Woman's Relief Corps

TROUT, KOON, COX, HILL, REEVES, FARR, ANDERSON, LOCKWOOD, MORAVEC, DAVENPORT, BRADLEY, HENRY, WILSON, JONES, RUTENBECK

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 3/7/2008 at 16:41:29

Jackson Sentinel
Centennial Edition, 1938

W. R. C. Formed Primarily To Aid Union Veterans
Mrs. Belle Jameson is Only Living Charter Member

Mrs. Belle Jameson, now living in Portland, Ore., and the widow of Reuben M. Jameson, member of Co. I, of the 31st Iowa Infantry, is the only surviving charter member of A. W. Drips Woman’s Relief Corps No. 253, which was formed April 23, 1892, as auxiliary to A. W. Drips Post No. 74, Grand Army of the Republic. Twenty-three women formed the Corps when Mrs. Hattie E. Marshall of Wyoming, a member of Iowa’s first Corps, instituted the society, with Mrs. Lou Trout as president.

It was made up not only of wives and close relatives of Union veterans, but of other patriotic women whose desire to be of assistance to the veterans and their families was none the less sincere because their own near kin had not served in the Civil war.

The primary object of the society was to “aid the Union veteran and his dependent ones; to cherish and emulate the deeds of our army nurses; to inculcate lessons of patriotism among our children; and to perpetuate the memory of our fallen heroes.”

When the local Corps was established, many of the men “who were young and stalwart in ’61 when they marched to the war away” were already losing their vigor. Need for assistance was keen. The government was unable to provide adequate help, and the women took up the cause.

Made up of active, earnest women, who spared no effort of labor in accomplishing their relief objective, the society raised funds through suppers, charity balls, sociables, and programs. The women bestowed their charities freely and constantly, albeit judiciously, and provided nurses, food, medicine, clothing and even money for these veterans, and their families.

They joined with the post in observance of Memorial Day, and donated $150 toward the erection of the Soldiers’ monument in Mt. Hope cemetery. As the ranks of the veterans thinned, they donated money to the post, and later assisted it by filling some of its official chairs.

They have not confined their gifts to the Civil war soldiers, but have raised money and have made other donations for use during the Spanish-American war and the World war. They send gifts each year to the Soldiers’ Home at Marshalltown, and to the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home in Davenport.

As the need for aid to the veterans decreased the women turned their attention more earnestly to the patriotic work of the order, and child welfare and Americanism are now stressed.

A. W. Drips Corps was proud to provide a state president for the Iowa department, when Mrs. Minnie Miller attained that high honor, filling the office with vigor and efficiency. The Corps has had other department officers, as well, and is one of the larger Corps in the department.

The present membership is 100. Mrs. Rose Koon is president, and other officers are: Edna Cox, senior vice president; Luella Hill, junior vice president; Dora Reeves, chaplain; Rose Farr, treasurer; Nell Anderson, secretary; Ella Lockwood, conductor; Evelyn Moravec, assistant conductor; Bertha Davenport, guard; Frances Bradley, assistant guard; Anna Dallager, patriotic instructor; Anna McPeak, press correspondent, and Blanche Bradley, musician. Color bearers are Lillian Henry, Olga Wilson, Lutie Jones, and Margaret Rutenbeck.