Message: 11
To: angel-pie@oocities.com
From: David Smith [address blanked for privacy]
Subject: More about Memorial Day History
Date: Sun, 24 May 1998 15:56:32 -0400
Dear Angel-Pie:
I found your Memorial Day website today, while conducting some more
research into the history of this day of national remembrance. As a
result into some further research into my family's genealogy and
history, I came across additional historical information about the
origins of Memorial Day. I thought that you might find the fruits of my
research interesting, and so have enclosed some further information. It
follows in the form of an e-mail message which I sent this weekend to
local government officials in the village of Waterloo, New York, which
has been recognized as the the "birthplace" of Memorial Day. My
research suggests that there may have been multiple birthplaces for
Memorial Day, and Columbus, Georgia, appears to one such place.
Sincerely, David Scott Smith
*****COPY OF E-MAIL MESSAGE FOLLOWS*****
David Smith wrote:
Dear Gary and Waterloo Village Officials:
[blanked for privacy]
In an effort to learn more about my family's genealogy, I came across
some interesting information about the history of Memorial Day in
America. Following-up on that information has led me to recently
discover Waterloo's role as one of the first communities in the United
States to host a Memorial Day celebration. I also have become aware of
the recognition that Waterloo has received in that regard, including a
1996 Congressional "Concurrent Resolution" and a "Presidential
Proclamation" issued by former President Lyndon B. Johnson, also in
1966, wherein Waterloo was recognized as the "birthplace" of Memorial
Day.
It may interest you to know that I wrote a letter to the Editor of the
Washington Post about the celebration which took place in Columbus
Georgia, and the role which Lizzie Rutherford Ellis played in proposing
Memorial Day. My letter appeared in the "Letters to the Editor" section
of the Washington Post on Monday, June 10, 1985. It was in response to
some inaccuracies in a letter written by Bernard H. Carson ("The Reason
for Memorial Day') which had appeared in the same section of the Post a
few days earlier.
I thought that you and the people who reside in your village, and others
interested in the history of Memorial Day might appreciate learning
about some parallel activities which occurred in 1865/66, prior to those
which took place in Waterloo, and which occurred independently in
Columbus, Georgia. The first Memorial Day celebration in Columbus took
place on April 26, 1866, and it was followed annually thereafter by
similar celebrations which continue to date - although now celebrated in
the month of May as our national day of celebration. Based upon my
research and that of others, I believe that the Memorial Day celebration
which first took place in Columbus, Georgia, occurred 10 days prior to
the first Memorial Day celebration which occurred in Waterloo, New York,
on May 5, 1866. It is interesting to note that the themes of these two
independent events, and the manner of celebration which took place, was
virtually identical -- including the messages in the "keynote" addresses
given by military officers.
The following additional information has been excerpted from a book
about the history of my family (maternal side) entitled "The Family
Rutherford and Kin," written by Lizzie Finch Rutherford and Hobart Key
in 1963. The book was published by the Port Caddo Trading Company, 110
½ East Austin Street, Marshall, Texas. Lizzie Finch Rutherford, the
co-author, was the aunt of Hobart Key, and they wrote and dated the
"Forward" of their book "November 26, 1963."
Pages 30 - 33 of the book are devoted to telling part of the life story
of Lizzie Rutherford (Ellis), and the section caption is: "Originator of
Memorial Day."
It begins:
*******
"Lizzie Rutherford was the eldest daughter of Adolphus Skrine Rutherford
and his wife, Susan Bird Thweatt. She was born in Columbus, Georgia,
June 1, 1833; died in Columbus, Georgia, March 31, 1873. She was
married to Roswell Ellis, Captain of the Columbus Guards, November 28,
1868."
"No woman has left a more beautiful impress upon the last quarter of
this century than Lizzie Rutherford, afterwards Mrs, Roswell Ellis, in
originating the sadly sweet customs of Memorial Day. She was one of
those warm hearted, generous natures who considered no sacrifice too
great for those she loved, no task too irksome if some life would be
brightened. That love of country that had characterized her long line
of illustrious ancestors was none less prominent in her"..."she devoted
her time and energy to the care of the sick and wounded who had borne
the brunt of the battle. During the Civil War, 1861 - 65, The Soldiers
Aid Society was organized at Columbus, Georgia. A "Home" established at
the corner of Broadway and 9th Ave. to care for the sick and wounded
soldiers. Lizzie Rutherford was conspicuous in her untiring efforts in
behalf of this "Home" and Society of which she was made Secretary, Mrs.
Robert Carter, President.
Before the "Home" was ready for occupants, in that there was no
furniture, a telegram was received from Chattahooche saying, "Open the
doors of your hospital - men badly scalded". The gun boat stationed
down the Chattahooche River had exploded and all on board were seriously
hurt. No sooner was the intelligence communicated than Lizzie
Rutherford, realizing the necessity for prompt assistance, obtained a
large wagon of the Southern Express Co. and went from house to house
collecting mattresses and cots and other articles that were willingly
given to the "Home". By this time the boat reached the wharf, the
hospital was in readiness.
When the snowy pinions of Peace were once more spread out over the North
and South, the hospital doors closed, its halls empty, this noble woman
who had devoted herself to the cause of alleviating suffering, who had
closed the eyelids of many a fine mother's boy, who had whispered words
of comfort to the dying, thus robbing death of its sting -- won herself
the appellation of "The Soldiers Friend". With many of her companions
were wont to care for the graves of those whose hearts blood had mingled
with the sod. On one occasion as they wended their way from the "city
of the dead" her patriotic soul stirred to its depths, she exclaimed
"They shall not be forgotten. Their heroism and valor shall be
perpetuated. Let us have a Memorial Day and annually decorate their
graves with our choicest flowers and all Soldier Aid Societies be
changed into Ladies Memorial Associations". To her it seemed an
inspiration - Heaven born thought - a cunning gem to her many acts of
charity. Her companions eagerly grasped the idea and at once held a
meeting at the residence of Mrs. John A. Taylor to decide how to
dispose of the hospital property. Her resolution was introduced and
adopted. She was not present at the meeting. "Man proposes, but God
disposes". She was called to the bedside of a dear relative in
Montgomery, Alabama. Mrs. Mary Ann Williams, who introduced Miss
Rutherfords resolution, was elected Secretary in Miss Rutherfords place
and authorized to write to all Soldiers Aid Societies from Virginia to
Georgia and inaugurate the custom of Memorial Day. Miss Rutherford
suggested April 26, the anniversary of General Joseph E. Johnston's
surrender as the day set aside to decorate the soldier's graves.
The first Memorial address ever delivered in the United States in honor
of soldiers who fought in the Civil War, was delivered in Columbus, Ga.,
on April 26, 1866, by Gen. JN Ramsey."
"The custom was taken up in the North...later and has now become a
national celebration. The date varies according to the climatic
conditions. It is not to celebrate battles fought or victories won, but
is a memorial to our dead and linked with each garland of evergreens on
the soldier boys grave memory weaves a fadeless wreath of immortals and
circles the name of: Lizzie Rutherford Ellis."
"Written by Mary Eliza Rutherford Jones - sister of Lizzie Rutherford
Ellis."
"On April 25, 1898, the Columbus Chapter of the Daughters of the
Confederacy named their chapter "Lizzie Rutherford".
"Her memory is honored"
"Handsome marble slab adorns the grave of Mrs Lizzie Rutherford Ellis,
in Howard lot in Linwood cemetery, Columbus, Ga. The slab has the
following wording upon it:
Lizzie Rutherford
The Soldier's Friend
and
Suggestor of Memorial Day
Secretary Soldier's Aid Society
1861 - 1865
"Voices have blessed her now silent
and dumb
Voices will bless her in long
Years to come."
Married to Roswell Ellis, Captain of the Columbus Guards
Nov. 23rd, 1868
Daughter of
Adolphis Skrine and Susan Thweatt
Rutherford
Born June 1st, 1833
Died March 31st, 1873
Erected by
Lizzie Rutherford Chapter, Daughters of
the Confederacy, Columbus, Ga
"The ladies of the Lizzie Rutherford Chapter of the D.A.R's gave the
handsome Carrera Urn which also adorns the grave."
"Anne Rutherford remembers being taken, when a very small child, to the
cemetery to the memorial services and seeing the soldiers (I suppose
they were the Columbus Guards) file around Lizzie Rutherford Ellis grave
and each one dropped a white rose on it. She also remembered these
soldiers firing a salute over the grave. Many years later, after living
in Texas, Anne returned to Columbus, Ga. (where Lizzie Rutherford Ellis
is buried) with her sister, Lizzie, for a visit and they had the
privilege of placing flowers in the urn."
"The Button Gwinnett Chapter of the D.A.R.'s had a tree planted on the
lawn of the public library at Columbus, Ga. to stand as a living memento
to the life and character of Mrs. Lizzie Rutherford Ellis ... "as it
grows and spreads and points toward heaven, and generations of the
future gather beneath it to contemplate her golden heart and fragrant
life, may it speak to them in the words of the poet, Go thou, and "Do
noble things, not dream all day long, and thus make life, death and that
vast forever, one grand sweet song".
"From the address of T. Hicks Fort at the planting of the memorial
tree."
*******
I hope that this information will further enhance the understanding of
many people across America with respect to the temporal parallels in the
origins of Memorial Day, and thus enrich the experience of celebrating
the honor of those fallen in communities all across our country, North
and South, East and West.
I am considering the idea of proposing to the President and the Congress
of our Nation, at some future date, that a new resolution and
proclamation be passed by them acknowledging the parallel and apparently
independent efforts which took place in the spring of 1866 in both
Waterloo and Columbus, and perhaps in other to-be-identified places
across the US. If pursued, I hope that such an effort might serve to
help galvanize and further unite our country, without regard to
geographic lines or other potentially dividing factors or forces. Such
an effort could then culminate in a truly national celebration of the
heroism and valor of those soldiers, and others, who fell as a
consequence of the Civil War and subsequent US wars and conflicts.
In addition, perhaps in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Memorial
Day - in the year 2016 - a special national celebration could be
arranged. At that time, the stories of the parallel efforts that took
place during 1866 in Columbus and Waterloo (and perhaps those currently
unknown or unrecognized efforts that took place at the same time in
other communities) could be publicly retold before a national audience.
Events along the road leading up to such an endeavor could help to
further close some of the lingering dividing lines which tend to
fragment areas of our country, especially along ethnic and racial lines,
and it could further the healing our nation's wounds from all of its
internal and external wars and conflicts.
I look forward to hearing from you, and I wish you and your community
all the best for this year's Memorial Day celebration, and those yet to
come!
Sincerely,
David Scott Smith
(kin of Lizzie Rutherford Ellis)
[Contact information blanked out for privacy.]
