The Women's Relief Corp - Farmer, Ohio

An auxillary unit to the G.A.R., the Women's Relief Corp ladies had a purpose - to keep alive the memory of their soldiers.  Chartered in 1883, their motto, "Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty," was sometimes engraved on the bar of their pins.
(This was also the motto of the G.A.R.)

  In this photo, the motto is represented by the three women in the center of the Maltese Cross which hung below the connecting red, white and blue.

The Maltese Cross also served as a grave marker, placed at the tombstone of the WRC members.




















Farmer had a very active Women's Relief Corp.  In the photo below, note that each woman wore the WRC pin.  They were seated on a rug (probably to keep their dresses clean), with two flags behind them.  One was the U.S. flag and the other could not be determined. The photo below was undated, but some women were identified.

This unit was attached to the Lew Bowker G.A.R. post in Farmer. Ohio.

Back Row, L to R: Mary Ann Wasnich Fickle, Mrs. John Donley, ?  , Sister to Mr. Fritz, Elizabeth Sweet, ? , ? , Alice Wilder, Mrs. Hastings

Front Row, L to R:  ?  ,  Mrs. Yeagley, Mrs. Calvin Rogers,  ?  , ?  , Mrs. Kittredge, Mrs. Rice, Mina Allen

If you recognize an ancestor and could help with identification, please comment!