War, Women, Widows and Wilmington
A photo of the Soldiers’ Widows’ Home in Wilmington, around 1912.
Many Wilmingtonians just called it The Home. It was a beautiful sight on the banks of the Kankakee – a wide sweeping veranda, a fine view of the river. It could almost be mistaken for a large resort hotel.
But it was the final home for many women, those whose lives at been permanently altered by war.
The need for a soldiers’ and sailors’ home was seen very quickly after the end of the War Between the States. Many a brave man had returned missing his limbs, his eye sight, and perhaps even his sanity.
But it took several decades to realize that other people were affected by the war as well — the wives and daughters who stayed behind. By the 1890s, it was evident that Civil War veterans were dying off at a tremendous rate, leaving behind a record number of widows.
In Wilmington, M. N. M. Stewart, son of the great abolitionist Peter Stewart, and former Captain in the Union Army, saw there was a problem. Of course, an indigent widow could always be sent to the County Poor Farm, but Stewart believed they deserved better.
He lobbied Springfield, the Grand Army of the Republic (a veteran’s organization) and anyone else who would listen.
In 1895, a state board dealing with charitable causes decided a home for indigent widows and unmarried daughters of veterans was the solution. And because of Stewart’s position, he led a committee to find a suitable place to build one. He, of course, recommended his hometown as the perfect place.
He said that living in Wilmington would be like living at a resort, perfect climate and beautiful scenery. And he knew the perfect place for it, too, Dr. Bowen’s old home on the west side of the river. The Wilmington Water Treatment facility now stands on that old estate.
The state agreed with his assessment, and the property was purchased for $5,000 (about $191,500 today) in 1896. It took an additional $5,000 to remodel and furnish the place. At first, the original house was used, but after only a few years, the state appropriated more money to expand it.
In 1901, two wings were added on either side at the cost of $25,000 ($957,500), making the original building all but unrecognizable. Later, a hospital building, a laundry house and other out buildings were added. When finished, the home had 82 bedrooms, besides those used for the staff, and there was always a waiting list.
A board of five citizens was appointed as trustees to oversee the home. Along with Stewart was Margaret Wickens, President of the Women’s Relief Corp, Agatha Erickson, Mrs. Derelle W. Johnson, and General Walter C. Newberry.
A female Superintendent was also hired to live at the home to take care of the day-to-day problems that were encountered.
It was difficult to keep Superintendents. Often widow ladies were hired, but as soon as they remarried, their husbands wanted them to quit. No self-respecting man would allow himself to be supported by his wife, much less live in the same building where his wife worked. Then in 1904, came Flo Jamison Miller, her husband Scott and her daughter Zola.
Flo Miller was an active member of the Women’s Relief Corp, an active socialite, and soon became the toast of Wilmington.
She was held in high esteem by the powers that be as we read in April of 1906, “Governor Deneen Thursday last appointed Mrs. Flo J. Miller, of this city, as one of the delegates to represent Illinois at the National Conference of Charities and Corrections.”
To Mrs. Miller’s credit, during her reign as Superintendent, she encouraged the town’s people to visit and interact with the ladies who lived there. It wasn’t long before Wilmington took the ladies into their hearts and lives.
In 1915, there were rumors the ladies at the home might have to move to save the State money. We read, “According to the Chicago papers the State Board of Charities are contemplating consolidating the Solders’ Widows’ Home of this city with the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home of Quincy, this state.
“Mrs. McGowan the matron of the institution in this city has received no official announcement of the proposed change, but if the change is made, it is said, the inmates of the institution here will be removed to Quincy. The Home in this city will be used as a feeble-minded institution.”
That change never happened, and the ladies were safe for the time being. In honor of Thanksgiving Day that year, Mrs. McGowan extended an invitation to the living veterans in the area: “Sixty soldiers, members of Bartleson Post, G. A. R., of Joliet, many with their wives, responded to an invitation from Mrs. Nettie McGowan superintendent of the Soldiers’ Widows’ Home in this city to attend a camp fire meeting at this institution Thursday last.
“The old veterans arrived here on the 10:30 train. Commander Willis Johnston of Bowen Post had several automobiles at the train to take the visitors to the Home, but 30 of the old boys who were strong and able to march, formed in line and headed by the Joliet High School Band marched to the Home with the spirit of ’61.
“Under the direction of Mrs. McGowan, dinner and supper was served the visitors and nothing was left undone by this lady in making the day an enjoyable one for the visitor. The visitors returned on the 8:20 evening train to Joliet.”
There were other veterans to be honored, though. Men who fought in the now, all but forgotten Spanish American War, also found comfort at The Home: “A number of the Spanish American war veterans came to our city Sunday from Joliet and decorated the graves of their departed brothers. Before leaving for their homes, they visited the Soldiers’ Widows’ Home, where Mrs. McGowan, the matron, served them with a lunch.”
Time was against The Home. Eventually the widows were moved to Quincy, and it was converted to a home for “juvenile delinquents,” who promptly burned it down.\
Sandy Vasko is Director of the Will County Historical Museum & Research Center and President of the Will County Historical Society.