Part V. Grand Army Data --
Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic
[p. 812]
The society of loyal and patriotic women is said to have
had its origin in Portland, Maine, in 1867, under the name of
the Loyal Ladies' League. The first organized Department
was that of New Jersey, 1881, with eight subordinate Leagues.
Mrs. Carrie M. Burge, of Vineland, was the first Department President.
The following were the stated objects of the order:
"To unite with loyalty, love for one another; to practice
precepts of true fraternity of feeling toward all the sisters
of our
order, thus emulating the spirit that unites our fathers,
husbands and brothers; to honor the memory of our fallen heroes;
to perpetuate and keep forever sacred Memorial Day; to assist
the Grand Army of the Republic in its high and holy mission--aid,
encourage and sympathize with them in their noble work of charity;
to extend needful aid to members in time of sickness and distress;
to aid sick soldiers, sailors and marines, and do all in our
power to alleviate suffering."
Eligibility to membership required an applicant to be of
good moral character, and the mother or wife, sister or daughter
of an honorably discharged solder, sailor or marine who served
in the Union Army during the Civil War of 1861-1865. These requirements
differed from those of the Woman's Relief Corps, which organization
decided at its national convention in Denver, in 1883, to admit
to membership any loyal woman of worthy character.
On November 18, 1866, at a convention in Chicago, a National
organization was effected, and the name changed to
"Ladies of the G.A.R.," local societies to be known
as Circles. Mrs. Laura McNeir, Camden, New Jersey, was chosen
president. All loyal mothers and wives, sisters and daughters,
and all lineal female descendants--sixteen years of age or over--of
honorably discharged Union soldiers, sailors or marines and ex-army
nurses, of good moral character, were declared eligible to membership.
Veterans of that war may become honorary members.
The order now has, January 1, 1907, 37 departments, with
a total membership of 40,_96. The National President is
Elma B. Dalton, Winfield, Kansas; Secretary, Mrs. Julia M.
Gordon, Topeka, Kansas; Treasurer, Mrs. Ella S. Jones, Allegheney,
Pa.
The Department of Wisconsin was organized in 1893. It now
numbers 696 active members and 247 honorary--total
943. The names of the present department officers are as
follows: President, Mrs. Martha Showalter, Lancaster; Secretary,
Mrs. Sylvia Wheeler, Lancaster; Treasurer, Mrs. Emma Sonneman,
Sheboygan, 501 Wisconsin Ave.; Senior Vice President, Miss Lillian
Clark, Milwaukee; Junior Vice President, Mrs. Mary Clark, Milwaukee;
Chaplain, Mrs. Ethel Irish, Fond du Lac; Counselor, Mrs. Flora
Miller, Green Bay; Patriotic Instructor, Mrs. Dora Snyder, Oshkosh.
The following named ladies have been Department Presidents: Mary
A. Dix, Clara B. Sloane, Flora Miller, Lennie Grimes, Emma Wheldon,
Irene W. Jones, Martha Shoyalter, Kathryn W. Loomis and Dora
Snyder.
There are at present 23 Circles in Wisconsin.
Amount given by the order for the needy, from June, 1905,
to June, 1906, $18,672.35; turned over to Posts,
$3,610.05; memorial fund by the department, $969.82. They
hold their department and national conventions at the same times
and places with the annual encampments of the Grand Army of the
Republic.