d/o James & Elizabeth Ashcom. w/o 1)John F. Morris, 2)James M. Pierce. She was well-known in Valparaiso, IN as "Aunt Becky," where she lived from 1859 until her death in 1897.
Stories in three different families specifically remember a statue erected to her for her Civil War nursing. Marguerite (Reichel) Santrizos remembers visiting Valparaiso with her mother, Cora (Morris) Reichel, as a little girl. In the town square was the statue and old men sitting there expressed pleasure that someone would remember "Aunt Becky." Janet (Setterquist) Gharrity, granddaughter of Anna (Morris) Brodrick, Cora's sister, tells an almost identical story told by her grandmother. The grandson of Cora's and Anna's uncle, who grew up in Kirkland, Illinois, also tells the story of the statue in Valparaiso. Newspapers, however, do remember Rebecca's efforts in the Women's Relief Corps to provide shelter for the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers and sailors of the war. She is also listed in the 1929 Illinois Roll of honor as a Union nurse. Having died in 1897, news of this statue should have been reported in the local newspapers, but was not, and turn-of-the-century photos of the square do not show a statue. The parks departments and historical societies have no record of it in Porter County or surrounding counties.
John and Rebecca had five children: Joseph Dexter "J.D." (1848 PA - 1924) late of Kirkland, IL, James Thomas "Tom" (1851 PA - 1897) late of Valparaiso, IN, Reuben Brinker "R.B." or "Rube" (1854 PA - 1926) late of Minneapolis, Charles P. "Charley" (1856 PA - 1910), late of Malta, MT, and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1859 IN - 1922) late of Muskogee, OK.
Sycamore True Republican, Jan. 16, 1897, p. 8
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Morris have been at Valparaiso, Ind., for the past two weeks during the last illness of Mrs. Rebekah Pierce, mother of Mr. Morris. She died on last Tuesday (sic), aged 69 years. She was an active worker in the Woman's Relief Corps, and had been a resident of Valparaiso for 40 years.
Valparaiso Weekly Vidette, 7 Jan 1897
One of the best known and deservedly popular residents of Valparaiso passed away at an early hour of the Sabbath morning with demise of "Aunt Becky" Pierce. She had for many years kept a leading boarding house on East Main Street, and she was known to almost everyone beside by her active participation in church work and her devotion to labors of a charitable nature. Mrs. Pierce had been ill for several weeks and her death came not unexpected to her friends and relatives. She was 60 years of age, and leaves a husband, four sons and one daughter.
Valparaiso Messenger, 7 Jan 1897, p. 2, c. 3
AUNT BECKY PEARCE DEAD
Mrs. James M. Pearce, better known as "Aunt Becky" Pearce passed away early Sunday Morning at her home on east Main Street after a lingering illness. For years the deceased had been running a private boarding house and was one of the Vale's best known residents.
The deceased was 60 years old and had resided in this city about forty years. She leaves a husband and 5 children - four sons and a daughter. She was a kind-hearted woman and her death is mourned by many.
Before her death she selected her pall bearers as follows: Frank Foley, F. H. Pettit, E. L. Loomis, W. L. Wright, Joseph Halladay and A. C. Smith.
The funeral service will be held from the Baptist Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. W. E. Randall.
Sycamore True Republican, October 21, 1916, p. 2
From Kirkland Enterprise
J. D. Morris will go to Valparaiso, Ind., Thursday and expects to return the latter part of the week with the remains of his mother and will have them placed in the Morris family lot in Maple cemetery.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, October 22, 1931, p. 5, c. 3
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, October 22, 1916
J.D. Morris, a hotel owner at Kirkland, Ill., arrived here today, and tomorrow will take the remains of his mother, Aunt Becky Pierce, to his family vault in Kirkland. Mrs. Pierce died ten (sic) years ago. For years she was head of the W.R.C. here. The son left here during the civil war and served in the army, and his father was said to be the first to enlist after the outbreak. The latter is buried in the government cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The body of Mrs. Pierce is buried in the Old City Cemetery.
Even as late as 1938, feature writers were remembering her in Valparaiso.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, March 28, 1938, p. 1, c. 6 & p. 2, c. 7
WALLACE PHILLEY DOES AN O.O. MCINTIRE FOR READERS
Ed. Note. Mr. Wallace W. Philley, an ardent fan of the late columnist O.O. McIntire, believes that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Today the Vidette-Messenger presents a "column" done in the McIntire manner, in which Philley reminisces for those who remember "way back when."
. . . "Aunt" Becky Pierce, a volunteer "Nightingale," who was first at every sick bed with not thought of pay for ministrations. . . .
There is still no mention of her statue.
Stories in three different families specifically remember a statue erected to her for her Civil War nursing. Marguerite (Reichel) Santrizos remembers visiting Valparaiso with her mother, Cora (Morris) Reichel, as a little girl. In the town square was the statue and old men sitting there expressed pleasure that someone would remember "Aunt Becky." Janet (Setterquist) Gharrity, granddaughter of Anna (Morris) Brodrick, Cora's sister, tells an almost identical story told by her grandmother. The grandson of Cora's and Anna's uncle, who grew up in Kirkland, Illinois, also tells the story of the statue in Valparaiso. Newspapers, however, do remember Rebecca's efforts in the Women's Relief Corps to provide shelter for the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers and sailors of the war. She is also listed in the 1929 Illinois Roll of honor as a Union nurse. Having died in 1897, news of this statue should have been reported in the local newspapers, but was not, and turn-of-the-century photos of the square do not show a statue. The parks departments and historical societies have no record of it in Porter County or surrounding counties.
John and Rebecca had five children: Joseph Dexter "J.D." (1848 PA - 1924) late of Kirkland, IL, James Thomas "Tom" (1851 PA - 1897) late of Valparaiso, IN, Reuben Brinker "R.B." or "Rube" (1854 PA - 1926) late of Minneapolis, Charles P. "Charley" (1856 PA - 1910), late of Malta, MT, and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1859 IN - 1922) late of Muskogee, OK.
Sycamore True Republican, Jan. 16, 1897, p. 8
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Morris have been at Valparaiso, Ind., for the past two weeks during the last illness of Mrs. Rebekah Pierce, mother of Mr. Morris. She died on last Tuesday (sic), aged 69 years. She was an active worker in the Woman's Relief Corps, and had been a resident of Valparaiso for 40 years.
Valparaiso Weekly Vidette, 7 Jan 1897
One of the best known and deservedly popular residents of Valparaiso passed away at an early hour of the Sabbath morning with demise of "Aunt Becky" Pierce. She had for many years kept a leading boarding house on East Main Street, and she was known to almost everyone beside by her active participation in church work and her devotion to labors of a charitable nature. Mrs. Pierce had been ill for several weeks and her death came not unexpected to her friends and relatives. She was 60 years of age, and leaves a husband, four sons and one daughter.
Valparaiso Messenger, 7 Jan 1897, p. 2, c. 3
AUNT BECKY PEARCE DEAD
Mrs. James M. Pearce, better known as "Aunt Becky" Pearce passed away early Sunday Morning at her home on east Main Street after a lingering illness. For years the deceased had been running a private boarding house and was one of the Vale's best known residents.
The deceased was 60 years old and had resided in this city about forty years. She leaves a husband and 5 children - four sons and a daughter. She was a kind-hearted woman and her death is mourned by many.
Before her death she selected her pall bearers as follows: Frank Foley, F. H. Pettit, E. L. Loomis, W. L. Wright, Joseph Halladay and A. C. Smith.
The funeral service will be held from the Baptist Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. W. E. Randall.
Sycamore True Republican, October 21, 1916, p. 2
From Kirkland Enterprise
J. D. Morris will go to Valparaiso, Ind., Thursday and expects to return the latter part of the week with the remains of his mother and will have them placed in the Morris family lot in Maple cemetery.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, October 22, 1931, p. 5, c. 3
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, October 22, 1916
J.D. Morris, a hotel owner at Kirkland, Ill., arrived here today, and tomorrow will take the remains of his mother, Aunt Becky Pierce, to his family vault in Kirkland. Mrs. Pierce died ten (sic) years ago. For years she was head of the W.R.C. here. The son left here during the civil war and served in the army, and his father was said to be the first to enlist after the outbreak. The latter is buried in the government cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The body of Mrs. Pierce is buried in the Old City Cemetery.
Even as late as 1938, feature writers were remembering her in Valparaiso.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, March 28, 1938, p. 1, c. 6 & p. 2, c. 7
WALLACE PHILLEY DOES AN O.O. MCINTIRE FOR READERS
Ed. Note. Mr. Wallace W. Philley, an ardent fan of the late columnist O.O. McIntire, believes that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Today the Vidette-Messenger presents a "column" done in the McIntire manner, in which Philley reminisces for those who remember "way back when."
. . . "Aunt" Becky Pierce, a volunteer "Nightingale," who was first at every sick bed with not thought of pay for ministrations. . . .
There is still no mention of her statue.
d/o James & Elizabeth Ashcom. w/o 1)John F. Morris, 2)James M. Pierce. She was well-known in Valparaiso, IN as "Aunt Becky," where she lived from 1859 until her death in 1897.
Stories in three different families specifically remember a statue erected to her for her Civil War nursing. Marguerite (Reichel) Santrizos remembers visiting Valparaiso with her mother, Cora (Morris) Reichel, as a little girl. In the town square was the statue and old men sitting there expressed pleasure that someone would remember "Aunt Becky." Janet (Setterquist) Gharrity, granddaughter of Anna (Morris) Brodrick, Cora's sister, tells an almost identical story told by her grandmother. The grandson of Cora's and Anna's uncle, who grew up in Kirkland, Illinois, also tells the story of the statue in Valparaiso. Newspapers, however, do remember Rebecca's efforts in the Women's Relief Corps to provide shelter for the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers and sailors of the war. She is also listed in the 1929 Illinois Roll of honor as a Union nurse. Having died in 1897, news of this statue should have been reported in the local newspapers, but was not, and turn-of-the-century photos of the square do not show a statue. The parks departments and historical societies have no record of it in Porter County or surrounding counties.
John and Rebecca had five children: Joseph Dexter "J.D." (1848 PA - 1924) late of Kirkland, IL, James Thomas "Tom" (1851 PA - 1897) late of Valparaiso, IN, Reuben Brinker "R.B." or "Rube" (1854 PA - 1926) late of Minneapolis, Charles P. "Charley" (1856 PA - 1910), late of Malta, MT, and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1859 IN - 1922) late of Muskogee, OK.
Sycamore True Republican, Jan. 16, 1897, p. 8
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Morris have been at Valparaiso, Ind., for the past two weeks during the last illness of Mrs. Rebekah Pierce, mother of Mr. Morris. She died on last Tuesday (sic), aged 69 years. She was an active worker in the Woman's Relief Corps, and had been a resident of Valparaiso for 40 years.
Valparaiso Weekly Vidette, 7 Jan 1897
One of the best known and deservedly popular residents of Valparaiso passed away at an early hour of the Sabbath morning with demise of "Aunt Becky" Pierce. She had for many years kept a leading boarding house on East Main Street, and she was known to almost everyone beside by her active participation in church work and her devotion to labors of a charitable nature. Mrs. Pierce had been ill for several weeks and her death came not unexpected to her friends and relatives. She was 60 years of age, and leaves a husband, four sons and one daughter.
Valparaiso Messenger, 7 Jan 1897, p. 2, c. 3
AUNT BECKY PEARCE DEAD
Mrs. James M. Pearce, better known as "Aunt Becky" Pearce passed away early Sunday Morning at her home on east Main Street after a lingering illness. For years the deceased had been running a private boarding house and was one of the Vale's best known residents.
The deceased was 60 years old and had resided in this city about forty years. She leaves a husband and 5 children - four sons and a daughter. She was a kind-hearted woman and her death is mourned by many.
Before her death she selected her pall bearers as follows: Frank Foley, F. H. Pettit, E. L. Loomis, W. L. Wright, Joseph Halladay and A. C. Smith.
The funeral service will be held from the Baptist Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. W. E. Randall.
Sycamore True Republican, October 21, 1916, p. 2
From Kirkland Enterprise
J. D. Morris will go to Valparaiso, Ind., Thursday and expects to return the latter part of the week with the remains of his mother and will have them placed in the Morris family lot in Maple cemetery.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, October 22, 1931, p. 5, c. 3
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, October 22, 1916
J.D. Morris, a hotel owner at Kirkland, Ill., arrived here today, and tomorrow will take the remains of his mother, Aunt Becky Pierce, to his family vault in Kirkland. Mrs. Pierce died ten (sic) years ago. For years she was head of the W.R.C. here. The son left here during the civil war and served in the army, and his father was said to be the first to enlist after the outbreak. The latter is buried in the government cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The body of Mrs. Pierce is buried in the Old City Cemetery.
Even as late as 1938, feature writers were remembering her in Valparaiso.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, March 28, 1938, p. 1, c. 6 & p. 2, c. 7
WALLACE PHILLEY DOES AN O.O. MCINTIRE FOR READERS
Ed. Note. Mr. Wallace W. Philley, an ardent fan of the late columnist O.O. McIntire, believes that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Today the Vidette-Messenger presents a "column" done in the McIntire manner, in which Philley reminisces for those who remember "way back when."
. . . "Aunt" Becky Pierce, a volunteer "Nightingale," who was first at every sick bed with not thought of pay for ministrations. . . .
There is still no mention of her statue.
Stories in three different families specifically remember a statue erected to her for her Civil War nursing. Marguerite (Reichel) Santrizos remembers visiting Valparaiso with her mother, Cora (Morris) Reichel, as a little girl. In the town square was the statue and old men sitting there expressed pleasure that someone would remember "Aunt Becky." Janet (Setterquist) Gharrity, granddaughter of Anna (Morris) Brodrick, Cora's sister, tells an almost identical story told by her grandmother. The grandson of Cora's and Anna's uncle, who grew up in Kirkland, Illinois, also tells the story of the statue in Valparaiso. Newspapers, however, do remember Rebecca's efforts in the Women's Relief Corps to provide shelter for the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers and sailors of the war. She is also listed in the 1929 Illinois Roll of honor as a Union nurse. Having died in 1897, news of this statue should have been reported in the local newspapers, but was not, and turn-of-the-century photos of the square do not show a statue. The parks departments and historical societies have no record of it in Porter County or surrounding counties.
John and Rebecca had five children: Joseph Dexter "J.D." (1848 PA - 1924) late of Kirkland, IL, James Thomas "Tom" (1851 PA - 1897) late of Valparaiso, IN, Reuben Brinker "R.B." or "Rube" (1854 PA - 1926) late of Minneapolis, Charles P. "Charley" (1856 PA - 1910), late of Malta, MT, and Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1859 IN - 1922) late of Muskogee, OK.
Sycamore True Republican, Jan. 16, 1897, p. 8
Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Morris have been at Valparaiso, Ind., for the past two weeks during the last illness of Mrs. Rebekah Pierce, mother of Mr. Morris. She died on last Tuesday (sic), aged 69 years. She was an active worker in the Woman's Relief Corps, and had been a resident of Valparaiso for 40 years.
Valparaiso Weekly Vidette, 7 Jan 1897
One of the best known and deservedly popular residents of Valparaiso passed away at an early hour of the Sabbath morning with demise of "Aunt Becky" Pierce. She had for many years kept a leading boarding house on East Main Street, and she was known to almost everyone beside by her active participation in church work and her devotion to labors of a charitable nature. Mrs. Pierce had been ill for several weeks and her death came not unexpected to her friends and relatives. She was 60 years of age, and leaves a husband, four sons and one daughter.
Valparaiso Messenger, 7 Jan 1897, p. 2, c. 3
AUNT BECKY PEARCE DEAD
Mrs. James M. Pearce, better known as "Aunt Becky" Pearce passed away early Sunday Morning at her home on east Main Street after a lingering illness. For years the deceased had been running a private boarding house and was one of the Vale's best known residents.
The deceased was 60 years old and had resided in this city about forty years. She leaves a husband and 5 children - four sons and a daughter. She was a kind-hearted woman and her death is mourned by many.
Before her death she selected her pall bearers as follows: Frank Foley, F. H. Pettit, E. L. Loomis, W. L. Wright, Joseph Halladay and A. C. Smith.
The funeral service will be held from the Baptist Church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. W. E. Randall.
Sycamore True Republican, October 21, 1916, p. 2
From Kirkland Enterprise
J. D. Morris will go to Valparaiso, Ind., Thursday and expects to return the latter part of the week with the remains of his mother and will have them placed in the Morris family lot in Maple cemetery.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, October 22, 1931, p. 5, c. 3
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, October 22, 1916
J.D. Morris, a hotel owner at Kirkland, Ill., arrived here today, and tomorrow will take the remains of his mother, Aunt Becky Pierce, to his family vault in Kirkland. Mrs. Pierce died ten (sic) years ago. For years she was head of the W.R.C. here. The son left here during the civil war and served in the army, and his father was said to be the first to enlist after the outbreak. The latter is buried in the government cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The body of Mrs. Pierce is buried in the Old City Cemetery.
Even as late as 1938, feature writers were remembering her in Valparaiso.
Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger, March 28, 1938, p. 1, c. 6 & p. 2, c. 7
WALLACE PHILLEY DOES AN O.O. MCINTIRE FOR READERS
Ed. Note. Mr. Wallace W. Philley, an ardent fan of the late columnist O.O. McIntire, believes that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Today the Vidette-Messenger presents a "column" done in the McIntire manner, in which Philley reminisces for those who remember "way back when."
. . . "Aunt" Becky Pierce, a volunteer "Nightingale," who was first at every sick bed with not thought of pay for ministrations. . . .
There is still no mention of her statue.
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