Bersillah A. (Conger) Douglas (1828 - 1908)

Born 23 Oct 1828 in Bangor, Franklin, New York, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Jonathan Howe Douglass — married 23 Oct 1847 (to 1878) in Clinton, New York, United States

Died 9 Jul 1908 at age 79 in Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Bersillah was one of the first nurses in Rockford.

Bersillah (Conger) Douglas is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, Illinois.

Berzilla was born in 1828. She was the daughter of John Conger and Anna Chaffee.

She married Jonathan Douglas in 1848.

They lived in Clinton County, New York. ^[1]

In 1852 they moved to Rockford, Illinois. ^[2][3]

In 1878 he left her for another woman and they were divorced. ^[4]

She was one of the first nurses in Rockford.

She lived in Rockford with her daughter Ada’s family. ^[5] In 1890 she moved to Rockford where she was a nurse there. ^[6]

Zillah passed away in 1908. ^[7][8]

Obituary

ZILLAH DOUGLAS DIED THIS A.M.

Mrs. Zillah Douglass, a resident of Rockford for nearly half a century and one of the first nurses of this city, died early this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry D. Waldo.

She was born at Bangor, N. Y. And was married in Saranoc, N. Y. in 1847. She came to Rockford in 1852 and for thirty years practiced as a nurse, lending assistance to many who were in dire distress and providing effectual assistance to the physicians of this city. She founded the first Society of Nurses in Rockford in 1884, serving as president until it was disbanded. She also established a monthly journal to which she contributed.

In 1890 Mrs. Douglass went to Seattle where she continued her nursing. In that city she founded a woman’s club.

Three daughters are left to mourn the passing of the aged woman. They are Mrs. Henry D. Waldo, Mrs. A. P. Yates, and Mrs. George A. Bishop of Seattle, and a step daughter, Mrs. J. M. Atkinson. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCTB-X4G : 23 December 2020), Zillah Douglass in household of J H Douglass, Mooers, Clinton, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHG-54N : 18 February 2021), Zillah Douglass in entry for Jonathan H Douglass, 1860.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M64M-VV3 : 28 May 2021), Tillah A M Douglass in entry for Jona H Douglass, 1870.
4. ↑ Daily Register (Rockford, IL) 19 July 1887, page 3. GenealogyBank: accessed 2 March 2022
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX23-72P : 13 January 2022), Zillah Douglass in household of A. B. Yates, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 228, sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:66J1-41MM : 28 January 2022), Zillah A M Douglas in entry for George Bishop, 1900.
7. ↑ Winnebago County Clerk, comp. Winnebago County Clerk Genealogy Records. Winnebago, IL: Winnebago County Clerk, 2008.

   Name: Zillah Douglas

   Death Date: 9 Jul 1908

8. ↑ Winnebago County, Illinois Will Records, 1866-1919; Author: Illinois. County Court (Winnebago County); Probate Place: Winnebago, Illinois. Free Image

   Name: Zillah Douglas

   Residence Date: Abt 1905

   Residence Place: Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois

   Will Date: 15 Nov 1905

   Probate Date: 15 Nov 1905

   Probate Place: Winnebago, Illinois, USA

   Inferred Death Date: 1905

   Inferred Death Place: Illinois, USA

   Item Description: Probate Will Records, Vol 3-6, 1895-1911

   Others Listed:

   • Minnie Atkinson Daughter
   • Zillah Teeple Daughter
   • Ada Yates Daughter
   • Ida Bishop Daughter
   • Lettie D. Waldo Daughter
   • Harry B. Andrews Friend

9. ↑ Rockford Republic (Rockford, IL) 9 July 1908, page 5. GenealogyBank : accessed 2 March 2022

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #198153430: accessed 02 March 2022), memorial page for Bersillah A “Zillah” Conger Douglas (23 Oct 1828–9 Jul 1908), citing Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by The Dark Poet (contributor 48874054) .