This auxiliary society of the Grand Army of the Republic
has its origins at Portland, Maine, in a local organization there
in connection with the G.A.R. Post, in 1869. The first state
organization was perfected at Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in April,
1879, when it took the name it now bears. In 1881 the Society
received the official recognition of the G.A.R., and they then
took the full title, "Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to
the Grand Army of the Republic." The first national gathering
was at Denver, Col., July 25, 1883. It was there decided that
all loyal women, whether of kin to soldiers of the war or not,
should be eligible to membership. Those positively in favor of
admitting only women of the families of soldiers withdrew and
organized the "Ladies Loyal League," now "Ladies
of the Grand Army of the Republic."
The plan of organization is much like that of the G.A.R.
Local societies are called corps; state associations, departments;
and the national meeting a convention. Department and national
annual meetings are held at the same times and places with those
of the G.A.R.
The objects of the society are: "To specially aid and
assist the Grand Army of the Republic and to perpetuate the
memory of their heroic dead. To assist such union veterans
as need our help and protection, and to extend needful aid to
their widows and orphans. To find them homes and employment,
and assure them of sympathy and friends. To cherish and emulate
the deeds of our army nurses and of all loyal women who rendered
loving service to their country in her hour of peril. To inculcate
lessons of patriotism and love of country among our children,
and in the communities in which we live. To maintain true allegiance
to the United States of America. To discountenance whatever tends
to weaken loyalty, and to encourage the spread of universal liberty
and equal rights to all men."
The first national president, in 1883, was Mrs. Florence
Baker, Maiden, Mass. The present officers are: President, Mrs.
Carrie R. Sparklin, St. Louis, Mo.; Secretary, Belle C. Kimball,
St. Louis, Mo.; Treasurer, Charlotte E. Wright, New Haven, Conn.
There are at present 35 departments, comprising 2,648 corps,
with 126,224 members. There are 109 corps in the states where
there are no department organizations. Up to June 30, 1906, relief
in the amount of $3,057,444.97 had been extended in aid of old
soldiers and their families.
The Department of Wisconsin was organized at La Crosse, June
26, 1884. Seven local corps were there represented,
and, if the records are correct, there were eleven voting
members present. The order has grown steadily since then, and
now has 149 corps in Wisconsin, with 6,796 members.
Up to June 30, 1906, relief had been expended amounting to
$125,609.56 in money besides several thousands dollars
worth of clothing, furniture and food. Of this amount, $16,039.54
was for Wisconsin Veterans' Home, $7,823.86 for assistance in
the Spanish-American war, and $708.89 for the Galveston flood
sufferers. The order has done much toward the building and comfortable
equipment of the cottages, halls and hospitals at the Wisconsin
Veterans' Home at Waupaca, and in the way of patriotic instruction.
The present officers, January 1, 1907, are: President, Kathryn
Bleyer, Milwaukee; Senior Vice President, Kate B.
Walker, Oshkosh; Junior Vice President, Frances Rood, Peshtigo;
Secretary, Caroline H. Bell, Milwaukee; Treasurer, Harriet I.
Purcell, Beloit; Chaplain, Helen Grimm, Hartford; Inspector,
Amanda Wettig, Milwaukee; Instituting and Installing Officer,
Amanda Wheeler, Fond du Lac; Patriotic Instructor, Jennie B.
Wright, Kilbourn; Counselor, Cora M. Evans, Waupaca; Press Correspondent,
Lettie F. Withers, Eau Claire.
The following named persons have been presidents of this
department: Harriet Dunlap, Lodi, 1884-85-86; Gertie
Rogers, Milwaukee, 1886-87-88; Caroline H. Bell, Milwaukee,
1888-89-90; Helen Holmes Charleton, Brodhead, 1890-91; Helen
M. Puffer, Monroe, 1891-92; Louise C. Williams, Oconomowoc, 1892-93;
Belle S. Hanover, Merrill, 1893-94-95; Elizabeth Skeel, Menomonie,
1895-96; Lucinda C. Burchard, Fort Atkinson, 1896-97; Lettie
F. Withers, Eau Claire, 1897-98; Libbie C. Baer, Appleton, 1898-99;
Bell W. Bliss, Baraboo, 1899-1900; Myra C. Grinnell, Beloit,
1900-01; Harriet L. Welton, Madison, 1901-02; Cora M. Evans,
Waupaca, 1902-03; Celesta L. Edwards, Oconomowoc, 1903-04; Ellen
P. Weatherby, Schullsburg, 1904-05; and Fannie McAllister, Omro,
1905-06.
The time and place of annual meetings correspond to those
of the Grand Army of the Republic. The next national
convention will be held at Saratoga, N.Y.; that for the department
of Wisconsin, at Oshkosh.