Soldiers Aid Society

The Wayne County, Ohio Soldiers Aid Relief Society was established shortly after the Civil War began in 1861. The first president was Mrs. Elizabeth M. Pope. Locally, the group started in Wooster and quickly involved many Wayne County communities. Looking through local newspapers during the Civil War, one finds list after list of women contributing to the War effort by preparing and packaging food, clothing, linens, personal items, books, magazines, writing utensils, paper, plate-ware, eating-ware, financial support, and so much more. The outlying communities would send the items to the central processing center in Wooster. Then, Wooster would send the items on to more regional distribution centers located in larger cities such as Cincinnati. It was a well-organized and well-run organization.

Community Soldiers Relief Societyies

Sample Items

What kinds of items were sent to the soldiers? In an article found in the Wooster Republican on 1 May 1862 on page 1, there were 2-1/2 columns of names with the items each individual donated. Here is a sampling.

Reading/writing material

magazines
papers

Clothing

shirts
socks
slippers
pants
vest
cotton-flannel drawers
cotton-flannel shirts
muslin shirts
undershirts

Linen

towels
pillow
pillow slips/cases
sheets
blanket
quilt
roll muslin
roll linen
handkerchiefs

Miscellaneous

bed ticks
cushions
nutmeg grinder
pepper box

Dinner-Ware

cups
saucers
bowls
tea pot

Personal items

soap
bandages
sticks of salve

Food/Beverages

pepper
sage
nutmegs
package of sugar
wine
lemons
catsup
jar of grapes
currant jam
cans apple butter
dried apples
dried beef
pickles
gooseberries
cranberries
cherries
elderberries
raspberries
blackberries
plums
peaches
apples
pears
prunes
whortleberries
cheese
dried corn
chickens
cans of concentrated chicken
mutton
sack corn meal
package crackers
paper tea
maple syrup
corn starch
arrow root
pearl barley
sack beans
eggs

Soldiers Aid Society

Community Soldiers Relief Societyies

Sample Items

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