine was Devoted to
the Boys in Blue.
Her REPUTATION NATIONAL.
Before Her Death There Were
Five Generations of her Family
Living In Wheeling.

alluOu8u lLe haA event Att+4 49, %SAS
shadowed for several days, still the
knowing Of II did not lessen the regret
that was universally felt throughout
the community when the blow fell.
MIS-. Holiday became III about nine
days ago, and was from then confined
to her room. Her condition soon be-
came 80 serious that her family and
many relatives in this city were alarm
ed. DR.. John c. Hupp, her physician
OF many years, was called in, and did
everything that medical skill could
command to save her life. but without
laval, for she sank gradually and pass
ed away at s:15 o'clock Thursday
morning. Her death was painless.
Many of her children and grand-chil-
dren. most of whom live in Wheeling,
were at her bedside.
mother" Holidays was national
reputation, her work in the hospitals
and as a field unrse in the Union armies
in the civil war. having endeared her to
thousands Of the boys in blue. West
Virginia members of the G. A. R. when
attending the national encampments Of
the order. were always asked by veter-
ans from other states, who had known
mother" Holidays mInistrations
years ago, as to her health. Until ex-
IRENE old age made 1t impossible. she
was frequent attendant at meetings
OF the woman's Relief Corps, Of which
she was prominent member
Not alone as famous army nurse
was this estimable woman known in
her home community. She was dlstin-
guishcd. too. as the oldest person living
in this city and section of the country.
Only few weeks ago her ninety
seventh birthday was celebrated, and at
that time she was in fairly good health.
Until week ago she was at work on
crazy patch" quilt which was intended
to be ratified by the woman's Relief
Corps Of Holiday Post, G. A. r., at an
approaching entertainment. That un-
Finished piece OF work by woman Of
such advanced age will now become OF
inestimable value.
The arrangements for the funeral
have not been completed, but 1t viii oe-
cur Saturday afternoon at 3 O'Clock,
and probably from the home of her son.
Mr. Harry c. Holiday OF 1880 Eon
street, where the deceased made her
homo. A meeting OF the old soldiers
win be held to-day for the purpose of
arranging the details of the funeral,
and the palIbearers. 1t is already deter
mined. are to be six Union veterans. 1t
was at first Intended that six Of Mrs.
Holidays grandsons would act in this
capacity. but they gracefully retired at
the earnest request OF the soldier boys,
who have come to know Mother" Hol-
lIday as one of themselves.
Mrs. Lydia W. Holiday was born In
the state OF Delaware, September Is,
1902, her maiden name being Lydia
Wilson. In 1872 her parents moved to
what was then the northwest border of
civilization on this continent, the state
of Ohio, and settled at Freeport,
in Harrison county. about forty miles
from Wheeling. The Wilson family
crossed the mountains in wagon long
before the National road was thought
of by Henry Clay and It's other infuen-
tIal promoters. They crossed the Ohio
river near wellshurg. and thence drove
overland to Freeport. Here. in 1922,
when she was twenty years of age, she
married Mr. W. r. Holiday. In 1888.
1ir. and Mrs. Holiday came to Wheel
ing. Here. the husband engaged in
business. and at one time was surveyor
of the port. He died many years ago.
He was according to his son, Mr.. Har-
ry Holiday. the first or among the very
early subscribers to the Intelllgencer.
and the paper has entered their home
continuously since 1852.
1t was In the spring Of 1861, when
the dark clouds Of civil strife were DER
hanging the land, that Mother" Holll-
day began the work which secured to
her undying fame and the everlasting
gratitude of the soldiers Of the rcpub-
lie and their patriotic descendants. An
ardent Union woman, she felt that 1t
was the duty of every woman to do her
utmost in aid Of the national govern
ment. She first appeared among the
soldiers ut Camp Garlic. on the Island,
where regiments Of raw recruits from
the northern states were mobIlIzed pre-
paratory to the impending campaign in
the interior OF western virginia. Many
Of the soldier boys had few or no
clothes and the commIssary and quar-
termnster arrangements were made
auate. Seeing the condition Of affairs,
Mother" Holiday unselhshly stripped
her home Of It's furnishings In order
that the soldiers might not suffer priva-
ton. Soon, the sick and wounded be-
gan to arrive at Wheeling from the
front. and for time they were placed
In improvised hospitals at the sprigg
house, (now the Windsor and in the
Athaneum nnter a military prison In
which Confederate prisoners were con-
hned), and here Mrs. Holiday could be
found relieving the sutferlngS of the
sick and dressing the wounds OF others.
She also took the lead among the Union
women Of the city. in supplying nurses
and washerwomen. Later she went to
Washington, d. c.. as mn army nurse
but she porBistenuy refused any COM