USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume IV > Part 1
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GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02398 9467
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Women of Chin
A RECORD OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE
Ruth Neely EDITOR IN CHIEF
SPONSORED BY THE
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VOLUME IV
FOUR ROYAL OCTAVO VOLUMES PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED
S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
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CHAPTER SEVEN
Women Discover Clubs
(Continued from Page 368)
MARTHA KINNEY COOPER
MARTHA KINNEY COOPER
MARTHA KINNEY COOPER is the wife of a former governor of Ohio. She has an ancestry to which the most modest and democratic of women-which everyone agrees she is-can still point with pride. She was a belle in her girlhood, a musician of ability in her young womanhood, in early middle age the most popular first lady-this also is conseusus of opinion-that ever graced the governor's mansion at Columbus. Since then she has been active in far-reaching and construc- tive welfare work, and yet there is only one achievement in which Martha Cooper can be persuaded to point with pride. This is the Ohioana Library.
Without question this pride is justified. The project had all the merit of originality. It has been carried out with the energy, orderliness and enthusiasm which characterize its founder.
And yet it started quite by accident. The bright idea came to Mrs. Cooper one day, early in 1929, when the governor and his lady had just moved into their Columbus mansion. She was surrounded by personal belongings, in all stages of unpacking. Clothes, furnishings, bric-a-brac and books-books. There were bookshelves available, quite a generous stack. They invited systematic arrangement, classification by topie or authorship. Then came the happy thought-why not have a special section for Ohio authors ?
This was the start of the Ohioana Library, which now represents more than 4,000 Ohio writers and is growing so fast that any list of its volumes is outdated by the time the list is published.
The Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library-this is its official name-is housed in a special room of the State Library in the beautiful old statehouse at Columbus.
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At first Martha Cooper collected and filed the books unaided. It was no easy task, sandwiched in between the multifarious and exacting duties of the first lady of the state, and never were these responsibilities met more conscientiously, or hospitalities discharged more graciously. The governor's mansion had a top floor the whole length and breadth of the house. This was transformed by Mrs. Cooper into a most attrac- tively furnished reception quarters which could serve as auditorium, lounge, tearoom or ballroom as occasion required. The governor's lady did the honors here so charmingly and untiringly that for innumerable visitors of whatever political party it will always recall the memory of a smiling little lady, attractively gowned, who, although her name was Martha, gave never a hint of her many cares.
It was not long before Mrs. Cooper was able to enlist the active cooperation of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs in the Ohioana Library and soon collecting and filing of books and booklets written by Ohioans was increasing by leaps and bounds. Clubwomen throughout the state began to function in their duty of collecting all published writ- ings of Ohio authors-also compositions of Ohio musicians-supplying the biographical data and sending them on to Columbus.
Mrs. Cooper, although still devoting unlimited time to the project she founded, is not concerned with official honors connected therewith. On the official list of the Ohioana advisory committee she is chairman of files and Mrs. Depew Head, of Columbus, is state-wide chairman. Representation on the board is by organization, also by special fields of occupation as these are reflected in the books collected.
Ohio was the first state of the nation to found a library of the works of its own authors. Now three states, California, Montana and Ken- tucky, have followed suit and one of the founder's ever recurring tasks is to answer inquiries from other states on how the enterprise can be launched.
Among the publications on file in the Ohioana Library are 68 D. A. R. histories. To the founder of the library every one of them has an interest reflected by her activity in the Daughters of the American Revolution,
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for that matter, in the Daughters of American Colonists, Colonial Daugh- ters of America, and New England Women as well.
The reason is not far to seek. Among Martha Kinney's ancestors are Landgrave Daniel Axtell, who sailed from England for South Caro- lina in 1680 and founded the town of Dorchester; Henry Axtell, killed in 1676 in King Philips War; Richard Baker, a selectman of Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1653; Constable Freeman, member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery in New England in 1658; Henry Crane, original proprietor of Dorchester, Massachusetts; Joel Kinney, who came to America from Ireland in 1660 and became a landed proprietor of Hart- ford, Connecticut; Stephen Kinsley, who came to America in 1654, dep- uty general of the general court at Baintree and at Milton, Massachu- setts; William Knapp, original proprietor of Watertown, Massachusetts; and Joseph Pratt, who came to America in 1623 and was one of the 36 purchasers of Dartmouth, New Hampshire.
This glittering array of Colonial forebears is well matched by the ancestry of Myers Y. Cooper, whom Martha married at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1897. This highly successful and highly popular Cincinnati business man, who served as governor of Ohio from 1929 to 1931, belongs by direct descent not only to Sons of the American Revolution but also to the Society of Mayflower Descendants.
No wonder they-and their sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters-are interested in the preservation of archives in the recording of which their ancestors had so active a part.
Martha Cooper was graduated from Woodward High School, Cin- cinnati, in 1892, and then devoted herself earnestly to vocal and instru- mental music. She has never lost interest in music, has cooperated en- thusiastically in projects that have enhanced Cincinnati's fame as a music center. She worked the past year as a member for Ohio of the national advisory committee in women's participation in the New York World's Fair. She has had effective part in innumerable other civic services. But she does not seek to conceal her keenest interest. It's the Ohioana Library.
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ALICE RUSH ALLEY
ALICE RUSH ALLEY, who has figured prominently in club circles and who has rendered valuable assistance to her husband, Dr. J. R. Alley, of Greenville, is a native of Hayesville, Ohio, and a daughter of the Rev. L. E. and Olive E. (Doerrer) Rush, also born in Hayes- ville. The father is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and se- cured his first pastorate at Hayesville, after which he went to Dela- ware, Ohio, where for twenty-one years he was pastor of Grace Metho- dist Episcopal Church. On the expiration of that period he went to Worthington, Ohio, to take charge of the Methodist Children's Home there and continued in that service for about seven years. He is now pastor of Trinity Methodist Church in Mount Gilead, Ohio. To Rev. and Mrs. L. E. Rush were born four children. Ralph E., the eldest, married Marjorie Hollingsworth, of Williamsburg, Indiana, and they have two children, Anne and Richard. Mrs. J. R. Alley is the second of the family. Martha is now the wife of William Robert Boyd, of Youngstown, Ohio, and they have two daughters, Patricia and Suzanne. Robert D. Rush, who completes the family, married Harriet Metzger, of Columbus, Ohio, and they have one son, Robert D., Jr.
While spending her girlhood days under the parental roof, Alice Rush attended the grade schools and was graduated from the high school at Delaware, after which she enrolled as a student in Ohio Wes- levan University of that city, completing her course there by gradua- tion with the class of 1927. She then devoted a year to post-graduate work in bacteriology at Ohio State University and later she pursued a course in nurses' training at the Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus. After completing the course she supervised the pediatrics department there for four years.
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On the 1st of July, 1932, Alice Rush became the wife of Dr. J. R. Alley, a graduate of Ohio State University, who took up active practice in Greenville, where he has since successfully followed his profession. They have three children: Marcia Gene, Linda Lou and Virginia.
After coming to Greenville, Mrs. Alley joined the Elite and Colum- bian Clubs and of the latter served as secretary in 1933 and later as vice president for a year, while in 1937 she filled the office of presi- dent. In 1938 she was president of the Elite Club and she belongs to Phi Beta Kappa. On account of her early training she has been of the greatest assistance to her husband in his practice, thoroughly understanding many of the scientific phases of the work which claims his attention. During her college days she was president of the stu- dent nurses' organization and she has also been active in the alumnae nurses' organization, of which she has likewise served as president. In the social life of Greenville she is also well known and has won an extensive circle of friends during her residence here. The family home is at 321 Washington Avenue.
LOUISE BECKER
LOUISE BECKER, widow of Charles Becker, makes her home in Steubenville, where she is prominently known by reason of her activity in church, club and social circles. Steubenville is her native city and she is a daughter of William G. and Emma (Floto) Spies. The father was born in Germany but was only fourteen years of age when he came to Steubenville, Ohio. He learned his trade in Germany from his father. After working in Forney's Store until manhood he established a jewelry business which is still being carried on, the present proprietor being George Spies. William G. Spies died at the age of fifty-five years, while his wife, who was born in Steubenville, passed away at the age of fifty-two.
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Their daughter, Mrs. Becker, was educated in the public schools of her native city and after taking her optical course in Norristown, Penn- sylvania, for eight years thereafter she was optometrist in her father's store. She then married Charles Becker, who died about twenty years ago, leaving his widow and three children: Mrs. Charles McConnell, Charles and Mrs. Ed Martin, all living in Steubenville. There is also one grandchild, Diane McConnell.
Mrs. Becker has always taken a helpful interest in the welfare of her native city, where her entire life has been passed, and in October, 1940, she will become the president of the Steubenville Woman's Club, to which office she has recently been elected. She belongs to the Evan- gelical and Reformed Church and her especial interest has been the Women's Guild of the church, to which she has given valuable assist- ance. Of the national board of the Women's Guild, she has served as one of the vice presidents and of the Middle East district of the Woman's Club, comprising several counties in southeastern Ohio, she is chairman of the home security and finance department. She resides at 1225 Ridge Avenue in Steubenville and reading has always been one of her favorite pastimes. She is gracious in manner, kindly in disposition and apprecia- tive of all that is of cultural worth to the individual and she has a host of warm friends in her native city, where she has always remained.
SARA E. BINDER
No story of the Eastern Star activities in Ohio would be complete without reference to SARA E. LEMING BINDER, who has devoted much time and effort to furthering the splendid achievements and up- holding the high purposes of this organization. A resident of Welling- ton, she is the wife of Arthur H. Binder, for more than a third of a cen- tury a druggist of Wellington, and a daughter of George W. and Hen- rietta R. (Dawson) Leming, the former born near Galveston, Texas, while the mother was born at Rolla, Missouri.
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Mrs. Binder was also born near Rolla although she spent her girl- hood at Webster Groves, Missouri, where she was graduated on the completion of the high school course. She then took up dressmaking, which she followed for a short time, after which she became a milliner and buyer, continuing in that line of business for ten or twelve years. She was sent by Reed Brothers to Wellington, where she did the millin- ery work for Rogers & Bill, being employed here for about four years before her marriage to Arthur H. Binder, who established a drug store here in October, 1906, and has since carried on the business.
Throughout the period of her residence in Wellington, Mrs. Binder has been active in the life of the community. She attended the Methodist Church until after her marriage, when she went to the Congregational Church in which her husband has membership. She has taken a very helpful part in its work and has been president of the Church Guild. Recently she has been taking the correspondence course in Unity. Mrs. Binder was also the first president of the Ladies of Kiwanis and she is a charter member of the Garden Club.
For a quarter of a century Mrs. Binder has been an active worker in the Eastern Star, has passed through all the chairs in the local chap- ter and in the grand chapter and in October, 1927, was elected worthy grand matron of the Eastern Star of Ohio, this being followed by three years as grand trustee, to which office she was chosen in October, 1928. In the same year the triennial session of the grand chapter of the world was held in Denver, Colorado, with J. Ernest Teare, who was initiated in Temple Chapter in Wellington, presiding as most worthy grand patron of the world and Mrs. Binder, a member of Temple Chapter, No. 103, presided as the grand matron of the State of Ohio. She also served as color bearer for Ohio and teller for the general grand chapter of the world and since that time she has served constantly on various com- mittees.
Ten years ago Mrs. Binder started to write pageants, ceremonies, speeches, etc., that have been used in Eastern Star chapters throughout the world.
The rapidly passing years find her as busy as she was when she presided over the one hundred and twelve thousand members of the Eastern Star in Ohio.
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EDNA DICKES BRUMBAUGH
EDNA CATHERINE DICKES BRUMBAUGH, wife of Judge Jesse K. Brumbaugh, of Greenville, was prior to her marriage well known as a language teacher and now devotes her activities outside of the home largely to music, club and church work. She is a daughter of Dr. Philip and Cassie (Fink) Dickes, the former a native of Buffalo, New York, and the latter of Miami County, Ohio. Dr. Philip Dickes studied medicine under private instruction for a time and later attended lec- tures at the University of Michigan, after which he began the practice of his profession in Indiana. He received his degree of Doctor of Medi- cine from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, in March, 1886. His widow still occupies the home in which she took up her residence in Greenville as a bride in 1896. Mrs. Brumbaugh is one of a family of four children, having two older half brothers and a half sister.
She was born in Greenville, Feb. 27, 1901, became a kindergarten pupil, passed through the grades and was graduated from the Green- ville High School in 1919. That same year she enrolled as a student at Heidelberg College of Tiffin, Ohio, where she spent two years, pursuing a literary course and also becoming a student in the Conservatory of Music. She transferred to the University of Wisconsin, where she won her degree. She majored in Romance Languages in the College of Letters and Science and also did extra work in the School of Education to meet the requirements of teaching. At her graduation in 1923, in addition to receiving her Teacher's Certificate, the Bachelor of Arts degree was conferred upon her. She had been elected to membership in the French House through the faculty board and there the students were always associated with French people and spoke the language. During her last year as a student in the University of Wisconsin she was under the
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instruction of Laura B. Johnson, an outstanding teacher. A thesis was required for graduation and Edna Dickes chose as her subject "French Literature of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Century." Following her graduation she taught in the senior high school, now known as the Warren G. Harding High School, at Warren, Ohio, being a teacher in both the old and the new high school buildings. She gave instruction in American literature, French and Spanish, remaining in her teaching position there for three years. In the meantime, however, she did post- graduate work at Columbia University. She became a member of the American Association of University Women on her graduation from the University of Wisconsin and held local membership in the chapter at Warren. She now belongs to the Sorosis Club, the Entre Nous Club, both federated literary clubs, and the Greenville Music Club, and of the first two she is a past president, while of the last named she has served as a director. She is likewise a member of a local group, composed of ten voices, constituting a part of the Music Club. She belongs to the Green- ville Civic League and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of the community.
On the 2nd day of October, 1926, was celebrated the marriage of Jesse Keener Brumbaugh and Edna Catherine Dickes, her husband being now a jurist of Darke County, where he was born. The family has a farm here that has been in its possession for more than a hundred years. Mr. Brumbaugh was graduated from the Law School at the University of Michigan and began practice in his native city, where he steadily advanced, gaining a well merited and enviable reputation as a member of the Darke County Bar. In 1928 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Darke County and served for two years, after which he was re-elected in 1930. He proved aggressive and fearless in this office and in 1938 he was elected judge of the Common Pleas Court and is still occupying the bench. He is well known as one who is especially able in criminal law practice and measures up to high professional standards in all branches. He has membership in the Kiwanis Club, is a past master of the Masonic Lodge, belongs to the State and Darke County Bar Associations and is a stalwart Republican who has served as county
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chairman for his party. He is also county chairman of the Boy Scouts. Judge and Mrs. Brumbaugh have two sons, Philip Dickes and John Curtis, both now attending school in Greenville. Mrs. Brumbaugh, like her husband, is interested in Boy Scout work, is now "cubbing" and is a "den mother." She took a training course in the council at Dayton and does everything in her power to advance the interests of the or- ganization. She is also active in the Order of the Eastern Star as well as in P. T. A. and church work, having membership in the Evangelical and Reformed Church. The activities of both Judge and Mrs. Brum- baugh center along those lines which have to do with the public welfare and their aid and influence are far-reaching.
LUAH MILLER BUTLER
In social, club and church circles of Lima, LUAH MILLER BUT- LER has long been prominently known. Provided with liberal educa- tional opportunities, combined with an innate refinement and culture, she has been well fitted for work of this character and has made sub- stantial contribution to progress along the lines indicated for the benefit of the city in which she has made her home for sixty-eight years, arriv- ing here when a young girl. Born in Delphos, Ohio, in 1861, she is a daughter of Alexander and Martha (Cooper) Miller, her mother a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and was engaged in the flour milling business. The house in which Mrs. Butler was born is still standing, being one of the old landmarks of Delphos.
The family removed from there to Piqua, Ohio, where Mrs. Butler attended a private school, being at that time five years of age. When she was ten the family came to Lima and here she became a pupil in the grade school, advancing through an orderly progression to Lima High School. She also spent three years at Wellesley College and one winter at Amy Sacker's School of Art in Boston, Massachusetts.
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In 1888 Luah Miller became the wife of W. W. Butler, who died at Montreal, Canada, January 18, 1937. They had one child, now Mrs. Gladys Butler Lind, who completed her education with a three-year course at Dana Hall at Wellesley, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Lind have a beautiful home in Toronto, Canada, and another at Danville, Knox County, Ohio, and they have two children, Ormonde and Jack. About Thanksgiving of 1937 Mrs. Lind suffered a serious automobile accident and has since been in a hospital.
Mrs. Butler has long been very active and influential in club and church circles. She is a past president of the Federation of Women's Clubs of Lima and forty-two years ago she became a charter member of the T. and T. Club for men and women, which is a purely literary and social club, and with which she is still identified. She likewise belongs to the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has mem- bership in the Market Street Presbyterian Church, where for the past forty years she has been most active and she wrote the Centennial His- tory of the church, covering the period from 1833 to 1933, which was published. For nine years she was also society editor of what is now the Lima News, and was reporter for schools and the one college of Lima at that time.
Mrs. Butler has always greatly enjoyed travel and in 1913 she made her first trip abroad with a party, while in 1923 she again visited foreign countries, making the trip alone believing a saying by Kipling, "He travels farthest who travels alone". She made the trip through the Panama Canal to South America and has spent two winters in California and two in Florida. Wherever she goes she sees all that is of interest and her retentive memory enables her to recall and enjoy these trips throughout the years. She has also lived to see remarkable changes in Lima, since she came here sixty-eight years ago, when a little maiden of ten summers, and few have more intimate knowledge of the development of the city and this section of the state.
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BEULAH CARROLL
A well known representative of women's activities in Fremont is BEULAH CARROLL, who is particularly prominent in club circles of the city and who at all times keeps abreast with modern thought and progress. A native of the city in which she still resides, she is a daugh- ter of Harry and Beulah Zimmerman, who are now living, retired, in Toronto, Canada. After graduating from high school of Fremont, Beulah Zimmerman became a student at Oberlin College and later entered the University of Wisconsin, from which she was graduated with the class of 1921. Soon after completing her course there she was married to Lawrence K. Carroll and they reside at 1118 Birchard Avenue, Fremont, where her husband is engaged in the manufacture of cutlery. She is still "Beulah Carroll" however to her many friends in this city and section of the state, where she is widely known by reason of her active and valuable cooperation with various clubs and civic interests. She is now president of the Fremont Federated Woman's Club and she belongs to the American Association of University Women. Mrs. Carroll is past president of Camp Fire Council and was president of the city P. T. A. one year. She is also a member of Coterie. She is at all times mentally alert, keeping in close touch with the vital questions, problems and interests of the day and she is well qualified for the leadership which is hers as president of one of the strong club organizations of this section of Ohio. Her social position, too, is an enviable one and she has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of her acquaintance.
Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are the parents of four children: Jack, aged seventeen; Patricia, aged fifteen; Nancy, aged thirteen; and Sue, aged eleven.
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MAY BROWN CARVIN
MAY BROWN CARVIN is actively identified with women's clubs in Toledo and for several years was in charge of current events pro- grams in the Zonta Club and is giving radio talks along similar lines. Her people have been closely identified with the development of the middle west. She is a daughter of Ignatius and Martha (Marsee) Brown and a granddaughter of Hiram Brown, who became one of the pioneer attorneys of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he settled in 1823. One of his daughters was Mrs. James Yohn, whose grandson, Fred, became a famous artist. Another daughter was the wife of Albert G. Porter, governor of Indiana. In 1853 Ignatius Brown established the Brown Abstract Com- pany and when he died, left the business to his two sons, Hiram and Lyndsay, who conducted it for a time, after which Hiram purchased his brother's interest and remained active in the business until his death. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Ignatius Brown numbered four children, there being two daughters, Elizabeth and May, in addition to the two sons already mentioned, and all are residents of Indianapolis with the exception of Mrs. Carvin. The Marsee family, from whom Mrs. Carvin is descended in the maternal line, was also one of prominence in Indianapolis. Her mother's brother was the distinguished Dr. Joseph W. Marsee, a noted surgeon who always practiced his profession in Indianapolis and a ward in the hospital there is dedicated to his memory.
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