most of whom were Civil War nurses
Sarah E. Ingraham (1840 - after 1900)
Tecumseh, Johnson County, Nebraska,
later Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska.
Sarah E. Ingraham was a volunteer Civil War nurse. In the 1889 and 1890 National and Department WRC Journals, she was on the list of Army Nurses as a Volunteer. At the 1894 WRC Department Convention, "Mrs. Ingham" was one of a committee of army nurses.
She was born October 1840 in New York state. Her parents were both born in Ireland. She and her young son were in Johnson County by the 1870 census. She lived inTecumseh. In the 1890-91 Business Directory is "Ingraham S E Mrs, prop Dorner House." By the 1900 census she, with her son and family, was in Lincoln and her occupation seemed to be Boarding House.
Her husband was Zebulon W. Ingraham who was in Co. G, 83rd Illinois Inf. He enlisted August 21, 1862 and was discharged June 19, 1865. He seems to have died early, evidently before 1870. They had one son, Clyde, born October 1865 in Illinois.
No further information is known.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journals: 1890 7th, page 72. 1894 11th, pages 9, 110.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journals: 1889 7th, page 137. 1890 8th, page 164.
- Censuses: 1890. 1870 and 1900, thanks to William Wever.
- 1890-91 Business Directory: thanks William Wever.
Fannie O. Jackson (1833/35- 1924/25)
Central City, Merrick County, Nebraska
Fannie O. Jackson was a Civil War nurse. In the 1925 WRC Department Journal at the Chaplain's Memoriam was "No. 29 Fannie O. Jackson, Army Nurse, 90 years of age."
Number 29 would have been Buford WRC Corps of Central City.
She died by 1925.
No further information is known.
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Source:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1925 42nd, pages 90, 161.
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Miss E. M. King was a Civil War nurse. She served at the Benton Barracks Hospital, St.Louis.
This is one woman who was found in one of the standard books about women in the CivilWar. Published in 1867, it stated: "Miss E. M. King, of Omaha City, Nebraska, was a very faithful and excellent nurse at the Benton Barracks Hospital."
No further information has been found.
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Source:
- Brocket, L.P., M.D. & Mary C. Vaughan. Women at war. The Record of Their Patriotic Contributions, Heroism, Toils and Sacrifice During the Civil War, 1867, Ziegler, Philadelphia.
Elizabeth (Vowel) Mahle (1841-1908)
Brownville, Nemaha County, Nebraska
Elizabeth Mahle was a Civil War nurse. She was given recognition at the 1904Department WRC Convention as an ex-Army Nurse and "gave an interesting story of some of her experiences in the dark days of the rebellion." She went with her husband to Ft. Kearney, Nebraska, and served about two and a half years as a nurse. She received a pension. The 1909 Department WRC reported her death as that of another Army Nurse.
Elizabeth Vowel was born February 1841 in Indiana, of parents who were both born inGermany. Her husband said she was "of Putnam County, Indiana."
She married Gottleib Mahle (1836-1904) about 1860 in Jasper County, Iowa. They came to Nebraska in 1860, and he stated in 1882 that he had "assisted Bird Vowel to plant the magnificent orchard on what is now the Loveless farm". In 1882 he was a farmer, post office London in Nemaha County. London was a little village near Brownville. They had no children.
Mr. Mahle enlisted October 1862 in Co. C, Second Nebraska Cavalry as a Pvt, and served eleven months. Reenlisted October 1863 in Co. A, First Battalion Nebraska Cavalry as Bugler. Transferred January 1865 to Co. C, combined with First Regiment NebraskaVeteran Cavalry. Discharged July 1, 1866. He had been crippled from a horse falling on him when in service. This service was on the Nebraska frontier "to guard the mail routes and the settlers from the depradations of the savages."
Mrs. Mahle accompanied him to Ft. Kearney on his second enlistment, as a laundress. The frontier at that time was one of "hardships and privations where now is all peace andplenty", with vast herds of buffalo, and Pawnee, Cheyenne and Sioux Indians. She was soon appointed a nurse. "She cared for the sick and wounded soldiers, the members of the garrison being frequently engaged in bloody conflicts with the murderous bands of savages." Two vivid memories for her were the Plum Creek massacre, and the visit of Gen. William T. Sherman to Ft. Kearney in 1866.
When the Ben Thompson WRC Corps #130 of Brownville was instituted in January 1891she was the Senior Vice President, and was a faithful member. The 1909 WRC Department Journal said, "Her loving disposition endeared her to all."
Elizabeth Mahle died December 15, 1908.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journals: 1891 8th, pages 25, 62. 1904 21st, page 97. 1909 28th, pages 86, 117.
- Andreas, A. T, History of the State of Nebraska; 1882, published by the Western Historical Company, Chicago, page 1153. The prior page has a description of the remarkable Loveless farm which was formerly owned by Bird Vowel. Roster records.
- Kearney Hub, May 14, 1904, page 3. Thanks to Dave Wells.
- Census: 1900.
Anna Nasstram / Wasstran (died 1924)
Fremont, Dodge County, Nebraska
Anna Nasstram or Wasstran was a Civil War nurse. In the 1925 Department WRC Journal under Memoriam, Army Nurses, was "Anna Nasstram, Fremont." The 1924 National WRC Journal under Memorial Services, Army Nurses, listed Anna Wasstran, Nebraska. Which spelling is correct, or if either is, is not known.
She died in June 1824.
No further information has been found.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1925 42nd, page 139.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journal: 1914 42nd, page 228.
possibly Frances E. Parkinson, Madison, Madison County, Nebraska
Mrs. Parkinson was a Civil War nurse. She was one of a committee of army nurses appointed at the 1894 WRC Department Convention.
At this Convention a Frances E. Parkinson was a Delegate from S. P. Chase Corps #87 of Madison. This was the only place this surname was seen in this journal, though Mrs.Parkinson could have been one of those attending who was not one of the convention's voting membership.
No further information is known.
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Source:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1894 11th, page 110.
Rena Patterson / Peterson (died 1916)
Ogalalla, Keith County, Nebraska
Rena Patterson or Peterson was a Civil War nurse. The 1916 Department Journal said "Army nurse Rena Peterson, No. 149." The National Journal under Memorial Services - Army Nurses listed Rena Patterson, Nebraska.
No. 149 was the WRC Corps at Ogalalla, J. M. Thayer No. 149. Which surname is correct is not known.
She died before March 31, 1916.
No further information is known.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1916 33rd, pages 40, 150.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journal: 1916 34th, page 221.
Malinda / Linn A. Pratt (1835/36-1916)
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
Malinda A. Pratt was a Civil War nurse. "Army Nurse" is on her tombstone. The WRC Department Journals of 1910 and 1911 gave a few sentences about her experience, and the 1916 Department and National Journals listed Linn Pratt under Army Nurses' deaths. She served in Louisville, Kentucky, and Hospital No. 5, New Albany, Indiana.
She was born June 21 1835 at Fredricksburg, Ohio. She spent her early life in West Liberty, Ohio.
August 1, 1864, when she was 28, she was sent by the Christian Commission of West Liberty, Ohio, to Louisville, Kentucky. She served under Mother Bickerdyke until the close of the war. From Louisville she was sent to Hospital No. 5 at New Albany, Indiana.. One of the soldiers in the hospital under her care was Sidney A. Pratt of Co. E, 20th Connecticut Inf. In December she went home; he followed her and persuaded her to return to the hospital.
She married Sidney A. Pratt (1838-1892) on January 26, 1865. After the war they lived atWest Liberty, Ohio. July 1895 they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1886-7, S. A. Pratt was listed at 1227 P; in 1890 at 1806 P, Lincoln. By 1911 she was living with a sister in Ohio. At the time of her death, she was at Burkett, Nebraska, which was the name at that time for the Veterans Home in Grand Island.
They had one son, Harry M. Pratt, "well-known citizen of Lincoln." She was a member of WRC Farragut Corps #10 of Lincoln. On the tombstone are the names Sidney A., Malinda A., Mary Pratt (1866-1922) and Lillie Pratt (1889-1937). It is not known if they were daughters, as only the one son was listed in the obituary. Lillie, and perhaps Mary also, was active in WRC. Lillie Pratt was President of Farragut #10 in 1907, and Lillie E. Pratt is listed as a Charter Member and a Real Daughter of DUV Tent No. 7 of Lincoln.
Malinda A. Pratt died January 16, 1916 at Burkett (Grand Island). She is buried in Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journals: 1910 27th, pages 40, 119. 1911 28th,page 106. 1916 33rd, pages 40, 150. 1926 42nd, page 11.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journal: 1916 34th, page 221.
- 1886-87 Lincoln City Directory: microfilm, Lincoln Public Library.
- Census: 1890, on S A Pratt.
- Obituary: Nebraska State Journal, Sunday Morning January 30, 1916, page 7. From microfilm, Nebraska State Library and Archives, Lincoln, obtained thanks to Barbara Dunekacke.
- Wyuka Cemetery, Burial permit, tombstone.
Julia A. (Rugg) Prouty (1836-1908)
Peru, Nemaha County, Nebraska
Julia A. Prouty was a volunteer Civil War nurse. Her name was on the list of Army Nurses in the 1889 and 1890 National and Department WRC Journals, as a Volunteer. Her death was reported as an army nurse in the 1908 National WRC Journal.
Julia Ann Rugg was born in 1836 in Massachusetts.
She married Francis L. Prouty (1834-1917) about 1858. He enlisted July 15, 1861 in Co.C, 1st Nebraska Inf, and October 28, 1862 in Co. E, 2nd Nebraska Cav. They were in Nemaha County by 1860 and lived in Peru, Nebraska. They had 8 children, 5 living as of 1900. Six of their children were: H. W., son, born 1860-61; Kattie born 1864-65; Ella 1866-67; Lewis 1868-69; Sarah 1869-70; and Mamie 1870-71, all born in Nebraska.
Julia A. (Rugg) Prouty died March 16, 1908. Her husband is buried in Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Peru, Nebraska, so it is assumed she was also.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1890 7th, page 72.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journals: 1889 7th, page 137. 1890 8th, page 164.1908 26th, page 338.- Censuses: 1860, 1880, 1890 veterans.
- NEGenWeb: Tombstone Project- Andreas, A. T, History of the State of Nebraska; 1882, published by the Western Historical Company, Chicago.
- Nebraska Adjutant General GAR Civil War Veterans Buried in Nebraska, filmed by theNebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln; microfilm: on Francis L. Prouty.
Kate Mussy Shepherd (died after 1897)
Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska
Kate Shepherd was not a Civil War nurse. She served as a spy or scout for the 65th Illinois. This information is from the newspaper account of the 1897 annual GAR Reunion.
"Mrs. Shepherd of Grand Island, who was at the front, spoke for a short time. She served as a scout with the Sixty-fifth Illinois regiment. She ran the blockade at Memphis,Tenn. For three years and six months she was on the field and was never suspected for she was known as the wife of a rebel captain. She was finally struck by a piece from a shell and she carries a silver plate under her skull now as a result, 'free silver' as she expresses it." She was speaking at the evening campfire. In addition, "Mrs. Kate Mussy Shepherd, a union spy who was with the Sixty-fifth Illinois, spoke at the Illinois meeting yesterday." The internet introduction mentioned: "The lady spy from Grand Island, who was elected to serve as an officer of her state G. A. R headquarters." At the Nebraska GAR Reunions, the veterans who had served from other states each had their own state headquarters.
Mussy might have also been spelled Muzzey.
No further information is known.
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Source:
- The Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, September 17, 1897, as produced for NebraskaGenWeb Project, Civil War page.
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
M. J. Welch was a "Regular" Civil War nurse. She was listed under Army Nurses in the 1889 and 1890 National and Department WRC Journals, as a Regular.
Her address in these lists was given as 628 S 20 St, Omaha, Nebraska.
No further information has been found.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journals: 1890 7th, page 72.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journals: 1889 7th, page 137. 1890 8th, page 164.
Adelina / Adeline E./ Adelia E. Williams (died March 1897)
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
Adelina Williams was a volunteer Civil War nurse. An account was given in the 1888 and1889 Department WRC Journals. The 1889 and 1890 National and Department WRC Journals included her in the list of army nurses, volunteer, of Lincoln, Nebraska. Her name was given variously as Adelina, Adeline E., and Adelia.
At the 1888 Department WRC convention the following was recorded: " there is an oldcolored lady, residing in Lincoln, who has the positive proof that she was an army nurse. She has letters bearing signtures from proper government officials, 1861-2-3, and credentials and testimonials which confirm her history as volunteer army nurse. She has become partially disabled by rheumatism, and has had to be helped by Farragut ReliefCorps No. 10, Lincoln, this winter." This was Mrs. Williams. She must have made avery favorable impression, as the GAR's collection for her was a sizeable amount for that time, and they requested a joint reception for her. The WRC also took up a collection, and "listened to remarks from Auntie Williams until dinner call." The only other woman seen in our records here who was called Aunty was the well-loved Juliet Howe.
Her husband's name is unknown.
She died March 1897. WRC records indicate March 31, but Wyuka Cemetery, Lincoln, Nebraska, has Mrs. Adelia Williams, colored, died March 20, age given as 55. The grave has no stone.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journals: 1888 5th, pages 42, 43, 48, 49. 18896th, page 78. 1890 7th, page 72.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journals: 1889 7th, page 137. 1890 8th, page 164. 1897 15th, page 162.
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
Sarah Zimmerman was a Civil War nurse. She was reported in the 1914 Department WRC Journal: "We have one more Army Nurse to report in this Department, Mrs. Sarah Zimmerman, a member of Farragut No. 10.". The 1920 National WRC Journal listed Sarah Zimmerman of Nebraska under Army Nurses deaths.
She was a member of the WRC Corps in Lincoln, Farragut No. 10.
The 1900 Census shows Sarah Zimmerman, widow, born PA, on U St, Lincoln, Nebraska. Her age and birthdate are not clear in the census microfilm, but age might have been 54. In the household were daughter and sons: Frances born May 1876 in PA, Percy born Oct. 1879 in NE, and Carl born May 1884 in NE. She seems to be the one whose death notice was given February 3, 1920. How this fits in with Civil War service is not known.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journals: 1914 31st, page 104. 1920 37th, pages78, 130.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journal: 1920 38th, page 204.
- Census: 1900
- Death notice, Lincoln Daily Star, February 3, 1920.
Neligh, Antelope County, Nebraska
The Neligh WRC corps, John C. Fremont No. 59, reported: "One deceased army nurse's grave was also decorated" when decorating those of the veterans on Memorial Day, 1893.
No further information is known.
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Source:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1894 11th, page 42.
Unknown (probably died after 1882)
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
In Andreas' 1882 History is the following: "Upon the departure of one of the regiments, a lady whom the papers incited was the lineal descendant of one of the fearless women of Revolutionary times, donned soldier's attire throughout and took passage as one of the "boys." Her sex was undiscovered during the trip to St. Joe, but when the boat left that port and proceeded down the river the romance had an end, for she was discovered by her husband and sent back to Omaha, where it is said she still lives."
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Source:
- Andreas, A. T, History of the State of Nebraska, 1882, published by the Western Historical Company, Chicago, page 703.
Raymond, Lancaster Company, Nebraska
The 1897 Memorial Day report of Raymond WRC corps, Kane No. 181, stated "One army nurse was buried here and her grave was decorated."
No further information is known.
__________________________
Source:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1898 15th, page 62.
Shubert, Richardson County, Nebraska
The WRC Department's Pension and Relief Committee reported in 1912, "One army nurse was reported to me as not drawing a pension, who lives at Shurbert, Neb."
No further information is known.
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Source:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journal: 1912 29th, page 78.