McNair, Carrie C. 1831 - 1896

MCNAIR

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/5/2021 at 16:07:06

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 26, 1896 P 3 C 2

IN MEMORIM.
Carrie C. McNair—A Sketch of her Life and Patriotic Services.
A brief notice of the death of this lady—one in whom the pioneer residents of Decorah felt a high degree of pride—was mentioned in these columns three weeks ago. Not until last week was there received such a biography as we cared to publish, or as her memory deserves. We copy from the Canisteo (N. Y.) Times, of March 12th:—
Miss Caroline C. McNair was born in Sparta, Livingston Co., N. Y., August 26th, 1831, and died in Canisteo, Feb. 18th, 1896.
She was the daughter of James and Abigal McNair, and the eldest of four children, one sister, Mrs. Sarah W. Borland, of Iowa, surviving her. When a child she removed with her parents to the state of Michigan where she received a fair education. At the early age of 15 years she began to teach school. At the age of 17 years she came to Canisteo. In 1859 she accepted a position as teacher in Decorah. Iowa, where her ability gave her much success, winning the respect of the entire community with whom she was a great favorite, allying herself with all the social interests of the place. When the war broke out her patriotic nature was stirred to its depth. When Company D. of the 3d Iowa, was ready for the front, she. on behalf of the tearful mothers and sisters of the boys, presented to the company the flag which now, tattered and riven, is one of the sacred relics of the war. Miss McNair was determined to go to the front in some capacity, and very early she saw that there would be a demand for nurses in the military hospitals. In Dec. 28. 186{?}, she received an appointment in the U. S. Military Hospital in St. Louis, where she continued until after the close of the war. Here she won the love and respect of all who knew her or were associated with her. Mr. Yeatman, president of the Western Sanitary Commission, said of her, “I have seldom met a young woman with better judgment and of more discretion.” To quote from a Decorah paper, on her return from service, “Talk about veterans. She is one of them in the grandest sense of the term. Many of the dangers the boys incurred she bravely faced. It was not hers to share the glory of the victorious field, nor incur the risk from deadly shot and shell, but she braved the equally deadly fever, small-pox, measles, and hospital malaria. For all the years of the war Miss McNair was one of the representatives of Winnesheik county at the front, sacrificing the best years of her early life in the patriotic service of her country.” She also performed hospital service in Nashville. Tenn. and in other places. On being relieved from hospital duties she was employed as City Missionary in the City of St. Louis, where she rendered useful and very successful service. For sometime afterwards she labored in this capacity in St. Paul, Minn. On April 1st, 1869, she was appointed matron of the Missouri State Lunatic Asylum, the duties of which she discharged to the entire satisfaction of the management. Soon after she received the appointment of Matron of the Institute for Deaf and Dumb, Fulton, Mo., where she discharged the difficult duties which the office involved with unqualified satisfaction and eminent success; relinquishing the position because of impaired health, and even then against the strong protest of the management, who finally reluctantly granted her resignation with words of the strongest commendation and with “undiminished grace.”
After an absence of 19 years Miss McNair returned to Canisteo in Oct., 1874, where, with the exception of short periods spent at health resorts, she has resided up to the time of her death. During these years she took a hearty interest in all the questions of the day, and in all agencies looking to the moral and spiritual interests of the community. She was an earnest worker in the W. C. T. U., at whose meetings she frequently read papers of a strong and practical character. She took warm interest in the soldier. She was ever ready to promote his good, and always felt at home and happy in G. A. R. reunions and assemblies. She was a member of the Woman’s Relief Corps and contributed largely to its efficiency and usefulness.
Miss McNair was an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian church of this village for many years. She was of a pious temperament, coining from a pious ancestry which for generations had been reared in the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian faith, to which she adhered with all the tenacity of her race. She loved the house of God and as long as strength lasted was always at the services for worship. She had a broad idea of what constituted usefulness. She believed in service being well done. She took a deep interest in missions, and gave of her means for the promotion of the cause of Christ, both at home and abroad.
Her life and tastes were public. She had conceived many plans during her latter years which she had hoped might be carried to completion, for the good of her fellow men and which she trusted would continue to serve when she had passed to her reward. Those were constantly upon her heart and would have been executed but for failing health. This was a great disappointment to her during her long sickness.
She was ardently attached to her friends and was always happy in their society. She was naturally of a sunny disposition, and throughout her long and painful illness she was cheerful, patient and brave. Her faith never faltered; she could say with Paul, “I know in whom I have believed." &c.
She lived much in the past. It was a noble past. It teemed with memories on which she loved to linger. During her long public life she had made the acquaintance of many interesting people, many of them officers of the army and navy. She had traveled widely and her happiest moments were when she found interested listeners into whose ears she poured the rehearsal of experiences few of her friends had known.
In the death of Miss McNair a remarkable life has passed from our midst. The influence of that life lives on, blessing the world. She has earned her rest. With Paul she could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day.” Lover of country and soldier of Christ, farewell. *•*

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows she is buried in South Sparta Cemetery in Livingston Co., NY.