Miami County Indiana Chapter of the American Red Cross

Hospital Garments and Supplies Committee 1919


“Anytime women come together with a collective intention, it’s a powerful thing.  Whether it is sitting down making a quilt, in a kitchen preparing a meal, in a club reading the same book, or around the table playing cards, or planning a birthday party, when women come together with a collective intention, magic happens” ~ Phylicia Rashād

     During WWI the work of the Red Cross and the Women’s Council of Defense was so intertwined that some references interchange them as though they were one and the same.  Other references refer to the Women’s Council of Defense as assuming control of the Red Cross by President Wilson.  For example the Financial statement of the work of the National Red Cross for 1918 lists President Wilson as president of the American Red Cross, and yet some references refer to the Red Cross as being in charge over the Women’s Council of Defense.  It seems obvious that the two organizations cooperated closely with one another and worked jointly to achieve the same goals.  In Miami County,  Indiana the same women served on committees for both organizations and the report at the end of WWI muddles and confuses which was which.  The report also mixes the work of the Hospital Garments and Supplies Committee with the Surgical Dressings Committee.  Both were part of “The Work Room” as near as can be figured out from the report, although the workrooms for each were not at the same location.  The same women moved between the two committees and the work itself overlapped.  The purpose of this article is to explain the work of the Hospital Garments and Supplies Committee to the best of the writers understanding from the confusing reports.  There is a risk of not acknowledging someone who contributed significantly during WWI to the Miami County Red Cross work.  For example,  besides the workrooms in Peru there were women gathering in homes throughout the county sewing, knitting and conducting fundraisers for the Miami County Red Cross.  Not every person’s tasks and accomplishments fit neatly under the category of a particular committee.  Nor will there be time (at least not right now during this centennial year) to write an article on every committee that was Red Cross and/or Women’s Council of Defense during the WWI time frame.  Hopefully the smattering of articles that do get written will go far in giving credit to and acknowledging many of the women who rolled up their sleeves and worked to support our troops and the needs of foreign entities overseas at that crucial time.  The women who served as Red Cross Nurses had been through a formal nurses training, but many other women served in valuable ways as members of the Red Cross Corps.  Uniforms were worn by both groups of women, but they were specific uniforms depending on whether they were classified as a Red Cross Nurse or a Red Cross Corps Member.   Local Miami County women wore Red Cross Corps uniforms as they went about accomplishing the very important work of the Red Cross. 
Florence Eckstein


     In June 1917,  Florence J. Stanley Eckstein held the  first workshop for the Miami County Chapter of the American Red Cross.  She was described as a woman of unusual business ability and integrity, and a former teller and confidential clerk at the bank.  Her knowledge of people throughout the county was extensive.  She organized auxiliaries in all of the  townships, with some areas having two or three groups.  Then she organized auxiliaries in the city of Peru.   Two branches were established with the entire county working under the jurisdiction of the Peru shop.   The main chapter of the Red Cross was located in Peru, but there were branches in Converse, Bunker Hill, Macy, Denver, Chili, Mexico and Peoria.  The county branches received the material pre-cut out and ready to sew.  They then returned the finished garment.   All materials were purchased in Peru.  A  room donated by the Wilkinson brothers, located on West Sixth Street was used for the making of hospital supplies, while a room donated in Peru Mercantile Company was used for making the surgical supplies.  For a while the domestic science department of the high school was used. Fox brothers assisted with cutting the garments, completing the work free of charge in their factory.   Florence J. Stanley Eckstein was the general supervisor of the work in the county.  Mrs William Gustin was in charge of the surgical dressing department.   While there will be a separate article addressing the work of the Surgical Dressing Committee, it should be noted here that after October of 1918 when Florence Eckstein  “went South” the department leadership was assumed by   committee members: Mrs. J. O. Cole,  Mrs. Elton Shively,  and Mrs. Felix Levy.   When the Surgical Dressing Work Room closed Mrs Gustin assumed the sole  leadership of the Hospital Garment and Supplies committee and remained in charge until the closing of the shop.  It is unknown what was meant in the report when it says Florence J. Stanley  Eckstein “went South”.  Perhaps she traveled to a southern region of the country to help with the flu epidemic that would have been raging in October of 1918, but any possibility of the meaning of “went south” is conjecture.   Let us take a look at who Florence J. Stanley Eckstein was. 
     Florence’s parents,  John and Mary Stanley can be found in 1870 living in Maine but by February of 1873, when Florence was born, they were living in Indianapolis, Indiana.   In 1880 the family was living in Peru, Indiana and John was working in the railroad shop.   Her father died in 1885 and was buried in Peru.   Florence fell in love with a New York-born son of German immigrants named Charles P. Eckstein and the couple was married in 1893.   Charles held several positions of employment between 1895 and 1912.  He was a clerk, laborer, clothing salesman, life insurance salesman, feed stable worker and became owner C. P.  Eckstein and Company and South Peru Feed Mill before returning to selling insurance.  Florence worked as a stenographer and later a teller.  Florence’s mother lived with the couple until her death and then Florence’s aunt Elizabeth lived with them.   Florence retired from her job as a teller at the First National Bank by 1920 and Florence, Charles and Elizabeth moved to Wallick Road.  Between 1919 and 1927 Charles worked as a salesman at Murden Ford.   Tragedy struck Florence’s life in 1937 when Charles died of esophageal cancer.   Ten years later, being an avid member of the Peru Baptist church, Florence moved into the Baptist Home in Maywood, Illinois which is a suburb of Chicago.  In 1945 on a Sunday morning, Florence passed away at Manteno, Illinois.  Her body was returned to Peru, Indiana for burial at Mount Hope Cemetery. 
   Florence was 44 when she stepped up to the plate to get the women’s work of the Miami County Indiana Chapter of the American Red Cross off to an organized start.   The final committee report of the Hospital Garment and Supplies committee stated a number listed for hospital garments as 9780 items and a  number listed for hospital supplies as 9768 items.  In fact, in August of 1917,  a mere 60 days after the first workshop opened,  The Peru Journal reported that the first shipment was sent from Miami County to Fort Wayne and consisted of 1089 articles.  All the garments passed inspection and were considered by the Fort Wayne Regional Office to be of high quality.   The following list of items shipped from Miami County to Fort Wayne provides an understanding of the
type of items the local women were making. 
Hospital Supplies included:
Surgeons’ gowns 41
Surgeons’ helmets 41
Surgeons’ caps 11
Operating leggings 40 pr
Bathrobes 13
Bed Shirts 94
Bed Sox 76 pr
Pajamas 24 suits
Nightingales 86
Hot water bottle covers 41
Tray covers 20
Wash Rags 123
Booties for refugee babies 50 pr
Surgical Supplies:
9 in X 9 in compresses   18 dozen
4 in X 4 in compresses 12 dozen
3 yard roll bandages 4 dozen
Sponges 21
Fracture pillows 14


The newspaper also reported that the work had been delayed because of the inability to get the Red Cross trademark that must be sewn into all garments.  In February of 1919, The Red Cross Magazine published an answer to a query about why it was necessary to sew the tiny Red Cross Label into the many garments that were made, taking up time and money that could be put to better use.   Their response was that it was to show the people in foreign lands that America cared.  And that it was to give comfort to our troops that what they were given was Made In America.  The response compared it to a greeting card that is enclosed with a gift.  So the women waited on the tag that was required to be meticulously stitched into each and every piece. 

 The final committee report from the local Red Cross Chapter of the war work listed the women who participated often by their husband’s first name preceded by Mrs. and followed by the surname of the husband.  Where possible the list has been altered to use the given and the maiden name of the individual proceeding the married surname.  


The following women are listed as committee members for the Hospital Garment and Supplies Committee: 

Bessie Labonte ColeMiami County Red Cross Work Shop

Harriett Annie Porter Charters

Ottelia Cohn Wertheim

Mrs. Charles Seaman

Olive Hay Staley Reitzel

Georgia C. Retige Griswold

Minnie J. Shively  Sollett

Delia Correll VanGilder

Mettie A Fernshell 

Ada Maria Dodds Stutesman

Kate Cole Porter

Laura Wilson Bertram

Ida M. Zimmerman Charters

Ever M. Reed Shively

Amelia Francis Carter Helm                                                                             Click on image for larger view

Matilda Christina Troster Betzner

Belle Coucher

Ida Belle La Boiteaux Hippensteel

Mable D. Enrul Seibert

Sarah Baer Levy

Jeanne V. Kantzer Miller

Catherine Black Saine

Nina Locke Bauer

LuLu Levi

Edith May Baggs Rhodes

Jennie McKinstry Pyle

These women are listed under this committee and it is stated that they served throughout the county: 

Lottie Petty Fisher

Della O. Lawrence Griffith
Red Cross Shop and Workers Peru Journal July 28 1917
Eulalia Dell Eurit Farrar

Minnie Harris

Bertha May Phillips Sullivan

Angie Phelps

Ruby Agnes May Lash Rendel

Martha McDowell  Reese

Hermione Alice Whittenberger Wilson

Naomi Waite 

Ida M. Hill Stewart

Louise Crockett

Effie Reynolds                                                                                                             Click on image for larger view

Alta Wildman Dukes

Nellie Miller Dukes

Essie Reynolds

Sarah  Effie Chapin Kindig

Alta May Russell Phelps

Effie L. Butt Daniels

Written, researched and submitted by Mary Rohrer Dexter

Works Cited

“American Red Cross Service Uniform.” Witness2Fashion, Word Press, https-//witness2fashion.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/american-red-cross-service-uniforms-1917/.

Eckstein, Eleanor. “Florence Eckstein Notes.” Family Search, Family Tree, 21 Nov. 2012.

“ ‘Find A Grave Index," Database, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/QVK8-TC17 : 13 December 2015), Florence S. Eckstein, 1945; Burial, Peru, Miami, Indiana, United States of America, Mount Hope Cemetery; Citing Record ID 42119311, Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42119311/florence-s.-eckstein”

“ ‘Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," Database, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/N34J-75R : 10 March 2018), Florence S. Eckstein, 23 Jun 1945; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL Microfilm 1,984,188.”

“Illinois State Archives - Florence Eckstein Death .” Illinois State Wide Death Index, 1916-1950.

“ ‘Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," Database with Images, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/QV99-25DX : 10 December 2017), Chas P Eckstein and Florence J Stanley, 05 Sep 1893; Citing Miami, Indiana, United States, Various County Clerk Offices, Indiana; FHL Microfilm 2,431,900.”

“‘Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," Database with Images, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/QV99-KXHR : 10 December 2017), Chas P Eckstein and Florence J Stanley, 05 Sep 1893; Citing Miami, Indiana, United States, Various County Clerk Offices, Indiana; FHL Microfilm 2,431,846.”

Miami County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Mimeograph, Miami County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Miami County Indiana Museum collection.  Mimeographed reports from WWI local Red Cross committees.

Miami County Red Cross Workshop. Peru, Indiana. Photograph

“Photograph: Red Cross Shop and Workers.” Peru Journal, 28 July 1917.

“Red Cross Ship First Material.” Peru Journal, 18 Aug. 1917.

“Red Cross Work Is Appreciated.” Peru Journal, 22 Aug. 1917.

“ ‘United States Census, 1870," Database with Images, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/M6D5-5GN : 12 April 2016), John T Stanley, Maine, United States; Citing p. 8, Family 61, NARA Microfilm Publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, N.d.); FHL Microfilm 552,050.”

“ ‘United States Census, 1880," Database with Images, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/MH9T-VC8 : 14 August 2017), Florence Stanley in Household of John T Stanley, Peru, Miami, Indiana, United States; Citing Enumeration District ED 120, Sheet 541A, NARA Microfilm Publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, N.d.), Roll 0298; FHL Microfilm 1,254,298.”
“‘United States Census, 1900," Database with Images, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/M9MX-2D7 : Accessed 22 June 2018), Florence S Eckstein in Household of Charles P Eckstein, Peru Township Peru City Ward 4, Miami, Indiana, United States; Citing Enumeration District (ED) 106, Sheet 4B, Family 95, NARA Microfilm Publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL Microfilm 1,240,393.”

“ ‘United States Census, 1910," Database with Images, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/MK53-Y23 : Accessed 22 June 2018), Florence S Eckstein in Household of Charles T Eckstein, Peru Ward 4, Miami, Indiana, United States; Citing Enumeration District (ED) ED 132, Sheet 7B, Family 171, NARA Microfilm Publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), Roll 371; FHL Microfilm 1,374,384.”

“‘United States Census, 1920," Database with Images, FamilySearch (Https://Familysearch.org/Pal:/MM9.1.1/MF7Y-M4N : Accessed 22 June 2018), Florence S Eckstein in Household of Charles P Eckstein, Peru Ward 4, Miami, Indiana, United States; Citing  ED 161, Sheet 1B, Line 64, Family 19, NARA Microfilm Publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), Roll 441; FHL Microfilm 1,820,441.”

Worried Some, Hurried and. “Quiers From The Work Room.” Red Cross Magazine, Feb. 1919, p. 67.