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Elizabeth Charlotte Rinker
b.23 Mar 1818 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
d.21 Apr 1906 Agnew, Santa Clara, California, USA
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 20 Dec 1795
(edit)
m. 6 Jul 1853
Facts and Events
1850 census-Elizabeth Rankin [Elizabeth Charlotte (Rinker) Dodge]; 32 1860 census-PA-Philadelphia-11th Division-1st Ward-Elizabeth Dodge is head of house, age 41, value of personal estate $100, born in Phila. Children are Mary, age 6, female, born in California and Almira, age 4, female, born in California. [I think this should be: Almeron, male] 1870 census-CA-Santa Clara-2nd Ward San Jose-PO Alimeda-Ebenezer S. Peaks is head of house, age 40, a clergyman; his wife, Mary A. is 40 and keeping house; both born in NY; there are three children - Amad???, born in Minnesota; George, age 3, born in CA and Frances A., age 1, female, born also California. Elizabeth Dodge, age 50, born in PA, [I cannot read the occupation]; Emery, Maria, age 22 [cannot read any of the other info] and Almeron Dodge, age 14, born in CA and in school 1880 ensus-CA-San Luis Obispo-San Luis Obispo-16 Jun 1880-pg 33-ED 77-Highwood Street-dwelling 276-family 282-John S May; 37; RR agent; KY; KY; KY; Mary; 32; NJ; NJ; NJ; Flora V; 6; CA; William; 3; CA; unnamed son; 1 mo; CA; Elizabeth Dodge; 62; servant; widowed; child nurse; PA; PA; PA 1896 - Short Sketch of the Life of an Army Nurse - Santa Monica, California - this is a short booklet about Elizabeth's life. It was sent to me by Charles Kelly Riend. I have a paper copy in the Rinker files and a .jpg copy on CD. It reads: Among the brave and patriotic who performed deeds of heroism, who sacrificed time, health, family ties, the enjoyment of home, peace; who laid aside every comfort which was theirs and gave all to their country during its time of anguish and war, to aid, help, comfort and assist its brave defenders when they were wounded, in pain, dying; who received the last words to be sent to loved ones at home, were those women who as army nurses sacrificed so much. There is no honor which should not be given them, no respect which should not be shown them. We have here, in Santa Monica, a number of these brave and noble women. They should ever be remembered for that which they did in the darkest days of our country's history. Among these noble women is the subject of this short sketch - Mrs. Elizabeth Dodge, or as she is more familiarly known, Grandmother Dodge. Grandmother Dodge can trace her lineage in this country to Christian Rinker of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, who lived and flourished there as far back as 1753. He was a man of some prominence and held many positions of honor and trust conferred upon him by the people of his county. His son, John Rinker, was also a prominent man, as he held the position of sheriff from 1756 to 1759. It is related that Christian Rinker and John, his son, gave one pound ten shillings to help erect the first school house in Northampton County in 1753, thus showing their appreciation of educating the children of the country at that early date. During the revolution they helped to gain the independence of this country, and in the War of 1812 helped again to defeat the armies of Great Britian. Just before the War of the Revolution, John Rinker moved to Chester, which is now a part of Philadelphia, and kept the Inn known as the "Sign of the Royal George". Before moving, he married Mrs. Hannah Worsley a native of England, and a descendant of the aristocracy, if not of royalty. The subject of this sketch is the daughter of Samuel Rinker, son of the above John Rinker therefore the great grand daudughter of Christian Rinker, of Northampton County. She was born on 23rd day of March, 1818, at the old Navy Yard, as her father and many of their relatives were in the United States Naval service. At nine years of age she went to New Orleans to visit relatives. She was also there during the Mexican war and participated in the reception of those veterans as they returned from their victorious campaigns. She also contributed five dollars toward buying a flag for the New Orleans regiment when it went to the war. She passed through that dreadful scourge, the cholera, while there and then returned to her home in Philadelphia. In 1852 she came to California to seek in this Golden State health and fortune. Journeying across the plains she experienced all the hardships incident to a trip of that kind. Arriving in California, she immediately sought employment and engaged in teaching school at Brighton, seven miles from Sacramento, up the American river. It was while teaching here that she became acquainted with Seymour Dodge, whom she married on the 6th of July, 1853. From the time of her marriage up to 1859, she resided in different places, trying the fickle fortune of both mining and farming with variable sucess. In 1859, taking her two children, Mary the older, and her young son, Almiron, she returned to Philadelphia to visit relatives and friends. While there the rumors of war became quite prominent, and with that spirit of patriotism which ever characterized the Rinker family, she watched the result. The Rebellion came, and war with its horrible results followed. Immediately with others, Grandma Dodge helped to prepare clothing and other articles of necessity for the brave men who were volunteering for their country's defense and the honor of its flag. On the 23rd day of May, 1863, she enlisted as a regular nurse in the old Chester Hospital and was enrolled by Major Thomas H. Batch, surgeon in charge. She was given Ward C, which contained 72 beds, and was always full; here she stayed until the war closed. At the close of the war the United States Sanitary Commission established a branch on the corner of Thirteenth and Christian streets in Philadelphia, and called it the Lodge. This Lodge was for the purpose of caring for the discharged sick, and those seeking employment, helping helpless widows and orphans, and other work which would naturally arise from an institution of that kind. Colonel Clement Soest was in charge as Superintendent, and made application to Major Batch for suitable person to take charge as Matron. Major Batch without hesitation, immediately recommended Mrs. Dodge. The position was one of importance and great responsibility, and after due consideration she accepted it. The surgeons in charge were H. Lenox Hodge and Edward A. Smith. The duties connected with the position of Matron were manifold, and required a great deal of care and time; to give a full detail would require more space than can be required in a short article, but to give an idea, and a faint one at that of the work done in the seven months existence of the Lodge: there were fifty-eight hundred and forty-three persons admitted; forty-nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine meals prepared, besides thousands of nights' lodgings furninshed, and all of this under the care and charge of the Matron. Besides these duties she had the care of her children who were with her, and her daughter Mary, then only 12 years of age, aided her in various ways, even attending to patients who were convalesing from that dread disease, the small pox. In September 1866 she returned to California with her children and rejoined her husband. Her expenses home and returning amounted to something over $500, all of which she bore herself. After coming back to California, like many others, her fortune has been varied. Her husband died in 1876, leaving her to buffet with life's storms alone. Grandma Dodge was granted a pension in 1892, of $12 per month, which is but a small pittance for sacrifices made. She is now a resident of Santa Monica, having come here about four years ago, where she is now familiarly known by all as Grandmother Dodge, the Army Nurse. She is now (1896) 79 years of age, and cannot , according to all nature, last many years longer; but may she ever live in the hearts of the gallant boys in blue, for that patriotic love of country for which she was and is so noted. 1900 census-CA-Los Angeles-Santa Monica-Ward 3-this pg. is a continuation of a previous pg. and I do not have that page so this pg. shows 4 roomers on Third Street - Walter J Harvey, Dec 1862, age 37, married, born Wisconsin, father born Vermont, mother born NY, dry goods merchant; May K. Harvey, May 1874, age 26, married, no children, she and her parents are born Missouri; Elizabeth Dodge, Mar 1818, age 82, widow, mother of 2 but only 1 living, born PA, her father born Germany, her mother born PA, Army Nurse; and Wells, ????, Dec 1823, age 76, widower, born Missouri, father born PA, mother born Kentucky, lawyer. Everyone can read, write and speak English Death certificate: shows: date of death: 21 Apr 1906; cause of death: ????? by earth quake of Apr 1906; burial: Oak Hill; full name: Mrs Elizabeth Dodge; length of residence: 3; sex: female; color: white; age: 89; birthplace: Penn; occupation: nurse The Los Angeles Times obituary, 30 April 1906: The death at the St. Agnew asylum of Mrs. Elizabeth Dodge, affectionately known among her legion of friends here and at Santa Monica as "Grandma Dodge," removed a historic figure and the oldest army nurse in the world with one exception that of Mother Ransom, who is now residing in this city. Mrs. Dodge was not a victim of the earthquake but died the day preceding it. Owning to the great confusion resulting from the awful fatalities of the shock at St. Agnew's no particulars have been received of her death. She was the mother of Mrs. Mary Hill of this city and lived for many years at Santa Monica. Mrs. Dodge was 88 years of age, having been born in Philadelphia in March 1818. She came of a family of warriors. Her father, Samuel RinKer was in the continental navy and was on the frigate Confederacy. In the War of 1812 he commanded the ship Franklin USN and was in charge of that vessel till his death in 1823. The family was represented also in the Mexican War and the War of the Rebellion, and "Grandma Dodge" herself applied for a position as nurse in the Spanish war, but her age debarred her from service. Mrs. Dodge used frequently to tell with interest of the warm personal friendship that existed between George Washington and her grandmother, Hannah Worsley, who, at the time when Washington and his men were at Valley Forge lived at Chester, PA on the Delaware River, not far from Washington's headquarters. She and her husband kept the Royal George Inn and, as the town of Chester was in possession of the British, officers used to dine every day at this inn. Mrs. Worsley did not let the officers think she was unfriendly to their interests and she was given a pass, which was virtually unlimited, permitting her to go in and out through the British lines whenever she needed to get provisions. She rode a beautiful black horse and in her journeys to Philadelphia, twenty miles away, she used to go by way of Valley Forge and with every trip took to the camp of the patriots delicacies and clean clothing for Gen. Washington whom she had known for years previous. In this way she gave him a good deal of valuable information regarding the movements of the British and when she learned that an attack was planned on the patriots, she arose at 3 o'clock in the morning and long before daybreak was well on her way to Valley Forge. Riding with all speed to the tent of Gen. Washington she quickly dismounted and on account of the urgency of the occasion without waiting for ceremony pulled up the flap of Gen. Washington's tent and informed him of the threatened attack. She had scarcely done so when the "long ro'l" summoning the troops to arms was heard in the camp. Gen. Washington made her fly for safety and she rode away with speed and soon at a safe distance from the scenes of war. She frequently called on Gen. Washington after the war and was always received with great coutesy and distinction. Mrs. Dodge was in New Orleans in 1846 at the time of the Mexicna War and nursed the sick and wounded souldiers, many of whom died of yellow fever. Before that war was over 3000 of the volunteers of the United States troops were buried near Lake Ponchartrain. Mrs. Dodge's service in connection with the Civil War began during the winter of 1861-62, at what was known as the Volunteer Refreshments Saloon in Philadelphia, an enterprise instituted and supported by wealthy citizens of the Quaker City, many of whom were descendants of Revolutionary patriots, to provide food and drink to the troops passing through Philadelphia on their way to the front. In a single day 7000 men were fed, and while they were eating their haversacks were filled with provisions. Later Mrs. Dodge served as a nurse in the old Chester Hospital and, at the close of the war, was chosen matron of the Lodge, a branch hospital established by the United States Sanitary Commission in Philadelphia where sick and wounded soldiers were cared for on their return from service. Mrs. Dodge crossed the plains to California more than half a century ago coming with a party of pioneers, most of whom walked all the way from Fort Laramie to Sacramento, a journey that consumed nearly six months time. Travel was by wagon train and it was far more agreeable to walk than to ride in the chocking clouds of dust that arose from the long train of wagons. During the last three weeks of the tramp provisions ran short and there was nothing to be had but dried apples, coffee and cow's milk, which last it was conceded saved the lives of these plucky pioneers. After arriving at Sacramento, Mrs. Dodge, who was then Miss Rinker, taught school at Brighton, a few miles from the city and a few months later married Seymour Dodge who died in 1876. 2015-a researcher doing work on Woman's Relief Corps (WRC) and Army Nurses Pension Act (ANPA) has this blog: http://for-a-woman.blogspot.com/2013/01/elizabeth-dodge.html Image Gallery
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