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Note: REFN4-BC The Flag *Note from Tangela Holcomb: I do not think this is my Martha "Kitty" Koger, as I have found no evidence of her ever living in Oregon. General Lee had led the rebels to victory at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville and was advancing toward Gettysburg. A continent away, in Oregon's Grand Ronde Valley, a group of southern sympathizers passed a law forbidding the flying of the Stars and Stripes. Mrs. Harriet Lewis called several of her friends together to discuss the law. She told them, "If we remain silent we condone the rebels. We must fly Old Glory." "But we do not have a flag," commented one of the women. "Then we shall sew a flag," vowed Mrs. Lewis. "I have three yards of bright material I was saving to make a shirt for my husband. We can use a sheet for the stars. Who has something blue?" None of the women volunteered to donate to the cause. And then Miss MARTHA KOGER spoke, " I have a blue riding skirt. It is the finest garment I own, and my favorite, but I think this idea of Harriet's is important." The women used the riding skirt for a field of blue for the stars and added the red and white stripes. On the 4th of July, 1863, they proudly flew the flag from a pole on Hendershott's Point. There was not a rebel who was man enough to step forward and cut it down in the face of the determined women. On that date General Lee's army, after sustaining losses of 20,000 men, retreated under the cover of darkness, marking the turning point in the Civil War. DEATH: The following obituary was located in my grandmother's (Mary Lee Via Jackson)papers. It is a copy of an original newspaper obituary. No date or name of paper on the copy. Just the obituary was copied. However, the document is obviously a true document. The obituary reads: DEATH: On the 6th day of Sept. 1918, the death angel visited our community and bore away on its wings the soul of our dear old friend and neighbor Mrs. Martha Katherine Via, better known to everyone as Mrs. Kitty Via, to a land that is fairer than day and where she will live forever with the angels and sorrow is unknown. She was born May 19, 1845 making her stay on earth 73 years, 3 months, and 17 days. She was married January 10, 1867 to Mr. James R. Via who has also crossed the river of death sometime before her. DEATH: She leaves seven children, four sons and three daughters, namely: Rev. J.P. Via, J.B. Via, W. King Via and G.F. Via all of Critz, VA. Mrs. J.W. Fair of Spencer, Va, Mrs. A.J. Wood of Critz, Va and Miss Mattie Via, who is now with her sister, Mrs. Fair. Mrs. Via was a good, kind hearted lady and loved by all. She was especially fond of the young people of Critz and many a good time they had at her home, which they now cannot have. The removal of her life from our midsst leaves a vacancy and a shadoe that will be deeply relized by the members of the family and her friends and neighbors. DEATH: I desire especially to make mention of the tender care given by her daughters Mrs. J.W. Fair of Spencer,VA, and Miss Mattie Via, who remained at her bedise till the end came also Mrs. Wood who was very kind and attentive. DEATH: She had never united with any church, but by faith she was Primitive Baptist. She trusted in the Lord and was ready to go when the summons came. Her funderal was conducted by Reverend S.A. Thompson of Stuart, Va. and Rev. Tucker of Nettle Ridge, Va. and her body was placed in the family burial ground near the old home. DEATH: With deep sympathy to the breaved family and friends. We express our hope that even so great a loss to us all, may be overruled for good by, "Him who doeth all things well." DEATH: This copy given to Tangela Jackson Holcomb by my aunt, Doris Jackson Moore on 15 June 2002. BIRTH: Discrepancy of date of birth. BIRTH: O.E. Pilson's "Tombstone Inscriptions of the Cemetaries of Patrick County Virginia", letter from Madeline Koger Shively and Ancestry research by Janet Via list date of birth as 30 May 1845. The obituary written by "a friend" lists date of birth as 19 May 1845. I choose to use the 30 May 1845 date of birth. I feel that a cemetary inscription carries more weight than the newspaper obituary which could include a typographical error. Especially since two other family sources use the 30 May 1845 date.
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