The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-10

ate chamber October second, 1866 (SiX-
teen years ago) and organized the Ladies
Memorial Association by the adoption of
a constitution and by laws prepared by
Mrs. Drury Lacy, Mrs Annie Busbee, and
Mrs H. W. Miller, assisted by George
w Mordecai, ESQ.,, and by the election
of the following officers, viz:
Mrs General L. OBJ. Branch, president;
Mrs. II. w. Miller, vice president; Mrs
Lucy Evans. second vice president; Mrs
Robert G. Lewis, third president;
Mrs. Drury Lacy, fourth vice president;
Miss Sophia Partridge, secretary; Miss
Annie Mason, treasurer; with the fol-
lowing advisory council: George w. Nor
decai, P. E. Pescud, H. w. Hustled, Will
liam Grimes, B. c. Manly and w r. Cox,
and their successors in office.
1t was in the mind of Miss Sophia
Partridge, lady distinguished for her
purity, refinement and sympathetic ma
ture, that the thought of organizing an
association for the re-interment and fu-
ture care of our dead braves first dawn
ed. and ii is to her influence and per-
sistent exertions, that the first Confed-
crate cemetery in the late Confederacy
Of which the writer has any knowledge,
was organized; and no mother ever
nursed her first born with the care she
gave to keeping the cemetery in good
order, and to making the Memorial As
sociation a success. She loved and
sympathized with every plan intended 20
alleviate the sorrows and pains of the
sick soldiers. during the war, and when
an improvised hospital was furnished by
the writer at "Nevill's'' church, near the
doing the best she could. Until the close
of the war, she was found In the hos
pitals, cheering and comforting the sick
and the wounded, and when these died.
she saw that boards with their names
were placed at the heads of their graves,
and thus were the names of many pre-
served. A suitable monument should be
erected to her memory, apd a special
committee appointed to adorn her grave
with sweetest and rarest flowers on
every anniversary.
HOW THE LOT WAS SECURED.
Having no lot and no money to buy
one, voluntary contributions were made
by the ladies', and Mrs Henry Burgwyn
and Messrs. George w. Mordecai. James
B. Shepherd, Francis Gillian, Paul G.
Cameron, P. F. Pescud, Father Nc
Namara and General Thomas l. Cling
man became life members by paying one
hundred dollars each. Besides these,
contributions were made by our citizens
generally, and many ladies became an
nual members by paying one dollar,
through the efforts of a committee com
prising some of the most charming maid
ems then known in this city. The late
Wy H.
loved and whose memory is, and ever
will be cherished by all who knew him,
and the writer were appointed to select
and secure a suitable lot. After devot-
ing an hour or two every day for sever
al weeks to a survey of the suburbs of
the city, the premises now occupied and
known as the Ladies' Memorial Cemetery
was agreed upon. This land was owned
by the late Henry Mordecai and this
gentleman knew that the writer had
for years, as a member of the City
Council, in vain advocated the necessity
for a larger and more suitable cemetery
than the old one on Hargett street, and
had insisted that one should be secured
and bcautifed by taxation. When, there
fore, in company with George W. Nor
decai, he asked Mr.. Henry Mordecai to
make donation of as many acres as the
ladies wanted and as an inducement for
such liberality agreed to raise a joint
stock company to purchase his land ad-
joining, and to convert it into a cemetery
and park, the generous Mordecai replied:
Mr.. Pescud, the Ladies' Memorial Asso-
citation are welcome to as many acres of
my land as they need for such a sacred
purpose. without any consideration, and
not only this. but concerning the enter
prise you refer to, and which has been
SO long on your heart, l Will aid you
to the extent of my ability in the price
of the land wanted for the purpose''
With the assistance of Col. w. E. An
derson, then cashier of the State National
Bank, the "Oakwood Cemetery Associa-
tion" was soon organized. Hence to the
Ladies' Memorial Association are our
citizens indebted for that most beautiful
and attractive park and cemetery, and to
the lamented George W. Mordecai, whose
abounding charity God only knows which
charity is only equalled by that of his