The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-06-29

ana 4 MaA no more treasure
The hopes that are in vain
-GOuycmeur Morris Aladdin OBfien-
The Memorial 70 Mother 6iokeroyke.
The land is dotted with monuments.
In memory OF heroes Of the Civil war,
but the memorial to Mother Bicker-
dyke" is the first for a woman Of the
war.
The design. like the woman II is In
tended TO commemorate. Is strong and
simple. A wounded soldier on the
battlefield has been tenderly lifted into
a half-sitting posture by the army
nurse. while she holds a cooling drink
20 his parched lips. The figure Of the
soldier is admirably done. and there
is hne feeling in the figure Of Mother
Bickerdy ke-the plain. tender woman
whose mission II was 10 relieve suf-
fering soldiers wherever she found
them. Her hair is done up simply.
Her dress Is hat Of the army nurse.
but the feeling Of genuine tenderness
in the face and figure Of the woman
positively ennobles her. Il IS truly
that OF a mother benSing over her
wounded boy and miniatering to his
immediate wants.
The lifesize group rests on a gran
ite pedestal without ornament. and
only the words Mary A. Biekerdyke-
Mother. inscribed on the sides. The
simple lines Of this pedestal and its
shape lend much emphasis 10 the
group on top.
Mother ~Bickerdyke's biography.
strange enough. is missing from the
encyclopedias. while those Of many
women less famous are given. Mary
A. Bickerdyke was horn near Mt Yer
non. Knox county. Ohio. July Is. 1871.
Her mother died when she was only Il
months old. One OF her grandfathers
fought In the Revolutionary war. She
married young.
After some years OF married life her
husband died and left her with several
little children. When the war broke
out she was one OF the most active %
the women in Galesburg, H. TO work
for the soldiers at the front. and when
at one time a trainload Of supplies for
the army were sent from Galesburg 20
Cairo. she accompanied them as q del
egate. After the battle OF Belmont
she was assigned as a nurse 10 the
field hospital. where she was indefati-
gable IN her eXertions 10 relieve the
wounded soldiers. Her first sight Of
real battle. however. was al Fort Don,
clson,
The ~inadequacy OF me hospital Ia
cilitiea and the hospital supplies
shocked her and she made several
trips north Il arouse more interest In
these matters She inaugurated the
celebrated COW and her" mission.
through which she was enabled 10
send 100 COWS and 1000 hens TO the
hospitals Of the West
In the winter Of lSG3-s4 she went
home. but returned and took part IN
the establishment Of the Adams Block
Hospital Al Memphis. Tenn. This &C,
commodated about 6.c00 wounded men.
From this she became matron Of the
Gayoso hospital where more than 700
men had been brought IN after sher-
mans battle % Arkansas Post
She next took charge In Memphis
Of the smallpox hospital. which she
cleaned and renovated with her own
hands while nine men lay dead Of the
disease To the building, She followed
the Western armies through Vicks
burg Lookout Mountain. Missionary
Ridge and Chattanooga. and tended
friend and Zoe alike.
, She text accompanied sherman With
his 100000 men in their march TO the
sea she helped care Tor the 1900
men Who we're wounded az Resaca.
! Kingston. Now Hope, carsvllc. Al
{ toona. Dallas and Kenesaw Mountain.
d when sherman cut his base she went
. north. and raised great stores % SAM
tary supplies Tor the soldiers.
N when Sherman entered Savannah
she sailed south TO take care OF the
liberated Union prisoners of Whining.
ton. she pursued her mission AZ Beau.
fort Averysboro aud Bcntonvme. and
az the request OF Gen. Logan aud the
Fifteenth Army Corps she marched
! into Alexander with the army.
Then when the last battle was
fought and all the soldiers marched ia
lrevioW at Washington. she Was one Of
the most noted hgures In the great
, parade.
After the Rebellion she went bach
, 10 her home and lived with Der son
Prof Bickerdyke. az Russell. Kan
But she never lost her interest Ia the
old soldiers. and she devoted much Of
. the time In her late years Il attend
/ ing to their wants In various homes
r and In aiding them 70 secure pensions
The Soldier spirit.