Lucy served as a Union nurse at Jefferson Barracks, at the front at Pittsburg Landing Shiloh and Vicksburg, and on hospital transports for over three years; she did everything required, including dragging wounded soldiers out of the active field of battle.
Lucy (Whipple) Kaiser was interred in Michigan.
Lucy was born in 1826 in Addison County, Vermont. Her parents were David W. Whipple and Almena Sibley Whipple.
Lucy was married twice. Her first husband was Frank Campbell, partner of her father in the lumber business. The couple moved from Vermont to Chicago, Illinois, and then to Camanche, Iowa where they built a home in 1860. Shortly after, Lucy was sickened with brain fever. When she returned to consciousness, she was told that Frank had been killed in an accident at the saw mill. In addition, a cyclone had totally destroyed her home and all of Camanche on 3 Jun 1860. Shocked and overwhelmed with sadness, Lucy went to live with her parents in St. Charles, Illinois.
Lucy traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend President Lincoln's inauguration on 4 Mar 1861.
Lucy became one of the first enlisted nurses in the Civil War. In April 1861, she volunteered her services to the Union Army as a regimental nurse. At Jefferson barracks in St. Louis, Missouri on 6 Jul 1861 she was detailed by General Fremont to regular service.
She nursed at Jefferson Barracks and Benton Barracks, at the front at Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, and Vicksburg, and on hospital transports. Her duties included cleaning and organizing the wards, supervising the kitchens, nursing the sick and wounded, writing letters to soldier's family, aiding in evacuations (drag men into ditches away from enemies), and act as doctor or surgeon when required. Hours were long, supplies were in inadequate, conditions were intolerable, and nurses and surgeons in short supply. She spoke her mind, which occasionally put her at odds with doctors and supervisors. Lucy prided herself on attending to the sick regardless of rank, and always giving her all and doing her best. Exhausted, she resigned and was honorably discharged in June 1864.
While at Jefferson Barracks, Lucy nursed a wounded soldier named Augustus C. Kaiser, who had lived in St. Charles, Illinois. The two married ion 8 April 1866 in Kane County, Illinois[1] after she received her honorable discharge. Augustus and Lucy had a daughter, Almena Mae.
1880 United States Federal Census: Saint Charles, Kane, Illinois, United States[2]
Name
Sex
Age
Status
Relation
Occupation
Birth Place
Agustus C. Kaiser
M
43
Married
Head
Machinist Round House
Germany
Lucy L. Kaiser
F
44
Married
Wife
House Keeper
Vermont, United States
Almela M. Kaiser
F
11
Single
Daughter
At School
Illinois, United States
Lucy was widowed again in 1894.
Lucy left St. Charles to live with her daughter in Leland, Michigan after Almena's husband, Walter Best, also known as Edward Maro, who was a renowned magician, died in 1908.
1910 United States Federal Census: Leland, Leelanau, Michigan, United States[3]
Lucy passed away on 30 Sep 1915 in Grand Traverse, Michigan. Although she was eligible to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Lucy requested burial in St. Charles. She was interred in North Cemetery.[4][5]
Research Notes
Newspapers record a tornado striking Camanche on 3 June 1860. "This Was News 35 Years Ago." St. Charles (Illinois) Chronicle, May 1, 1941 and Forkins, Betty. "Civil War Nurse Lived Sad Life." Elgin Courier News. 8 March 1967: 2:1:4. Kuntz-859 04:54, 22 November 2022 (UTC)
Sources
↑2nd Marriage "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940", citing Kane, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,477,033, FamilySearch Record: KF23-NCQ (accessed 5 October 2023) FamilySearch Image: 9392-9F9B-XM Image number 00591, Lucy L Campbell marriage to Augustus C. Kaiser on 8 Apr 1866 in Kane, Illinois, United States.
↑1880 Census "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXVS-JKB : 19 February 2021), Lucy L Kaiser in household of Agustus C Kaiser, Saint Charles, Kane, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 93, sheet 465A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,218.
↑1910 Census "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLRS-FZT : accessed 24 September 2021), Lucy L Kaiser in household of Allie M Best, Leland, Leelanau, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 27, sheet 1A, family 7, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 660; FHL microfilm 1,374,673.
↑Death "Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995", citing Digital film/folder number: 007621993; FHL microfilm: 981178; Record number: 311; Packet letter: B, FamilySearch Record: FHFL-W6P (accessed 5 October 2023), Lucy L Kaiser death 30 Sep 1915 (age 90), daughter of David Whipple & Almena Sibley, in Grand Traverse, Michigan, United States.
↑Memorial Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7415373/lucy-l-kaiser: accessed 05 October 2023), memorial page for Lucy L. Campbell Whipple Kaiser (9 Sep 1826–2 Sep 1915), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7415373, citing North Cemetery, Saint Charles, Kane County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by David M. Habben (contributor 835).
1870 Census United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6SV7-S11), Illinois > Kane > St. Charles > image 4 of 58; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
1900 Census "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSWL-ZPN : accessed 24 September 2021), Lucy Kaiser, St. Charles Township St. Charles city Ward 1-3, Kane, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 114, sheet 19B, family 410, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,312.
Pension "United States Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2MK1-3SG : 19 February 2021), Lucy L Kaiser Campbell, 1907-1933; citing NARA microfilm publication M850 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,635,246.
"Mrs. Lucy L. Kaiser – Civil War Nurse Record", The St. Charles Chronicle, 27 April 1906, page 1, column 3; online index and digital image,: accessed 7 Oct 2023, St Charles Public Library Community History Archive.
"Whipple", St. Charles (Illinois) Chronicle, May 1, 1941 Genealogy.com Forum-Surnames-Whipple
"Camanche, Iowa Tornado, 1860", "History of Iowa from the earliest times to the beginning of the twentieth century, Vol II", Benjamin T. Gue, (New York, The Century History Company, 1903), page 65.
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