“Mother” Bickerdyke, Signature on Visitor Register

Description

Mrs. M. A. Bickerdyke signed this page from the Visitor Register for the Franklin P. Blair Post No. 1, sometime in September 1888. This folio includes the signatures of other visitors to the post. Most likely Bickerdyke was attending the yearly veterans meeting at the Blair Post.

Bickerdyke worked assiduously in the Western Theater at various hospitals and during 19 Civil War battles. She was an agent for the U.S. Sanitary Commission, was attached to Gen. Wm. Sherman’s Corps (1863-65), was a favorite hospital “general” for Grant, and is credited with establishing army laundries.

She was dubbed “Mother Bickerdyke” by Lemuel Adams, an officer with the 22nd Illinois, who was recovering in the hospital from a gunshot wound at Cairo, Illinois. After the death of her daughter, Molly, in July 1887, “Mother Bickerdyke” retired to Bunker Hill to be with her son. She had been born and was buried in Galesburg, IL, where a monument to her was erected in 1903.

A bold and clear ink signature and writing in a neat hand; neatly removed from the Register Book. Overall very good; some water damage at the top only with minor overall soiling.

A rare signature, and most desirable.

Bickerdyke, Mary Ann Ball “Mother” (1817-1901; Civil War Nurse) Visitors Register Frank P. Blair Post No. 1 / Department of Missouri, G.A.R: Signed “Mrs. M. A. Bickerdyke / Bunker Hill / Russell Co / Kans.” on 19 September 1888.