USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume I > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
For a number of years she was a teacher of home economics in Cincin- nati high schools and is active in the Home Economics Association and the Women's Alumnae Association of the University of Cincinnati.
She is the daughter of Charles E. Sorin of Revolutionary descent and of Mary Rebecca Webb Sorin, of English parentage. The latter traces her ancestors back to the kings and queens of England.
The marriage of Ruth Sorin to Clarence Paul Neidig, manager of a motor company, took place Nov. 3, 1921.
CLAIRE S. NEWCOMER
CLAIRE S. NEWCOMER (Mrs. Chauncey L. Newcomer), president of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs, was graduated from Hillsdale Col- lege, Mich., and soon after entering the teaching profession was appointed professor of Latin and dean of women of Kenka College, New York.
She was graduated from Hillsdale College, Mich., and soon after entering the teaching profession was appointed professor of Latin and dean of women of Kenka College, New York.
After her marriage to Chauncey L. Newcomer, an attorney of Bryan, O., Mrs. Newcomer turned her fine ability and energy to various civie and social services.
340
WOMEN OF OHIO
She was made president of the Bryan Federation of Women's Clubs and, in 1930, chairman of the Northwest District of the Ohio Federation. In 1932 she became chairman of the department of education of the state federation and in 1936 was made vice president.
Thoroughness and enthusiasm with which she filled this office have marked her discharge of increased responsibilities to which she succeeded on election to the presidency of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs, in 1938.
Her deep interest in education led to her appointment as Chairman of the Board of Women Commissioners of Hillsdale College, of which she is a graduate.
Mrs. Newcomer has also given valuable service to the Presbyterian Missionary Societies and to Wauseon Chapter, D. A. R., of which Mrs. Clara Hollister Newcomer was a charter member and first regent.
MRS. THEODORE OEHIKE
MRS. THEODORE OEHIKE, a life-time resident of Lorain, was organizer of the State Daughters of the American Colonists and formed Mayflower Chapter of that organization in Lorain, serving as its first regent.
Always interested in the creation of patriotic associations, she also organized Nathan Perry Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in Lorain and was first regent of that group.
BETTY AGATHA OTT
BETTY AGATHA OTT (Mrs. David Ott), clubwoman and wife of the mayor of S. Euclid, O., was born at Dayton, Ky., the daughter of David Ott. She took her A.B. at Miami University, and for two years was grand vice president of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. Mrs. Ott has been active in the O.E.A., National Congress of Parents and Teachers and in the Junior Fed- eration of Women's Clubs. Her home is at 1303 Ford Rd., South Euclid, O.
MRS. EARL PADGETT
MRS. EARL PADGETT (Nettie Phillips) of Galion, Ohio began to take leadership in women's organizations soon after her graduation from Chicago University.
She organized the Galion Sorosis Club in 1930 and was president 3 years; organized Olentangy Chapter D. A. R. November 8, 1926, and was regent 4 years and was president of the Galion Fortnightly club for 6 years.
Mrs. Padgett was made president of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs in 1936 and served two years in this capacity.
She was treasurer of the federation from 1932-1934; was Middle North District president 1929-1930 and has also served as state parliamentarian, state chairman club institutes and state chairman of problems of industry.
MRS. EARL PADGETT Galion,
Past President, Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs
343
WOMEN OF OHIO
In 1938 Mrs. Padgett was elected secretary of trustees of General Federa- tion of Women's Clubs for a 6 year term. She is also chairman of General Federation Foundation Fund seeking to raise a million dollars.
This outstanding Galion, Ohio woman was secretary of the Ohio D. A. R. and national vice-chairman for D. A. R. magazine under the presidency of Mrs. Lowell F. Hobart. She was national vice-chairman of Constitution Hall under Mrs. William Russell Magna and State chairman of credentials from 1938-1941.
Besides all this, Mrs. Padgett has served as state president of Ohio Del- phians, state parliamentarian of the Daughters of the American Colonists and state registrar of the Daughters of Colonial Wars.
REBEKAH PARISH
REBEKAH PARISH (Mrs. Charles T. Parish), prominent club woman church worker and a factor in the cultural development and intellectual progress of Hamilton, was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, a daughter of L. A. and Katherine Foster. Her father was born at Garfield Place, Cincinnati, and in - young manhood began work on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. While thus employed he began buying stock in the company until he had acquired a considerable amount. He remained with the railroad for a number of years and later engaged in the lumber and contracting business at Hillsboro where he continued throughout the remainder of his life with the exception of two years spent in Chicago, where he passed away. His widow survived him until 1936 and had reached the advanced age of eighty-six years at the time of her demise.
After attending the grade and high schools of Hillsboro, Mrs. Parish con- tinued her education in a private school and in the Methodist College of Hillsboro and then became a student in the Conservatory of Music of the same institution. She was graduated from Oxford College in 1895, having won a degree in music.
The following year Rebekah Foster became the wife of Charles T. Parish, who was born in Cincinnati and is now one of the leading business men of Hamilton. They had a family of four children, of whom the eldest, Kathryn and Augusta, are twins. The former is now the wife of Dwight Jones and the latter the wife of Judge William O'Keefe. The third daughter, Louise M., is the wife of Joe Garretson, a newspaper man, connected with the Cincinnati Enquirer. Milton, the only son, is a graduate of the Culver Military College and of Dartmouth College and is now in business with his father. The daughters are also college bred, having attended Vassar and other colleges.
While home interests have always claimed the major portion of her time, Mrs. Parish has also found opportunity for active participation in the Young Women's Christian Association and was one of the prime movers and incorpo-
344
WOMEN OF OHIO
rators of the Hamilton organization. She is likewise prominent in club circles and is serving on the state board of the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs. She was very active during the World war in all local and state movements to further war work or promote the welfare of the soldiers in camp and field. She is a life member of the Washington Memorial Association and is active in musical circles being on the Ohio board of the Federation of Music Clubs. She is an ex-president of the Hamilton Woman's Club, was one of the organ- izers and earnest supporters of the Girl Scout movement in Hamilton, belongs to the Garden Club, the Musical Club and the Woman's Rotary Club. She is active in the Presbyterian church, has worked untiringly for the cause of religion and for many worthy public causes and is also prominent socially.
MRS. WALTER S. PENCE
For many years MRS. WALTER S. PENCE has been a resident of Sidney, where her husband has been engaged in the grocery business for more than a quarter of a century. Mrs. Pence bore the maiden name of Cora Kelley and was born October 17, 1876, being one of the nine children of Solomon W. and Caroline Kelley. Her father was a customs boot and shoe maker. The birthplace of Mrs. Pence was the Maloney farm south of Sidney. She began her education in the schools of Pemberton and was there graduated from high school, after which she devoted a year to post graduate work in the high school there.
It was in Pemberton, on the 4th of October, 1896, that she became the wife of Walter S. Pence, who was then a farmer and continued his farming operations in that locality for two years. He next removed to Johnson, Nebraska, where he was employed in the office of a merchant, with whom he continued for a year, on the expiration of which period Mr. and Mrs. Pence came to Sidney, where they have since made their home. They have a wide acquaintance here and a host of warm friends, who entertain for them the highest regard. Twenty-eight years ago Mr. Pence opened a grocery store and has carried on the business throughout the intervening years, being for twenty-two years at his present location at 414 Main Street.
Mr. and Mrs. Pence became the parents of five children. Their son Walter Raymond was born on a farm northeast of Sidney, entered the grade schools of this city and for two years was in high school. He then began working in his father's store in which he had spent two years when the United States entered the World War and he went to Toledo, where he enlisted on the 6th of May, 1918, becoming a member of the Sixty-Sixth Regiment and the Seventy-Sixth Company of Marines. He was wounded in action, never fully recovered from his injuries and during the flu epidemic he was stricken and died October 18, 1918. He had qualified as a marksman at Paris Island, had been among the first to enlist and laid down his life on the altar of his country. Another son, Gerald W., died in early childhood.
345
WOMEN OF OHIO
Mary Pauline is the wife of Ralph Grauer of Springfield, Ohio, and they have three children-Jack LaDru, Jane Eleanor and Ralph P., Jr. The next member of the family, Florence L., died when but two and a half months old. James E., the youngest, married Helen Dolfus of Chicago and they had one son, who died twelve hours after birth.
Mrs. Pence belongs to the Baptist Church, of which her soldier son was also a member. His life at all times commended him to the good will and kindly regard of all who knew him and his memory is sacredly cherished by his many friends as well as his immediate family. Mrs. Pence has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs but is the first president of the Ohio group of the international organization of Gold Star Mothers.
SUE GORMLY PICKING
SUE GORMLY PICKING, whose social prominence and beneficence in contributing to worthy causes, elevates her to an outstanding position in Bucyrus, is a daughter of the late James Gormly, who was president of the Bucyrus First National Bank, which was organized by his father, John Gormly. James Gormly wedded Virginia Swingley, a daughter of Dr. Fred- erick Swingley, who came to Bucyrus from Chesterville, Ohio, in 1839 and here passed away in 1926. Mrs. Gormly was a cultured, lovely woman, whose home reflected the graciousness of its mistress, who was a social leader in this community. She belonged to the Presbyterian Church, as did all of her family, and was president of its missionary society. She had three sisters who taught in the Bucyrus public schools. Of these Mrs. Marcella Swingley Moderwell was the first woman superintendent of the Bucyrus schools and later she became the wife of Major Crat Moderwell. The other two sisters who were teachers here were Mrs. Mary Swingley Fisher, wife of Colonel Cyrus Fisher, and Mrs. Kate Swingley Fulton, who is the only survivor of the four. Mr. and Mrs. James Gormly had two daughters and a son, the sister of Mrs. Picking being Mrs. Ella Gormly Monnett, wife of Frank Monnett, an attorney of Columbus. The only brother, James Bowman Gormly, died in 1904.
Mrs. Picking was born in Bucyrus and has lived here all of her life with the exception of several winters spent abroad or in the west. She became the wife of W. H. Picking, who was president of the First National Bank from 1913 to 1917, after her father, James Gormly, retired. Following his withdrawal as executive head of the bank, he devoted his attention to the interests of the Picking Hardware Company and of the Picking Copper Kettle Works until his death.
With the cultural progress and with the philanthropie activities of Bucyrus, as well as with its social life, Mrs. Picking has had much to do. She is a member of St. James Episcopal Church and is an honorary member of In-As-Much circle of the King's Daughters. Her gifts to that organization
346
WOMEN OF OHIO
have been magnanimous. She assisted in a major way at the time the circle opened its Chapter House here in 1933 and since then she has remembered both the circle and the Chapter House periodically with money and material gifts.
Mrs. Picking also belongs to Hannah Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, to the Crocus Club, which is the oldest woman's literary club in Bucyrus, and the Thimble Club, which is composed of ladies who are social leaders of the community and who organized the club when they were brides. Mrs. Picking enjoys travel and the winters spent in more balmy climates, but Bucyrus is her first interest, for here she has always made her home, and here the circle of her friends is co-extensive with the circle of her acquaintances.
ETHEL LULU VOLLMAR POUND
ETHEL LULU VOLLMAR POUND, wife of Claude W. Pound, is not only entitled to mention among Ohio's representative women by reason of her close connection with some of the prominent pioneer families of the state but also because of the helpful part she has taken in civic, philanthropic, patriotic and club work in Toledo, where she has made her home from the age of six years. She was born near Delta, in Fulton County, Ohio, September 30, 1882 and is a daughter of William and Helen Mar (Ewing) Vollmar. Her father was born near Stuttgart, Germany, April 1, 1851, and died November 12, 1931, while his wife was born near Miltonville, Ohio, August 31, 1854 and died April 25, 1921. His people were owners and operators of inns in Ger- many. Mrs. Vollmar's people were of Scotch-Irish descent, the ancestral line being traced back to the "Ewing and McEwen clan" of Scotland, all being men of high political, judicial and civic standing. Mrs. Vollmar's father was Judge William Ewing of Wood County, Ohio, who was born May 4, 1812, in a covered wagon between Clyde and Waterville, Ohio, while his parents were on their way to settle near what is now Waterville and he was said to be one, if not the first, white child born in that section of the state. He was married twice, his second wife being Celinda L. White, whose father migrated to this section of Ohio from Virginia.
William Ewing was a son of Samuel H. and Hannah (Race) Ewing, the latter of New York and Maryland. The father of Samuel H. Ewing and the great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Pound, was Alexander Ewing of Pennsylvania and New York who served as a soldier of the American Revolution and also of the War of 1812, being on duty with General Harrison, with the title of colonel. In the various histories of the Clan Ewing, the family coat of arms is published, also the part they took in making history in this country and in Scotland. Brice's History of Fort Wayne gives accounts of the early life of the family in pioneer days, that family being very close relatives of Mrs. Vollmar. In fact the Alexander Ewing mentioned was her great grandfather
347
WOMEN OF OHIO
and Samuel H. Ewing mentioned in the History of Wood County was her grandfather. A member of the Ewing family was the founder of Piqua, Ohio. It is also related that the ancestor of Mrs. Pound serving in the War of 1812 was the first to discover the body of Tecumseh after he was shot. Mrs. Pound's mother, as a little girl, and also her father at one time, lived on what was known as the Mission farm, where was the school held for Indian children in Wood County and Mr. Vollmar could well remember having visited with "Dress Howard," who was teacher of the Indians for years. Many of Mrs. Pound's vacations from school and business were spent in that vicinity and its history was told to her many times by the grandparents whom she knew as her own, Mr. and Mrs. Henry O. Nearing, who had reared her mother, Mrs. Vollmar from the age of two, when her own mother had passed on.
Mrs. Pound remained at the place of her birth until six years of age, when the family home was established at Toledo, where she has since resided. Here she attended the public schools and also Davis Commercial College. In her young womanhood she was employed as an accountant and in secretarial work, but now devotes her time to her home and her family and to the public and club activities which engage her attention. In Detroit, Michigan, in St. Paul's Cathedral, on the 11th of January, 1913, she became the wife of Claude W. Pound, a son of Washington and Adah Josephine (Peabody) Pound, both natives of New York. His father was for many years connected with the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad in Michigan, and was also owner and operator of lumber mills, both in that state and Florida. His wife was a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower, and of William Peabody, a captain in King Phillips Indian War in 1676. Other members of both families were soldiers of the Revolution and of the War of 1812. In early manhood Claude W. Pound was actively interested in aviation and maintained a flying school in the outskirts of Chicago. He is a member of the Early Birds, an organization of pilots who flew prior to 1913. For the past twenty-five years he has been with the Electric Auto-Lite Corporation of Toledo, of which he is plant manager. Mr. and Mrs. pound have one son, William Washington Pound, who was born in Toledo, November 23, 1913. He is a graduate of the Leenanau School for Boys, a private school located at Glen Arbor, Michigan. It is fully accredited by the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. William W. Pound also attended the University of Toledo, but decided to enter the vocational field, so left before graduation and is now connected with the manufacturing interests of the Bay Manufacturing Company, at Bay City, Michigan.
In politics Mrs. Pound has supported those candidates who stand for principle and truth, regardless of party or creed. She is interested in many organizations, having been a noble grand of the Rebekah Lodge, the auxiliary of the Odd Fellows in 1912 and has been president of the Peter Navarre
348
WOMEN OF OHIO
Chapter of the United States Daughters of 1812. She is a member of Ursula Wolcott Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and has served on various committees, especially in connection with Americanism and moun- tain school work. She has been appointed by the president general to serve on the house committee during the Continental Congress in Washington, D. C. She is a director of the State Officers Club of the Ohio Society of the U. S. D., 1812. She is a charter member of the Museum of Science Auxiliary, a member of the Toledo Women's Club and for many years has been a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club, taking an active part in its relief work. She is also an active member of the Second Church of Christ, Scientist. Most of the mature years of her life, when health has permitted, having been spent in doing constructive work in civic and philanthropic fields. She was an active member of the Educational Club of Toledo and worked on various committees, rather than accept offices, which were proffered her at various times, finding that sometimes offices hinder in the work the individual would like to accomplish, the work with the under-privileged appealing to Mrs. Pound much more strongly than the mere social side of organization con- nections. She was accepted as a member of Samagama Club in 1937, a club of active presidents of women's societies of Toledo. She was also given a service award medal for work accomplished during the Toledo Centennial Celebration in 1937.
Mrs. Pound's one diversion is in travel. She has driven a great deal, has visited all the States in the Union but one, also Old Mexico and various places in Canada. Because of her husband's interest in aviation she is also deeply interested and considers it a privilege to fly and they also have a mutual interest in fishing, finding much pleasure, as opportunity permits, in visiting Georgian Bay for big fish.
MARIE BLUETT POWERS
MARIE BLUETT POWERS, who is identified with several Catholic women's organizations in Youngstown and who is interested in public move- ments based upon broad humanitarian principles, was born in Buffalo, New York, November 20, 1891, a daughter of Thomas J. and Elizabeth (Cassidy) Bluett, the former a civil engineer of Buffalo, where the family resided until 1901 when Thomas Bluett brought his wife and children to Ohio, settling first in Columbus. Mrs. Powers, who was ten years of age at the time of the removal from New York, attended St. Joseph's Academy in Columbus and afterward St. Mary's of the Springs high school. Subsequently she continued her educa- tion in the Ohio State University, from which she was graduated in 1913, with the Bachelor of Arts degree. From 1913 until 1917 she was employed by the Columbus board of education, doing work with mental defectives.
On the 27th of June, 1917 Marie Bluett became the wife of John W. Powers, a lawyer of Youngstown, where they have since made their home, and
349
WOMEN OF OHIO
unto them have been born four children-John Paul, William Frederick, Joseph Phillips and Rose Marie. Mrs. Powers has manifested a keen and helpful interest in activities for the benefit of children in particular and has served as first vice president of the North Hill Child Study Club. She has also been hospitality chairman of the Youngstown College Club and she has mem- bership in the National Council of Catholic Women and is a communicant of St. Edward's Catholic church of Youngstown, doing all she can to further the plans and purposes of the church in its far-reaching program.
HELEN RYAN QUINLAN
HELEN RYAN QUINLAN, (Mrs. Walter S. Quinlan) founder of Theta Phi Alpha, national social fraternity for Catholic Women in College, was born at Detroit, Mich., the daughter of Denis and Anne Ryan. She attended St. Vincent's Academy, took her A. B. at the University of Michigan, and did graduate work at Cleveland College and Western Reserve University. In 1910 she married Walter Quinlan, manufacturer and business executive. Mrs. Quinlan is active in the University of Michigan Alumnae, in the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, in the Y. W. C. A. and the Catholic College Women's Club. Her home is at 830 N. Limestone St., Springfield, Ohio.
WINNIE DOAN REXER
About a mile south of Degraff in Logan county is a farm which is rented and cultivated under the supervision of WINNIE DOAN REXER and which came into possession of her grandfather in pioneer times, the original deed, still being held by a member of the family, being signed by Andrew Jackson, then president of the United States. It was upon this farm that Joshua Doan, father of Mrs. Rexer, was born and she purchased one of the first log school houses of Ohio, which she had set up on the farm as originally built. To this has been added three other school houses, making quite a commodious resi- dence, and here members of the family spend part of their summers. The Doane family came from Cheshire, England, and first settled on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Later representatives of the family changed the spelling of the name by dropping the final "e," and from New England some of the family came to Ohio with the trend of emigration that was leading to the early settle- ment of this state. Joshua Doan was here reared and married Charlotte E. Makenson, whose uncle was the father of General Lew Wallace, who many times visited at the home of John Makenson, grandfather of Mrs. Rexer, and whose old home in Logan County is still standing.
Joshua and Charlotte E. (Makenson) Doan had three daughters. The eldest, Martha Anne, became an artist of note, several of her paintings now hanging in the home of her sister, Mrs. Rexer. Martha Anne became the wife of Byron Swisher, but died in young womanhood, about 1900, shortly after
350
WOMEN OF OHIO
her marriage. Elizabeth Jane Doan is the wife of George Cronley of Belle- fontaine. The third daughter, Winnie, became the wife of William H. Rexel of Bellefontaine.
Mrs. Rexer belongs to the Bellefontaine Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and at this writing (1939) is state chaplain of Ohio and also national vice chairman of the museum at Washington, D. C., rep- resenting the central division which includes Hawaii, the Philippines, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri. For three years she was state chairman for Ohio for the D. A. R. museum. She is a past worthy matron of Constance Chapter, No. 78, of the Order of the Eastern Star, is a member of Bellefontaine Circle of the King's Daughters and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. She and her husband are most charitable, but give most unostentatiously, their benefactions being usually known only to their recipients and themselves in accordance with the injunction not to let the left hand know what the right hand doeth.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.