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Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Anna M. Ross, Camp #1 (215) 289-6484 |
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A Short Biography
A Long Biography
Ross was a native of Philadelphia, a maiden lady of great energy and personal appearance, who devoted her life to works of charity. Her mother's uncle, Jacob Root, held a captain's commission in the Continental Army and her great grandmother served voluntarily as a moulder of bullets during the revolution. Anna's mother was Mary Root, native of Chester County, Pennsylvania and her father, William Ross, emigrated early in life from the county of Derry, Ireland. Little is known of her early life, but as she matured into womanhood, she made many friends by her acts of kindness to others. She did not hesitate to solicit funds for those in need or perform nursing care for those deserted by others for fear of acquiring contagious fevers. She was involved in opening and helping operate the Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloon. Her work for the soldiers of the Civil War was chiefly performed in connection with the Cooper Shop Hospital, a branch of the Cooper Shop Refreshment Saloon. Miss Ross was appointed principal of the hospital and devoted herself to it with an energy that never wearied. After opening on December 26, 1861, the hospital prospered due in part to the efforts of Miss Ross and Dr. Nebinger, Chief Physician. They were able to obtain large donations of money and goods with many articles of clothing and delicacies coming from Carlisle, Pennsylvania. By February 12, 1862, the drug store was completed and the hospital was in full operation. Many first-hand accounts of Anna's concern for her soldier patients are recorded. She watched while others slept, dressed the most loathsome wounds, and took everything that concerned the well being of those committed to her charge. In addition to preparing the clothing of the homebound patient, she established a fund to give them traveling money, many times replenishing this fund from her own pocket. Arranging transportation, connecting the families of deceased soldiers, these tasks were cheerfully added to her duties. In the spring of 1863, Miss Ross promoted a large fair to raise moneys to establish a home for discharged, incapacitated soldiers. Soliciting donations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey and adding these sums to the proceeds of the fair, she had the means to start the home. After finding a suitable building and making renovations she personally selected many of the furnishings. The dedication of the home was planned for December 23, 1863. Several days prior to this event, Miss Ross suffered a gradual paralysis and lingered several days before dying on December 23 at the age of 50. Her funeral was attended by a large multitude, whose sorrow was deepened by the knowledge she could not be present at the dedication of the home. A tomb of white marble was erected in Monument Cemetery depicting a female figure ministering to a soldier. The men of G.A.R. Post 94 honored her by naming their post for her. In 1955 her remains were removed to Lawnview Cemetery in Rockledge, Where Anna M. Ross Camp SUVCW and Auxiliary hold services each Memorial Day. Her picture is on display in the museum and also the Commanders chair from Post 94 on which her name is engraved. "Woman's work in the Civil War -
L.P. Brockett, published. 1867 During the Civil War soldiers coming from the Northeast by various routes would have to pass through Philadelphia on their way to and from the war zone. Arriving in Philadelphia they would converge at Delaware and Washington Avenues. Then they would proceed along Washington Avenue to the Depot of Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore railroad from whence they would travel south. On their way home from the war zone this route was reversed. The soldiers on their arrival in Philadelphia, hungry and weary would be greeted by patriotic women in the neighborhood, known as Southwork, who would over them coffee and other refreshments. Before long these volunteers in order to accommodate to the ever increasing number of soldiers organized themselves into two groups known as 1) Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee - 2) Cooper Shop Volunteer Committee. In order to prepare for the arrival of the troops these women would be informed by various methods ahead of time. One method was a telegram sent when the troops were leaving Jersey City to the Union headquarters where a cannon was kept covered by a box at the foot of a lofty flagpole. When the telegram was received the box was removed and the cannon fired so that the housewives in the neighborhood would know when it was time to assemble and begin preparations. This cannon had an interesting history during the Mexican war. When the Civil War broke out it was used for the defense at Perryville. Eventually it was loaned to the Union Volunteer Refreshment group. It was claimed that this was the first gun fired in the community to proclaim the news of lee's surrender at Appomattox in April 1865. This cannon was numbered among the many momentoes of the Civil War held by Schuyler Post No. 5 of the G.A.R. One wonders whatever happened to it, along with the other momentoes held by this Post, and if it still exists somewhere it's history unknown. But to continue the story of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee, and my purpose in relating this account, the work of both these groups continued to expand during this period as the need grew, and was to continued until the end of the war. Thousands of men, passing through Philadelphia were fed, supplied and cared for by these volunteers. Both organizations neither obtained, not sought an government help, or state or city aid. The sick were cared for, and men wounded in battle who reached Philadelphia and were unable to continue their journey were given medical attention. As a result of this need it wasn't long before both organizations formed a hospital annex to care for the wounded and the sick. With this as a background I now turn to the Cooper Shop Volunteer Group whose activities centered in the Cooper Shop located south of Washington Avenue, at Osage Street. This shop manufactured shooks, or barrel staves and was operated by William M. Cooper and H. W. Pierce. The owners suggested that the women of the community be tendered the use or a large fireplace in for making coffee in large quantities. Soon a table was added and then a number of tables on which food was placed. In time as many as one thousand men an hour could be fed. The hospital annex was added on to the second floor of the shop. The first report of the hospital showed seventeen patients, but this was soon increased. The doctor in charge of the hospital was Andres Nebinger who gave his service for three years without charge. The hospital was attended by a committee of excellent, intelligent, kind hearted and caring women under the direction of Miss Anna M. Ross as principle. Miss Ross had been active in my benevolent activities of the city, and had devoted her services and talents for many years in raising funds for several charitable institutions in the city. She now devoted herself unstintingly to the hospital. It was all voluntary and a labor of love. This lady principal and her friends lent unremitting care and comfort to the sick and wounded day and night. Eventually, her health became impaired, and her life ended in 1863 at the age of 50. In the death of Anna M. Ross the principal of the Cooper Shop Hospital, we have lost an ardent, effective and devoted co-laborer in the cause of humanity - society has lost a valued friend. On an occasion like this, sad as it is, we may freely speak of those sterling qualities that animated the heart of the deceased, which made her name illustriously endeared to a large circle of friends in Philadelphia. In her position, as the principle of the hospital connected with this institution from it's earliest date, she was engaged watching over the bedside of the sick and wounded soldiers of the Union, with all the anxiety and tender solicitude know only to the heart of a true woman, nursing them with almost maternal affection, and imparting to the dying the consolation enjoyed by the true Christian. We feel that society has, indeed, lost a most valuable member. The following resolution was adopted unanimously by a committee of the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon which testified to the devotion of the service to which she felt called, and to which she gave her life. Resolved - that we have heard with feeling of profound regret of the death of Anna M. Ross, the principal of the Cooper Shop Hospital. Resolved - that the hospital be draped in the emblem of mourning, for the space of thirty days, in respect to the memory of the deceased. Resolved - that as the deceased was a true friend of the country and to the soldiers of the Union, we respectfully invite the committee of ladies and gentleman of the Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, and the citizen's Volunteer Hospital to join us in attending the funeral. Resolved - that we condole with the relatives of the family of the deceased in their bereavement and that these be published and an engrossed copy be sent to them -- Robert J. Simpson, Philip Fitzpatrick, Lewis W. Thornton, Edward Cooper, E. S. Hall. Signed by the members of the committee. A large number of "people attended her remains to Monument Cemetery."
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