|
RELIEF WORK and AID SOCIETIES
During the long weary
years of the war, those who went to the field were not the
only sufferers nor the only persons who devoted their
services and lives to their county. The heroism
displayed by the loyal women of the North as they labored at
home, in the hospitals and on the battle-field, proved that
they were not unworthy their soldiers.
Of the vast amount of work done by the fortunate ones
whose privilege it was to devote their moans and their
services to the care of the soldiers and
their families, there is no record save that inscribed in
the minds and hearts of a grateful and sympathetic people.
The real history of their service never has been, never can
be written.
Societies were organized in every town, village and
hamlet, in which the whole people joined in the unofficial
efforts in behalf of their stricken ones.
The first movement in Union County for the relief of
soldiers was in October, 1861, in response to an appeal of
the Governor made to the generosity
of all friends of the Union to contribute blankets and
articles of clothing for the men in the field—the Government
being unable to supply these goods in
such quantities as they were demanded. Accordingly,
committees were appointed in each township and the work of
collecting and shipping the required articles was pushed
rapidly forward.
To the citizens of Union Township is due the honor of
having taken the first stops in the county for the purpose
of rendering material aid and comfort to the families of
volunteers from their township. At a meeting held in
Milford Center, in November, 1861, there was appointed a
committee of one from each school district of the township,
whose duty it was to learn the necessities of such families
and to solicit and receive money for their use.
In pursuance of the proclamation of the Governor of
Ohio, issued Apr. 11, 1862, calling for donations for the
relief of the sick and wounded Union
soldiers, a largo number of the citizens of Marysville
assembled at the court house on Monday, April 14, and
organized a Soldiers' Relief Society, with
the following officers: Mrs. W. W. Woods, President;
Mrs. Ingman, Vice President; Miss Mary Coe,
Secretary and Treasurer; and Mrs. Pickett, Mrs.
Mary Cooper, Mrs. B. F. Kelsey, Mrs. J. W. Robinson, and
Mrs. S. C. Lee, Executive Committee.
Constitution of the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of
Marysville, Union Co., Ohio.
ARTICLE 1. This society shall be called the
Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of Marysville, Union Co.,
Ohio.
ART. 2. The officers shall be a President, Vice
President, Secretary and Treasurer, and the
committees—first, the Executive Committee; second, the
Purchasing Committee; third, the Committee on Supplies.
ART. 3. All persons contributing and assisting
with work and subscribing to the constitution are entitled
to membership in the society.
ART. 4. The President will preside over all the
meetings, executive and otherwise, and have general charge
of all the interests of the society.
Pg. 118 -
ART. 5. The Vice President will fill the
President's chair in her absence.
ART. 6. The Secretary will enroll the names of
members, keep a record of the meetings, the number of
persons present, make a report of each meeting of the
society, conduct the correspondence by order of the
Executive Board, and also act as Treasurer.
ART. 7. The Executive Committee will have the
custody, care and storage, with packing and forwarding of
all goods, they will solicit donations, will determine with
the President's advice the kind of work to be done by the
society and will give general oversight of the other
committees. They will also call public meetings of the
citizens when it is considered necessary.
ART. 8. The Purchasing Committee will make all
purchases for the Society and bring in their bills with a
written report each week.
ART. 9. The Committee on Supplies will
prepare work and distribute it properly, will give out work
to those willing to receive it at home, but unable to
attend, and will also see it collected, and bring in a
written report weekly.
ART. 10. The constitution may be altered and
by-laws adopted at any regular meeting of the society, by a
vote of a majority of those present, notice of the same
being given at a previous meeting.
ART. 11. Three members of the Executive Board may
constitute a quorum to do business.
Each committee will appoint a Chairman. Each
member will solicit donations whenever an opportunity
occurs.
By-laws adopted at the first annual meeting of the
society, held November 25, 1864.
1. That the society have an election of officers
at each annual meeting.
2. That the last meeting in November will be the annual
meeting.
3. That a quarterly report be made from the Secretary
and Treasurer.
About the time of the organization of the Ladies'
Soldiers' Aid Society in Marysville, similar societies were
organized in the various townships of the county.
Large sums of money and great quantities of supplies were
collected and sent forward for the soldiers. No better
outline of the work of these societies can be given than the
following summary of sanitary stores which were shipped from
Marysville during the last two weeks of April, 1862:
Blankets, 9; bed ticks, 1; bandages, 25 rolls; books,
6; butter, 25 pounds; comforts, 18; cushions, 73; clothes,
combs, crackers, cocoa; drawers, 71 pair; dried fruit, 25
packages; dried beef, 8 packages; dressing gowns, 12; eggs,
184 dozen; handkerchiefs, 60; ha, 400 pounds; jars of fruit,
82; jelly, 3 glasses; loaf sugar, 50 pounds; maple sugar;
mattress, 1; needle cases, 4; needles; pillows, 117; pillow
cases, 249 pairs; perpared chicken, 84 cans; paper
and envelopes, pens, pencils, pins, periodicals, pin
cushions; pickles, 1 barrel; quilts, 32; rice sheets, 179;
shirts, 209; socks, 69 pairs; slippers, 12 pairs; table
cloths, 4; towels, 233; tea cakes, 1 bushel; tapioca; wine,
1 bottle.
Few if any of the societies have left a report that
would satisfactorily exhibit the barest outline of their
efforts. But from the time of their organization until
the close of the war - when help was no longer needed - the
work was carried on with indefatigable vigor, and on a scale
proportional with the number of soldiers furnished by the
county.
As the war progressed, other and more public movements
for relief were inaugurated, in which Union County expended
$30,786 as a Military relief Fund, $39,591 as a Bounty Fund,
and $2,000 as a Veteran Bounty Fund - $72,390 in all.
This amount was raised by public tax and entirely outside of
the thousands of dollars donated in a private way by
individuals and aid societies of the county.
|
