Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska
Betsy Harris was a volunteer Civil
War nurse. The listing of Army Nurses in Nebraska in the 1889
and 1890 National and Department WRC Journals included "Betsy
Harris, Wymore, Volunteer:"
A photograph of Coleman WRC Corps #65 of Wymore shows 17 ladies wearing WRCbadges. She is holding a flag, so she may have had the office of Patriotic Instructor at the time. The photo is dated 1890. Betsy Harris is the only one wearing a sash, and it reads:"Nurse 12 Mich."
In 1893 she asked the WRC for assistance, as she had become paralyzed and unable towork, and desired admission to the Woman's Relief Corps Home at Geneva, Ohio. She received some funds from both Department and National WRC. The Department President reported that she corresponded with the Home and went to Wymore to make the necessary arrangements. Her report continued: "I was happy to find her very much improved in health, and her husband having steady employment, the poor old lady with many thanks for the kindly services rendered by the Woman's Relief Corps, informed me that she could remain at her own home."
The 1885 Census showed Albert Harris, 43, laborer, born Missouri, and Betsy, 56, wife, born Virginia, residence on Newton (now 10th St.) However the 1885 census for this locality has been found to be full of errors. The 1886-87 City Directory for Wymore said they lived on the east side of Newport (now 11th St.). south of Bristol. This was close to the Stone Quarry and the Railroad Yards. The area was of mixed peoples. A Chinese gentleman who ran a laundry had lived there. Ex-Mayor Victor Hernandes, whose parents had come directly from Mexico, lived on the same block the Harrises did.
Mrs. Betsy Harris died November 15, 1894.
No further information is known.
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Sources:
- WRC Department Annual Convention Journals: 1890 7th, page 72. 1894. 11th, pages25, 86, 87.
- WRC National Annual Convention Journals: 1889 7th, page 137. 1890 8th, page 164.1895 13th, page 136.
- All other information is thanks to Karolyn and George Riemann, Researchers, Wymore.