Helen Brainard Cole

Helen Brainard Cole was a beloved, patriotic woman who served her country during the Civil War as one of the first female nurses. During the war, Helen served at the Campbell Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she befriended president Abraham Lincoln. She later moved to Boston, before returning to Wisconsin. Helen passed away in 1931 at the age of 93, and is buried here in Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

Helen Brainard Cole was born in Oneida, New York on July 20, 1838. Her family moved to Sheboygan Falls when Helen was 7 years old. Little is known of her childhood, but we do know that her father worked as a blacksmith. In 1858 Helen married William Cole, the son of Charles D. Cole, a Sheboygan Falls pioneer. Unfortunately, two years into their marriage, William contracted tuberculosis and died, leaving Helen alone with their 11 month old daughter, Hattie. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Helen felt the need to serve the Union army as both her father and brother enlisted. Fortunately, Helen would get her opportunity. The need for medical care in the war was so great that a woman, Dorothy Dix, was appointed by the government to enroll women as hospital nurses. This role was not traditionally available to women, and it marked an opportunity for individuals like Helen. 

At age 21, Helen became the personal secretary for Dix in Louisville, Kentucky. At this point Helen was too young to serve as a nurse, as women were required to be at least 30 years old. However, after repeated requests, Helen became a hospital nurse for Campbell Hospital in Washington, D.C. 

While serving in the hospital, Helen met and befriended many significant figures, including the president, Abraham Lincoln, who frequently visited the hospital to spend time with the wounded soldiers. When Lincoln’s son, Tad, became sick, Helen was selected as one of the nurses to care for him. Later in her life, Helen would speak of her time during the war with pride.

After the war, Helen was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, to oversee the closure of a hospital for African American veterans, before moving to Boston to work in a home for women. During this time, Helen returned to school, believing that everyone should be a student their whole life. She painted illustrations for books, wrote histories and featured stories for newspapers, and formed acquaintances and friendships with many famous and important individuals. These friendships included people like General and Mrs. Grant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Horace Mann, Josephine Peabody, Theodore Roosevelt, and Henry Ward Beecher. 

Eventually, Helen returned to Sheboygan Falls in order to care for her father who was quite ill. She cared for both her father and mother until their deaths, promising her mother that she would remain in their family home for as long as her brother, Benjamin, was alive. She fulfilled this promise, and upon Benjamin’s death Helen sold the family home and moved into the Grand Hotel in Sheboygan. There she would live for eighteen years, until her own passing.

Helen was an incredibly active and patriotic woman for her time. She was a member and served as an officer in many local, state, and national societies and organizations. There are 12 groups listed in her obituary, including The National Association of Army Nurses of the Civil War, the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of Union Veterans (which was renamed the Helen Brainard Cole Tent in her honor during her life), the Veterans of the Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and the Women’s Relief Corps. In addition, Helen was a popular speaker nationwide. She traveled every year to be part of the national encampments of the Grand Army Republic and the Army Nurses of the Civil War, even into her old age.

While she lived in the Grand Hotel, Helen had a favorite corner of the lobby that she sat in and received guests. She would recount her life experiences and share a friendly smile and wave to those passing by outside. One day, however, Helen fell at the bottom of the steps and broke her hip. She was then taken to St. Nicholas Hospital, and although she remained cheerful, Helen passed away two weeks later on September 4, 1931 at the age of 93. 

Helen’s funeral took place four days later, after days of visitation at the Hanchett Mortuary due to the number of people who wanted to pay their respects. On the day of the funeral, the body was escorted to Grace Episcopal Church by many military organizations. The church itself was filled to capacity, with standing room only. 

The procession then moved here, to the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery, with a group of 400 people gathered around the grave. The American Legion then provided a firing squad, and presented taps. 

The Helen Brainard Cole Tent (the local chapter of the Daughters of the Union Veterans) erected a memorial in the form of a boulder two years later, in 1933. You can still see it at the corner of Calument Drive and 20th street, across from the Cooper Elementary School in Sheboygan. It was designed to “ever be an inspiration to all who gaze upon it to emulate the noble acts and deeds of women, and is a fitting memorial to Helen Brainard Cole.”

"Civil War Nurse Who Knew Abraham Lincoln Passes Away." The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan) September 4th, 1931.

"Plan Military Funeral Rites For Mrs. Cole." The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan) September 5th, 1931.

"Impressive Last Rites for Mrs. Helen Brainard Cole." The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan) September 8th, 1931.

"Sincere Tributes are Paid to Mrs. Helen Brainard Cole." The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan) September 5th, 1931.

"Resolution on Boulder." The Sheboygan Press (Sheboygan) June 15th, 1933.