The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-30
Her Affectionate Watchfulness
of Father, Husband and Son
Mourning, and Tears
and Love.
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS
Still Scattering Flowers Over
the Graves of Our Fallen
Heroes With Hallow
ed Memories.

IN The Gate City of yesterday was
given brief review of the Grand
Army of the Republic but nothing was
said of the Woman's Relief Corps for
the simple reason that the material
was not at hand from which a story
could be woven. There were no more
devoted friends to the union cause
than the women Of the land and thew
are entitled to their just need of com
mendation for their beautiful heroism
no less loyal and courageous than
those who bore the musket, and today
the women are always in the van
guard of all movements involving 10y
atty to God and the native land. The
Women's Relief Corps has done many
wonderfully helpful deeds for the up
lifting and advancement of the spirit
OF christianity and patriotism. First
at the birth and first at the tomb, she
most sincerely and affectionately
strews flowers about the graves of the
heroic dead and always active in
keeping the memories of the fallen
heroes alive.
In war she made many sacrifices at
hospitals located in cities and amiu
the danger and hustle of the raging
battlefield, fearless of the danger.
which surrounded her, always ready
and anxious to administer to the sick
and wounded and sooth the sick ana
suffering of the husband: and sons of
other women afar off Should nc.
such as these have a share of that
which is due to unseifish sacrifice,
heroism and devotion to cause?
Who of those who are accustomed
to attend reunions of the Iowa yeter-
ans. have failed to see Aunt Becky
Young in her simple and honest en-
thusiasm enlivened by the memories
of war;, as she mingled with aging
veterans whom she SO nobly favore,.
by her ministrations. Then there was
Mrs. Ann e. Harlan whose devotion
to the cause of patriotism made her
blessed among the battling soldiers
When the news of the battle of Shiloh
reached Washington, Mrs. Harlan pro-
cured from Secretary Stanton pass
to take herself and lady companion
though the lines of our army At St
Louis she Is said to have procured a
steamboat, large supply of sanitary
goods and field equipments and has
tened to the battlefield, at once enter
ing upon her humane work Mrs. Har
ian was the wife of the late venerated
James Harlan, United States senator
from Iowa for a long term of years.
She and her helpers were the only
civilians permitted by General Hal
leck to pass the lines and go upon
the backgrounds to minister to the
wounded. After affording all possible
relief of the wounded on the field,
Mrs. Harlan obtained permission from
1.-THE authorities to remove steamer
load of the wounded to Keokuk
where special hospital was prepared
for them During the remainder of
the war Mrs. Harlan was untiring in
her work for the welfare of the SOL
diers of the union armies. She was
among the principal promoters Of a
state sanitary convention which was
held at Des Moines in November
1863, at which state organization
was effected which worked through
the local aid societies in providing
sanitary supplies for the soldiers.
Then there was Mrs. Sarah Thomp-
T son of Keokuk, wife of the late VIM.
Y ~ 1oa
Thompson of this city, who joined
her husband and remained with him
and his regiment where she volun-
teered for hospital work in which she
became very efficient and after a time
returned to Keokuk where she con.
tinued her labor of love and devtGton
to great cause in the several hospi-
tails here She was noble-hearted
woman and was never happier than
when performing some generous Iced.
This trait continued with her all
through life. She died few years
ago, regretted by large circle OF
friends.
1t is claimed that Mrs. J. T. Fares
was the first Iowa woman to visit
army hospitals and administer to the
sick. Without time to thoroughly in
vestigate this claim, it cannot here
be stated as an absolute fact, neither
can it be justly doubted or denied, as
Iit is stated by good authority on mat
tiers pertaining to Iowa history.
Mrs. /, X. Fuller, wife of the chap
lain of the First iowa infantry regi-
ment. like Mrs. Thompson, went with
her husband to the field. was the first
army nurse appointed from the state
and is praised for the valuable serv.
ice she rendered.
J Mrs. Anna Wittenmyer was another