USA > Iowa > The blue book of Iowa women; a history of contemporary women; > Part 4
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. HORACE BARNES
Olive Schreiner Barnes was born Sept. 6, 1874, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She is the daughter of the Rev. Ed- win Luther Schreiner and Martha Anne Robinson. Her father, as his name indicates, was of German descent. He was an alumnus of the Iowa Wesleyan College and for forty years was a minister in the Iowa conference of the Methodist church, being presiding elder a part of the time. He served in the Civil War, enlisting with the first Iowa volunteers, later he joined the U. S. Christian Commission, serving to the close of the war. Mrs. Schreiner was the daughter of the Rev. Anthony Robinson and was a woman of unusual cul- ture-a gentlewoman in every phase of her character. Mrs. Barnes is a graduate of the lowa Wesleyan Col- lege, having the degrees B. A. and M. A. She is a member of the Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She was mar- ried June 15, 1898, to Horace Barnes, who is editor of the Albia Republican. He comes from a family of newspaper men, his grandfather having established and edited The Independent Press, the first Iowa paper printed west of the Des Moines river, and his father, A. C. Barnes, edited the Albia Union for many years, and is always given a place of honor at the editorial meetings in the State. Mrs. Barnes is a mem- ber of the M. E. church, is secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library, has been a state officer in the P. E. O. sisterhood and belongs to a number of local clubs. She is a great reader, a keen observer and appreciative of the fine things of life. She is a charm- ing companion, having a sense of humor unsurpassed.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. W. H. BAILY
Alice A. Crawford Bailey was born Feby 16, 1854. She is the daughter of John Barnes Crawford whose ancestors came from the north of Ireland in 1735 and whose grandfather was an officer in the War of the Revolution. Her mother was Naomi Davis Wood, whose ancestors came to America with William Penn in 1682. Mrs. Bailey was graduated from the Uni- versity of Wisconsin in 1875 with the degree B. S. She was married Sep. 23, 1878, to William H. Baily of Spirit Lake, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, the class of 1873, Ph. B. He was graduated from the Law Department of the University of Iowa in 1875. Mr. Baily died May 10, 1910, after having served his home city, Des Moines, and the State with distinguish- ed legal ability and devotion. One son was born to them, Robert William Baily, who was graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1907, in the Mechani- cal Engineering Department.
Mrs. Baily is a member of the Central Presbyterian church and probably the only woman in the state who has served on the Board of Trustees in a Presbyterian church. She has served as president of the Des Moines Woman's Club; president of the I. F. W. C .; president of the Conversational Club, and is now president of the Ex-Presidents Association of the I. F. W. C. Has served as regent of Abigail Adams Chapter D. A. R. By ap- pointment of Gov. Cummins she served as chairman of the Woman's Auxiliary Committee of the Iowa Board of Managers for the St. Louis Exposition and in that capacity presided at the many functions held in the Iowa State Building. She is a woman of poise and executive ability of a high order, coupled with a gracious charming personality.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS ELIZABETH WILKINS DUNLAP
Some one has said "He has achieved success who has lived well, who has gained the respect of intelli- gent men and the love of little children; who fills his niche and accomplishes his task; who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or failed to express it; who looks for the best in others and gives the best he has." Measured by this standard, the life of Miss Elizabeth W. Dunlap is a success, for daily she does all these things. She was born in Zanesville, Ohio, the daughter of David Riddle Dunlap and Harriett Ann Wilkins. She came to Keokuk, September, 1879, which city has since been her home. She has one brother, John A. Dunlap, who is cashier of the Keo- kuk National Bank. She was educated in the schools of Zanesville and Keokuk, taking advanced work in the University of Chicago and in the Harvard sum- mer school. For twenty-six years she has been a very successful teacher in the Keokuk schools, having been principal of the Garfield building for fourteen years. She is a member of St. John's Episcopal church. She has served the Keokuk Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution as its regent, being a descend- ant of James Newsmith, Jr., who fought in the War for Independence. She is fond of travel and has twice crossed this continent, beside other trips to points of interest. She has made two trips abroad and visited most of the countries of Europe.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. ED. E. EGAN
Henrietta Martha Bousquet Egan was born in Ames, Iowa, Nov. 28, 1869. Her parents, John J. Bousquet and Anna Van der Linden, are of Holland birth, and came to America with their parents, with a company of religious refugees in 1847, to find a home in the Hol- land settlement at Pella, Iowa. In all American his- tory there is no more interesting story than the found- ing of that settlement at Pella. The colonists brought the traditions of the home land in their hearts and for years and years Pella was a little Holland in its life language and customs. The Bousquet family after a brief residence at Ames returned to Pella and here the daughter Henrietta Martha was educated, graduating from Central College in the department of music. She continued her musical studies in Boston, her natural talent and training have made her a very accomplished musician. She was married Sep. 3, 1896, to Ed. E. Egan, and lived in Glenwood and Atlantic, Iowa, until 1904, since which time their home has been in Burling- ton, where Mr. Egan is secretary of the Commercial Exchange. Four children have been born to them, John Bousquet, born in 1897, Eugene William in 1907, Louis Gardner in 1910. Geraldine was born in 1901 and died in 1906. Mrs. Egan is an active member of the Congregational church and a valued member of the Burlington Musical Club. For fourteen years she has been a member of the P. E. O. sisterhood, having belonged to the chapter in Atlantic before joining the Burlington chapter. In her life she is wonderfully well balanced; she is domestic in her tastes, generous of her musical ability to her friends, fond of society and interested in all that ministers to the welfare of the community.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MISS ALICE FRENCH (OCTAVE THANET)
A name which stands very near the top in the list of literary women not only of Iowa but of America is that of Octave Thanet, which is the pen name of Miss Alice French of Davenport. She was born in Andover. Mass., March 19, 1850, descended from a long line of honored men and women, representative of the best American ancestry. Her father was the Hon. George Henry French who was a prominent legislator of Massachusetts. She was educated at Abbott Academy in Andover and has traveled and studied all her life, making her a broadly educated woman. She is a mem- ber of the Colonial Dames of America, being the His- torian of the National Society. She is a member of the Mayflower Club of Boston and of the Barnard National Arts Association of New York. Much of her life has been spent in the east, although she has always claim- ed Davenport as home. She has a residence at Clover Bend, Ark., where she spends a part of every year. She has received many honors, and much praise for her literary work, all of which is merited, and yet she has been wholly unspoiled. She is a sweet, gracious woman, loved by her friends and sincerely admired by all who know her. Among the best known of her books are "Knitters in Sun," "Expatiation," "An Adven- ture of Photography," Otto the Knight," "A Mis- sionary Sheriff," "The Heart of Toil, ""'A Book of True Lovers," "A Slave to Duty," "The Lion's Share," and "A Man of the Hour."
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. HAZEN I. SAWYER
"Life is not measured in years but in deeds." If this be true the measure of Mrs. Sawyer's life is far more than the forty years which marked its beginning and its close. Marcia Louisa Jenkins was the daugh- ter of Dr. George F. Jenkins and Charlotte Van Wag- genen and was born in Keokuk, July 16, 1873. She received her preparatory education in that city and after graduating from the High School, spent four years in study at Rockford College, being graduated from the musical department. Feby. 8, 1899, she was married to Hazen Irwin Sawyer, a prominent attorney, the son of Captain I. A. and Mary Irwin Sawyer. She was a devoted member of the First Westminster Pres- byterian church and for many years played the organ for its services, in memory of which a bronze tablet has been placed on the pipe organ in the main auditorium. She was a musician of unusual talent, having a pe- culiar sympathetic ability as an accompanist. She was a charter member of the Monday Music Club and active in its interests. She was a charter member of the Young Women's Christian Association, for a number of years a director. She was a charter member of the Keokuk Chapter Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, and twice its Regent. At the time of her death she was Vice Regent of the State Society of D. A. R. It was during her regency that the Keokuk statue was erected and her name on the bronze tablet at its base bears testimony to her part in the work. Her death occurred after a few weeks' illness at the home of her father, Dr. Jenkins, April 10, 1914. At the State Conference of D. A. R's. in 1914, a special mem- orial service was held in her memory.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. F. S. BURBERRY
Martha Dashiell Burberry was born in 1865 at Hart- ford, Ia. She is the daughter of Dr. Mark Anthony and Louisiana Noble Dashiell. Her father was de- scended from the French Hugenots who settled in Maryland. His father came west to Indiana and here Dr. Dashiell grew to manhood, coming to Warren county, Iowa, in 1853, where until his death in 1907, he practiced his profession and was prominent in the affairs of the state, serving several terms in the legis- lature. He was an orator of ability and many laws which promote public health were enacted through his influence. Mrs. Dashiell was the daughter of Dr. B. S. Noble, who for many years was a practicing physician of Indianola ; he was a brother of Gov. Noble of Indi- ana. Mrs. Dashiell was a woman of unusual beauty and culture, her mother, Mary Jane Armstrong, hav- ing been a famous beauty of Indiana. Mrs. Burberry was educated at Simpson College and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. In 1893 she was married to F. S. Burberry, a prominent resident of Indianola. She is a Presbyterian, president of the Indianola Woman's Club, president of the P. E. O. chapter, a mem- ber of the Shakespeare Club and active in the alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi. She has represented the P. E. O. chapter at state and national conventions, has attend- ed two biennials of the General Federation of Women's Clubs and is a member of the State Board I. F. W. C., being chairman of the seventh district. She has no children, but has given a home to two orphan nieces and a nephew, to whom she has been a devoted mother. She is a much traveled woman and a woman of culture and education.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. ELEANOR HOYT BRAINARD
Among the Iowa authors Eleanor Hoyt Brainard stands very high in the realm of short story writers. She was born and reared in Iowa City, born in 1868. She is the daughter of Water Hoyt and Louisa Smith, who were married in that city in the early 60's. She received her early education in the public schools of Iowa City and was graduated from the Cincinnatti Wesleyan College with the degree A. M. She taught for several years in the Cincinnatti Wesleyan College and in the Gardner schools for girls, 5th Ave., New York. She was married in June, 1904, to Charles Chis- holm Brainard, of New York. Their home is at 319 W. 95th St. Since 1898 she has been on the staff of the New York Sun. Besides this she writes regularly for many periodicals of the best class. Her short stories deal largely with the experience of girls, in society, in school, and in business. Her long experience in teach- ing young women gives her a very keen insight into the life which surrounds the girls of today. Her style is bright and clever and appeals to the older people as well as to the younger generation. She is the author of the following books: "Nancy's Country Christmas and Other Stories," "Concerning Belinda," "In Van- ity Fair," "Bettina" and "The Personal Conduct of Belinda."
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. GEORGE H. FRANCE
Nannie Bourne France is the daughter of one of the first white settlers of Iowa Territory and as such is certainly a real daughter of Iowa. She was born in De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa. She is the daughter of the Hon. James D. and Christiana Dennis Bourne who were married in 1844 and resided in Clinton county the remainder of their lives. Mr. Bourne was born in Prince Williams county, Va., in 1832. At the age of 21 he came to Gelena, Ill., and was one of a company which built the first smelting works in this section of the U. S. In 1836 he moved to Clinton county, Iowa, and occupied a cabin built by the American Fur Co., on the banks of the Waubesipinicon river. He was the second white settler in the county and was post- master at Waubesipinicon, Dubuque county, which was then a part of the Wisconsin territory. He was appointed lieutenant of the militia by the governor of the Territory. He served as deputy sheriff continu- ously by election until Iowa was admitted as a state. He filled the office of U. S. Marshall, was a member of the second general assembly, and served both as treas- urer and recorder of Clinton county, and as U. S. Com- missioner. In 1863 he began the study of law, was admitted to the bar and became one of the best known members of the profession in Iowa. His death occurred in 1893. His wife having died Nov. 23, 1890.
On April 13, 1887, Nannie Bourne was married to George H. France, of Des Moines. They have one son, George Bourne France, who was born Nov. 23, 1889. He is a graduate of the North High School of Des Moines, and of the University of Wisconsin, and is in business in Des Moines. Mrs. France is an active club
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
woman and identified with many of the prominent organizations of Des Moines. She is a P. E. O. and has served chapter Q, which is the largest chapter in the State, as treasurer and as president. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Roadside Settlement House. She has for a number of years been chairman of the Civics Committee of the Des Moines City Fed- cration of Women's Clubs. She was the first woman of that city to take up the movement against the smoke nuisance. She spent the greater part of nine years in familiarizing herself and the public, through the press, of the waste and of the destruction to plant and ani- mal life and to property by the smoke nuisance. De- feated many times in securing a state law, giving cities power to deal with this problem constitutionally, Mrs. France did not give up, but persevered with determi- nation, that for the sake of suffering humanity she would yet win. At last in 1910 the Anti Smoke law was passed, and in Sep. 6, 1911, a city ordinance was passed for the abatement of smoke. These laws are being enforced by a smoke inspector and by a smoke abatement commission of five persons of which Mrs. France is one, being the only woman on the commis- sion.
She is an earnest advocate of equal suffrage and is an active member of two clubs, working for the full en- franchisement of women. Mrs. France has for a number of years been a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Des Moines. She is a lover of nature and of travel and has seen the greater part of this country. While she is a woman of public spirit and interested in civic affairs, yet her home is her first consideration and receives a great deal of her personal supervision.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. D. A. COLLIER
One of the homes of Keokuk which is a center of good cheer and hospitality and whose roof has shelter- ed at some time or another most of the people worth while who have come to that city, is that of Mr. and Mrs. D. A. Collier. Susie Chambers Smythe Collier was born in Keokuk and is the daughter of the late George B. Smythe and Martha M. Chambers. Mr. Smythe moved to Keokuk in 1848 and was for many years a central figure in the business and municipal life of that city; a pioneer to whom Keokuk owes much. He was mayor in 1863, during the exciting times of the Civil War. In the early 70's the city had a debt of $3,000,000 and he was appointed fiscal agent. He went to England in 1875, seeking capital with which to settle the debt. It seemed attempting the impossible, but the city eagerly agreed to let him try it and he achieved the impossible, and by his diplo- macy, reduced the debt to a size which the city could handle. He was appointed by Pres. Hayes govern- ment director of the Union Pacific. He was on the same financial committee with Russell Sage and Jay Gould. He was a wholesale merchant and at one time owned a fortune. Mrs. Smythe was a woman of such fine character as is seldom seen. She was a pioneer in organizing the Women's Foreign Missionary Society in the Presbyterian church when the voice of women was seldom heard in that denomination. For twenty five years she was superintendent of the primary de- partment of the Sunday school of the First Westmin- ster church. Her whole life was a beautiful exhibition of Christian character. She lived for her family, her
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church and her God, and the trials and sorrows which came to her life but further refined the pure gold of her character.
Susie Smythe was married on Jany. 14, 1886, to David Alexander Collier, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Al- exander Collier, who were pioneers and prominent citizens of Keokuk. Mr. Collier is president of the firm of Blom, Collier Co., wholesale grocers and a director of the Keokuk National Bank. Mrs. Collier is devoted to her home city and to all its interest. She was a charter member of Keokuk Chapter D. A. R. and is State Vice Regent of Iowa. It was largely through her effort the handsome bronze statue of Chief Keokuk was erected. She is a member of the First Westmin- ster Presbyterian church and of two of its societies. She was president of the first Audubon Society of the State of Iowa. She is president of the Benevolent Union and was a very influential factor in the estab- lishment of the Birge Benevolent Union Home for old women and children. She is a director of the Civic League and for ten years was a director of the Country Club. She is a skillful and scientific whist player and has won trophies at the Whist Congresses. Mrs. Col. lier is fond of society and it is natural that she should be a leader there as in other things.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. CHAUNCEY P. COLEGROVE
Emma Ridley Colegrove was born Dec. 28, 1866, at Grinnell. Her mother, Maria Anna Brown, born in Evercreech, Eng., in 1845, came to Grinnell in 1855. Her grandfather, John Brown, was prominent and in- fluential, working with J. B. Grinnell and others, for the general uplift. Her father, Chas. A. Ridley, born in Searsport, Me., 1841, a veteran of the Civil War, is a descendant of the ancient Ridley family, Northum- berland, Eng. Mrs. Colegrove graduated from the Grinnell High School, the Iowa State Normal, M. Di., Michigan University Ph. B., Radcliffe College, A. M. She taught in the Grinnell schools, principal of the Perry high school and was head of the Historical Dept. Iowa State Teachers' College. Married Aug. 29, 1899, to Chauncey P. Colegrove, A. M., SC. D. They have three children-Marian Emma, born 1900; Donald Ridley, 1901; Catherine Anna, 1909. She is president of the Cedar Falls Woman's Club, the largest and most influential club in the city, a member of the M. E. church, active in the missionary work of the upper Iowa conference, a member of the Tuesday Club, of the Cedar Falls Chapter D. A. R., recording secre- tary of the Iowa Congress of Mothers and secretary of the Iowa Sate Teachers College Alumni Association. She often makes public addresses on missionary, social and educational topics. She is the author of an "Out- line guide to American History." Her husband,
Dr. Colegrove, is head of the Professional Department and vice president of the Iowa Teachers' College. He is a lecturer of national reputation on educational lines and his latest book, "The Teacher and the School," has already (1913) been adopted by the State Reading Circle Boards of twenty-six states,
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. HELEN MAR COMSTOCK
"You might read her beautiful biography written in the hearts of her friends; and heart biographies are the only true ones we know." Certainly this is true of Mrs. Helen Mar Comstock, who long will live in the memory of all who knew her. She was descended from Virginia ancestry. Her great-great-great grandfather founded the second church in the valley of Virginia which was known as the Old Stone Church. Her grandfather lived in a settlement in Augusta county, Va., from which came President Harrison and other noted men. Her father was William Graham, whose lineage is traced from the Earl of Montrose and many of the family won distinction in the professions. Gra- ham Hospital in Keokuk is a memorial to William Gra- ham. Her mother was Martha M. Coyle, born at Lex- ington, Ky., of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. Comstock was born in Jasper, Ind., in 1837, and died in Pasadena on Easter morning, April 12, 1914. She moved with her parents to Keokuk in 1847. At the age of sixteen she was married to Gilbert Comstock who died several years ago. Mrs. Comstock always called Keokuk "home," although she spent many seasons in Wash- ington ; lived in the north in the summers and the last ten years of her life lived in California, and only visit- ed "home." At her death she left many bequests to benevolences. She was a devoted Presbyterian and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a woman of the greatest charm, an unusually beautiful woman physically, a woman cultivated by study and travel and above all a woman of the most devoted Christian character.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. JULIA ELLEN ROGERS
Although not a native of this state, yet a woman whom Iowa claims because of her long residence with- in its borders is Julia Ellen Rogers, author and lecturer. She was born in La Salle county, Illinois, Jan. 21, 1866. Her parents, Daniel Farrend and Ruth Dodd Lewellyn, lived on a farm and it was here that as a child she lived near to nature and learned to love and understand nature in her varied seasons and moods. In 1892 she was graduated from the State University of Iowa with the degree Ph. B. In 1892 she received the degree of M. S. in agriculture, in the Col- lege of Agriculture in Cornell University, New York. For many years she taught in the public schools and academies of Iowa. She was head of the Department of Biology in the East High School, Des Moines, and taught also in the Cedar Rapids High School. She taught nature science in many summer schools in dif- ferent parts of the state. She has lectured in many cities on various phases of nature study, on civic im- provement, the beautifying of cities by trees and parks and kindred subjects. She is the editor of the Nature Club department in Country Life in America and has done much to encourage her readers to love the out of doors and to conserve the beauty spots of our country. She is the author of a number of books, among them "The Shell Book," "Among Green Trees," "Earth and Sky," "Trees Every Child Should Know," and "Wild Animals Every Child Should Know." She is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and is a sorority woman, being a member of Pi Beta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. She has a residence in New York at 2338 Loring Place.
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The Blue Book of Iowa Women
MRS. GEORGE W. DELAPLAINE
In 1852 there came to Iowa from Ohio, the Collier family and the Wilson family of Scotch and Scotch- Irish lineage, and firm in the Presbyterian faith. They settled on adjoining farms in Van Buren county. The household goods were sent by boat down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Keokuk. The families drove across the country or rode horseback. Mary Wilson rode her own saddle horse all the long journey. In 1855 Alexander Collier and Mary Wilson were married and in 1856 came to Keokuk to live. Mr. Collier was a wholesale merchant and four generations of his fam- ily have been prominent in the social and business life of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Collier were born eight children, six of whom are living, John Wil- son, David Alexander, George, Charles Cox, Mary Belle and Elizabeth Jean. Mary B. Collier was born at Keokuk and educated in the schools there. She was married Jany. 4, 1888, to George Walker Delaplaine, who died in 1894. He was the son of James W. Dela- plaine, who was a prominent Keokuk pioneer. Mrs. Delaplaine enjoys society and her friends, loves travel, is a keen observer, a charming conversationalist and a constant student. She is a member of the Art Club, the Travel Class, the Mentor Reading Club, the Monday Music Club, the Country Club, and to the Fortnightly Whist Club. Margaret Collier Graham of literary fame is a cousin, their fathers being broth- ers. For more than thirty-five years, the Collier home at 1st and High St. on the bluff overlooking the Mis- sissippi River was a center of hospitality and good cheer and only recently because the size of the house and the family were not commensurate did the old home pass into the possession of strangers.
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