Memorial Day's "Rutherford Connection"
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Memorial Day 2005
As we celebrate this National Day of Remembrance, Rutherford Descendants in this great Nation may take pride in the following, concerning Lizzie {Rutherford} Ellis who was instrumental in the:
. . . . . . . . ."Sadly Sweet Customs of Memorial Day".
From:The Family Rutherford and Kin by Lizzie Finch Rutherford and Hobart Key, Jr., Published by the Port Caddo Trading Company, 110-1/2 East Austin Street, Marshall, Texas, 1963. pgs 30-33
Lizzie Rutherford b 1st June 1833, Columbus, GA
. . . . . . . . . d 31st March 1873
. . . . . . . . . m 23rd November 1868 Roswell Ellis, Captain of the Columbus Guards
During the Civil War 1861-1865 the Soldier's Aid Society was organized in Columbus, Georgia and a Home was established at the corner of Broadway and 9th Ave., to care for the sick and wounded soldiers.
Lizzie {Rutherford} became quite involved on behalf of this "Home and The Society" and was made the Secretary of the organization.
The full story of her involvement in the establishment of Memorial Day is told in depth by Ms Rutherford and Mr. Key in their book and is highly recommended reading.For this posting there are her words concerning the human loses in The War Between The States as published in the book:
"They shall not be forgotten.Their heroism and valor shall be perpetuated.Let us have a Memorial Day and annually decorate their graves with our choicest flowers and all Soldier Aid Societies be changed into Ladies Memorial Associations."
Her words were heeded and acted upon in the South.
General J. N. Ramsey gave the first Memorial day Address in Columbus, GA on the 26th April 1866 with the custom being taken up by the North a few years later.
On the 25th April 1898, the Columbus, GA., Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy named their chapter "Lizzie Rutherford"
Her Memorial in the Howard Lot in Linwood Cemetery, Columbus, GA reads as follows:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LIZZIE RUTHERFORD
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .THE SOLIDER'S FRIEND
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AND
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SUGGESTOR OF MEMORIAL DAY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . SECRETARY SOLIDER'S AID SOCIETY
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1861 - 1865
. . . . . . . . . . . . . "Voices have blest her now silent
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and dumb
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voices will bless her in long
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Years to come."
. . . . . . Married to Roswell Ellis, Captain of the Columbus Guards
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nov. 23rd, 1868
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daughter of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adolphus Skrine and Susan Thweatt
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rutherford
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Born June 1st, 1833
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Died March 31st, 1873
. . . . . . . . Erected by Lizzie Rutherford, Chapter, Daughters of
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .The Confederacy, Columbus, GA
The Lizzie Rutherford Chapter of the DAR gave a Carrara Urn which is also placed upon her grave.
The Button Gwinnett DAR Chapter had a tree planted on the lawn of the Columbus, GA Public Library in honor of Lizzie {Rutherford} Ellis's efforts in establishing our National Holiday of Remembrance, Memorial Day.
From: The Address given by T. Hicks Fort at the planting of the Memorial Tree;
"As it grows and spreads and points toward heaven and generations of the future gather beneath it to contemplate her golden heart and fragrant life, may it speak to them in the words of the poet, Go thou, and "Do noble things, not dream them all day long and thus make life, death and that vast forever, one grand sweet song."
The Lineage of Lizzie {Rutherford} Ellis as published in "The Family Rutherford and Kin" by Lizzie Finch Rutherford and Hobart Key, Jr., "Descendants":
Generation #1
Thomas Rutherford - Lived Glasgow, Scotland in 1766
. . . . . . m Janett Meldrum - Both Natives of Kincalldy, Scotland.
Generation #2 - Family of Thomas Rutherford m Janett Meldrum:
1.Robert Rutherford b 1734, Scotland
. . . . . . . . . . . d Will Written 27th December 1813, Newberry, South Carolina
. . . . . . . . . . . m 1st Dorothy Ann Brooks {widow of Hohnston of Eumandale}
. . . . . . . . . . . m 2nd Francis Birt, widow of John Harrington
2.John Rutherford
3.Thomas Rutherford
Generation #3 - Family of Colonel Robert Rutherford m 1st Dorothy Ann Brooks:
1.John Rutherford m Polly Hubert
2.William Rutherford
3.Thomas Rutherford
Generation #4 - Family of John Rutherford m Polly Hubert:
1.Green Rutherford
2.Williams Rutherford
3.Robert Rutherford m Eliza {Elizabeth Jane} Howard
4.Mary Rutherford
5.Dolly Rutherford
6.Hubert Rutherford
7.John Rutherford
Generation #5 - Family of Robert Rutherford m Eliza {Elizabeth Jane} Howard:
1.Adolphus Skrine Rutherford m Susan Bird Thweatt, 12th June 1830
2.Vivian Rutherford
3.Mary Arabella Rutherford
4.Antoinette Rutherford
Generation #5 - Family of Adolphus Skrine Rutherford and Susan Bird Thweatt:
1.Lizzie Rutherford b 1st June 1833, Columbus, Georgia
2.Jimmie Rutherford
3.Robert Rutherford
4.Augustus Rutherford
5.Mary Rutherford {twin}
6.Antoinette Rutherford {twin}
7.Adolphus Skrine Rutherford
8.Sarah Rutherford
"May This National Day Of Remembrance Be Blessed With The Sacred Memories Of Those Who Have Left Their Legacies For All Of Us To Cherish"
Respectfully, Lois Jennings Johnson
More Replies:
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Re: Memorial Day's "Rutherford Connection"
chuck rutherford 6/02/05
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
Lois Johnson 6/02/05
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
chuck rutherford 6/04/05
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
Lois Johnson 6/04/05
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
Lois Johnson 6/04/05
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
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Re: Colonel Robert Rutherford, The Revolutionary War, North Carolina
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Re: Memorial Day's "Rutherford Connection"
Paulyne Rutherford Taylor 5/31/05