Cordelia G. EATON ²⁰

  General Notes:

BIOGRAPHY: Attended Ohio Weslysen Female College. Worked along side her husband at Camp Chase and died at her sisters home in Delaware, James R & Mary Hubbell four days after Albert. See Camp Chase articles and Sources.


Eunice (Fairbanks) Brown wife of Dr. James F. Brown.
"I am glad that I belong to a band of army nurses, I and proud that I sprang from a patroitic race. I When the Civil War broke out I was anxious to start, but impossibilities hedged the way until June, 1864. I then went from Windham, Portage County, Ohio, to Camp Chase, near Columbus, and at once began visiting the General Hospital, and doing for our sick soldiers such things as reading, writing, etc., in company with Major Albert Longwell's wife. We continued this delightful work until August, when Surgeon Longwell had orders to open a temporary Post Hospital, till the completion of one in the course of construction. Owing to "red tape " we could not draw any delicacies from the Government for our sick; only soldiers' rations were available while we occupied this temporary building nor could nurses draw pay or rations. I was informed of these regulations, and asked if I would take the position of nurse under such conditions. I cheerfully replied that I would."

"We applied to the Soldiers' Aid Society, and received word: " Ohio must take care of her soldiers. Our supplies must go to the front." We went with our ambulance among the farmers, soliciting food, only to be told at nearly every house, " If you wish provisions for the prisoners you can have all you want; but not one thing for the "blue coats." With heavy hearts we would return to our boys with only a few supplies, wishing we were not subject to the "powers that be." I struggled along this way until Dec. 24, 1864, when we moved; after which we had full supplies for our sick. I was then mustered into the 88th Ohio Volunteer Infantrv, " by Surgeon Longwell, under whom I had served all this time, and continued until his death, in April, 1865. After this I served under Dr. H. E. Warner, successor to Dr. Longwell, till at the close of the war I was mustered out, in July, 1865."

Mrs. Dr. Longwell died at 10:45 a.m. yesterday, at the residence of Hon. Jas. R. Hubbell, in this place. She accompanied the remains of her husband from Columbus Monday morning, and being too sick to be taken to the home of her parents, was removed to the residence of Mr. H., whose lady is sister of the late Dr. L., where she continued to sink rapidly till death ended her sufferings. Her disease was the same as that with which her husband died. Two small children are left orphans by this sad bereavement."

April 9, 1865: Delaware Gazette, May 5, 1865 [Published by request] Delivered April 9th, '65, at the William Street M.E. Church. By Rev. P.S. Donelson, D.D. DIED- At Camp Chase, March 19th, 1865, Maj.Albert Longwell, M.D., Post Surgeon. aged 34 years. DIED-In Delaware, at the residence of Hon. J.R.Hubbell, March 23d, 1865, Cordelia G. Eaton Longwell. Aged 28 years. A distance of four days only separated the husband and the wife. They were stricken down at the post the post of duty, at noon of day and noon of life, and added to the number who have fallen in their country's service. They were both reared in an adjoining township, and were acquainted from childhood. About 15 years ago Dr. Longwell came to Delaware. After some time passed as a student in the O.W. University, he made choice of his profession. Nine years passed since Delia, the only daughter and only surviving child of Joseph Eaton, Esq., became a pupil of the O.W. Female College. The father had marked out for her a generous culture - a thorough classical education. He met all her wants with a ready and liberal hand, hoping that soon she would be able to sit down by his side in the study of Greek and Hebrew, to which languages he had given considerable attention. Delia was an enthusiastic student, a faultless pupil, a model young women. She was amiable scholarly and Christian. I can think of none more so since the founding of the College. She advanced to nearly the middle of her senior year. In the meantime the Doctor had finished his studies, taken his degree and entered upon his profession in this city.- preeminently needful to the medical profession - he became a Christian, and united with the William Street M.E. Church. In February 1859, the two were united in marriage. They were beautiful parallels in natural temperament and talent - in tastes, friendships and religious experiences - well suited to wear the conjugal yoke together. Dr. Longwell is known among us as a man, highly honorable; as a friend, reliable; as a physician, faithful and skillful. When the rebellion broke out he occupied a reputable place, and had attained to a lucrative practice. At the opening of the war he entered the army as Surgeon of the 4th Ohio Regiment, subsequently of the 88th Ohio, and for the last year was assigned to duty as Post Surgeon at Camp Chase, Ohio where, taxed night and day in the care of sick and dying soldiers, he was attacked by malignant fever and died. His wife quickly followed. They sleep side by side in the cemetery of their native town. In his last hour the Doctor's thoughts wandered not from his post of duty. To himself he seemed passing from couch to couch ministering to the sick and dying. The wife and mother, after commending her orphan boys to the fatherhood of God, is said to have given a most thrilling exhortation to the friends about her to remember and relieve the suffering soldier. In their motives and sacrifices may we not look upon them as martyrs fallen for the country, truly as the soldier that sleeps upon the field of battle? There are many relatives present - members of the profession - a College - Church - fellow citizens - the two little orphaned boys did they but know their loss, would be the greatest mourners of us all.. [ much more but not copied here.].

  Noted events in her life were:

• College: OWU Transcript, 1859, Delaware Co., Ohio, United States.

• Buiral, 23 Mar 1865, Old Eden Cem., Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio.

Cordelia married Dr. Albert Greene LONGWELL, son of Ralph Slack LONGWELL and Elizabeth "Betsy" THURSTON, on 22 Feb 1859 in Delaware Co., Ohio, United States. (Dr. Albert Greene LONGWELL was born on 29 Mar 1830 in Marion, Marion, Ohio, USA, died on 19 Mar 1865 in Camp Chase, Franklin Co., Ohio and was buried in Old Eden Cem., Kilbourne, Brown, Delaware, Ohio.)