USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume II > Part 38
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Mary Adams lived until 1927. When she was 88 years old, something happened that gave her great happiness. The U. S. Government increased her monthly pension to $50. Mary Adams was glad of course, to get the money. But it wasn't that so much. It was that the Government seemed to think well of what she had done for Union soldiers, back in the old barn she made into a hospital.
MARY D. BRITE
MARY D. BRITE of Cincinnati was born in Toledo, Ohio, December 13, 1868, the daughter of Perley B. and Leanna Ball Davis and attended the public schools of Columbus, after which she took special courses at the Uni- versity of Cincinnati.
Her public activities include work for woman suffrage; for civil liber- ties; for world peace and in the progressive labor movement.
She was a member of the National Woman's Party which played so important a part in the passage of the suffrage federal amendment and was in charge of the Children's Crusade conducted at Washington, D. C. in the movement to free the political prisoners of the World War. The Children's Crusade was composed of some of the wives and children of the men in Leavenworth and other federal prisons. A book dealing with the aftermath of the World War in this particular is now in process of preparation. It covers the period from 1917 to 1924 when the last man was released. The groups represented include the "Conscientious Objectors" members of the Socialist Party, Non-Partisan League and the Industrial Workers of the World. All were definitely "free speech" cases.
Mary Brite was secretary of Ohio Labor Party for a year and in con- nection with A. J. Feldhaus carried on first open forum in Cincinnati to bring as speakers prominent men and women in the progressive, radical and labor movements.
She was representative of American Civil Liberties Union in Southern Ohio and executive secretary of Cincinnati Branch. This organization de- fends the right of labor and other groups to picket ; to distribute literature ; to carry on organizational activities; to hold open-air meetings without mo- lestation by the police ; to a fair trial before the courts; to petition Govern- ment for redress of grievances.
In 1893 Mary Davis was married to Dr. Jacob Richardson Brite, to which union were born three children, Hector Leigh, Helen Marie and James R. Brite.
This far visioned and highly courageous woman was a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom since its organization in 1915 following a meeting called by Jane Addams of the United States and Dr. Aletta Jacobs of Holland. The women of the belligerent countries had met at The Hague and organized the Woman's Peace Party which sub-
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sequently became the Women's International League. Mary Brite became chairman of the Cincinnati Branch formed in 1937.
Among other important groups Mary Brite has aided are the Cincin- nati Peace League, the American League for Peace and Democracy, the Na- tional Association for Advancement of Colored People, the Advisory Board of Cincinnati Branch of North American Committee for Aid to Spanish De- mocracy and the Advisory Board of Commonwealth College, a labor college located at Mena, Arkansas.
She has also contributed to columns of The Nation, Federated Press, The Crisis and other liberal publications.
Mary's ancestry was Welch on the father's side. They belonged to the famous Williams family whose representative in the country was Roger Wil- liams founder of Rhode Island, one of the great personalities of early Ameri- can history. Two of her forebearers were signers of the Declaration of In- dependence. Her mother's people were English-the Ball family, into which the father of George Washington married.
The stock from which she sprang was strong and sturdy, with that courage of conviction and freedom of opinion on which all real democracy must rest. No wonder then, that to the perpetuation of this freedom, Mary Brite has, in large measure, dedicated her life.
CLARA EVA KATHERINE GRUENINGER
CLARA EVA KATHERINE GRUENINGER, former chairman of the Committee on International Goodwill of the Cincinnati Woman's City Club, was born in that city, in which she has resided continuously. Her parents, George and Wilhelmina Grueninger, came from Germany to America in 1848 with the exodus caused during that period by the militaristic and autocratic policies of the then German government. They resided in New York City until 1863 when they moved to Cincinnati and established a stove and hard- ware business which continued for more than 70 years as one of the leading retail stores of the city.
Clara Grueninger attended Hughes High School and followed up her academic education with thorough courses at business college. Her definite purpose was to prepare herself to assist her father and her training was so complete that for years she conducted, with the aid of her sister, Mathilda Grueninger, the establishment their father had founded.
But although success attended Miss Grueninger's activities in the busi- ness world, business was to her a subordinate occupation. Miss Grueninger is an idealist-a determined idealist, with what is still an abiding faith in the possibilities of building a better and a happier world. Because of this she has identified herself with civic and social welfare organizations when- ever and wherever there has been need for her help. She took special courses in the social sciences at the University of Cincinnati and in special
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classes, in order to better understand the cause and the solution of the problems in which she is so deeply interested.
Of these basic and baffling problems, war is, in the opinion of Clara Grueninger, the worst to endure as well as the hardest to cure. With her the cause of peace is a passion. She believes that war is so completely out dated. its fallacy and futility so apparent, that human beings could well afford to mark time in virtually every other field of human endeavor until this scourge to civilization is overthrown and eradicated. Wherever there is a group working intelligently and practically to this end and to which she can be of aid, Clara Grueninger is to be found giving freely of her energy, ability and means.
As chairman of the former International Goodwill Committee of the Cincinnati Woman's City Club, Miss Grueninger did much to forward the desire and will to world peace among her fellow citizens. Her enthusiastic interest has included many other purposes and projects of the club, in which she has been very active.
Her zeal and enthusiasm do not falter, despite discouragement. She quotes with confidence "All great reforms have been brought about by small groups-who had the vision and who stood steadfast."
HAZEL HART
Among Zanesville women sent abroad during the World War were, be- sides those in regular nursing service, two workers who served with distinc- tion in France. HAZEL HART, on the staff of the National Red Cross at Washington, D. C., did special canteen service and Red Cross departmental service out of Paris, and MARGUERITE PERRY BAILEY, later Mrs. Lloyd McCoy, served as entertainer in many sectors.
GENEVIEVE GROESBECK HOADLY
Public service given by GENEVIEVE GROESBECK HOADLY (Mrs. George Hoadly), has a signficance outside of its importance to the causes, movements and organizations, local, state and national, to which she has lent first aid. Such service was, in a way, an inherited obligation-a tradi- tion in her own and in her husband's family.
The late Governor George Hoadly, of Ohio-elected in 1883-was the father of the brilliant attorney, George Hoadly, whom Genevieve Groesbeek married in 1894. The Hoadly family traces back to Jonathan Edwards stock, through Mary Edwards, daughter of the great divine, who was the great- grandmother of Governor Hoadly.
At the age of 25 this George Hoadly became in 1851 a judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati and again in 1859. His friend and law part- ner, Salmon P. Chase, when governor of Ohio, offered Hoadly a seat on the Ohio Supreme Court bench but this was declined, as were other judicial
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honors, in order that the keen brained, far visioned attorney might return to his own important practice.
On the Groesbeck side are forbears of equal ability and distinction. Genevieve, born in Cincinnati in 1865, was the daughter of John and Genevieve Groesbeck. Orphaned in infancy, she was reared during his lifetime by her maternal grandfather, Dr. Israel Wilson, a much beloved physician.
The late William S. Groesbeck, U. S. Congressman, a counsel for Presi- dent Andrew Johnson at the famous impeachment trial and, in 1872, the presidential candidate of liberal Republicans in opposition to Horace Greely, was her uncle.
William Groesbeck's interest and skilled participation in the affairs of his own community were outstanding. One of his benefactions to Cincinnati was an endowment of $50,000 for free open air concerts in Burnet Woods.
During her girlhood and the early years of her marriage, Genevieve Hoadly was largely occupied by the brilliant social life with which her own and her husband's family were identified. Grandin Road, where the Hoadly home is located, was largely settled and developed by Groesbecks. The Longworths, Harrisons, Andersons and many other notable families, were neighbors and close friends.
It was the call of the World War that first brought out, in a major degree, the inherent abilities of Genevieve Hoadly. So helpful and whole- hearted was her response that she became co-chairman for Hamilton Co. of the Women's Division, Council for National Defense. She was drafted for the presidency of the Ohio branch, National League for Women's Services, served as board member of the Friends of the French Wounded, of the Fatherless Children of France and in many other important capacities.
After ratification of the Woman Suffrage Amendment, Mrs. Hoadley, re- alizing the need of political education by women of all parties, worked ac- tively with the newly organized Women's Republican Club of Hamilton County, was made president and has been one of the leaders ever since. Her conviction of the evils brought about by effort to enforce temperance by legal enactment caused her to take able part in the nationwide campaign of the Women's Organization for Prohibition Reform and her keen interest in the welfare of the aged expressed itself in her presidency of the board of managers of the Widows' and Old Men's Home. Mrs. Hoadly has worked for years in close co-operation with the Cincinnati Art Museum and as a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary has helped definitely to increase public ap- preciation of this great civic and cultural asset of Cincinnati.
She is a board member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in Ohio, a member of the Foreign Policy Association, the Town Club, the Cincinnati Country Club, English Speaking Union, and of other groups which reflect her many interests and varied services.
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MARTHA LATIMER MCCOOK
Few of the younger generation of Ohioans have ever heard, in all prob- ability, of the "Fighting McCooks." Yet no family in the entire United States has ever established a record comparable with that of the MeCooks in the Civil War.
No other mother in the history of this country ever gave, as did MARTHA LATIMER McCOOK, then of New Lisbon, Ohio, her husband and nine sons to serve her country's cause. Few mothers sent, as did CATHERINE SHEL- DON McCOOK of New Lisbon and Steubenville, Ohio-five sons to battle for the Union.
The fighting McCooks-fifteen in all, represented two branches of this once famous family. The heads of the two families, Major Daniel McCook and Dr. John McCook, were born at Canonsburg, Penn., the seat of Jefferson College.
Daniel McCook and Martha Latimer, the daughter of Abraham Latimer of Washington, Penn., were married in 1817 and in 1826, they crossed the mountains to Ohio.
Daniel McCook, husband of Martha, was 63 years old at the beginning of the Civil War. He happened to be at the time in Washington. Good!
With Martha's prompt approval the 63 year old patriot at once offered his services to President Lincoln, whereupon all of his living sons responded to the president's call for troops. There had been a tenth son-but his life had been given to his country. Midshipman J. James McCook died in the naval service before the rebellion.
Major Daniel McCook, Martha's husband, at the time of Morgan's raid, led a force to intercept crossing of the raiders at Buffington Island. He was mortally wounded and died the next day.
The sons of Major and Martha MeCook won titles ranging from general to surgeon-except Private Charles MeCook killed in the first battle of Bull Run. Charles simply would not accept a commission, insisted on the privilege of being killed as a private soldier.
This was before his father's death-the soldier father himself carried the remains of the soldier son from the battlefield. Two more of Martha's sons were added to death's tally.
What was the wife and mother doing meanwhile ?
Martha McCook headed the Soldier's Relief Commission. She was called "Mother of the Gracci." She performed, herself, wonders of heroism, gave untiring service.
Martha never knew, from moment to moment what sacrifice she might be called on to face. Every year of the war Death took rich toll-in all. her husband and three sons. But Martha Latimer was a direct descendant of that Bishop Hugh Latimer, whose life was sacrificed in the English Re-
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formation. She strove gallantly in prayer for sustaining faith and hope- ful or hopeless, she carried on.
Martha survived the war by 14 years. She was 78 when she died- and was buried beside her husband in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, Ohio.
CATHERINE SHELDON MeCOOK, whose five sons entered the Union army, was born at New Hartford, Conn., of an old and distinguished New England family. She is said to have been an accomplished musician with a fine voice and to have been exceptionally intelligent and well read. Her husband, Dr. John McCook, practiced medicine at New Lisbon and then at Steubenville. But although a lifelong Democrat, he was a Union man, gave fine professional service during the war and died, just after its close, at the Washington headquarters of his son, General Anson G. McCook.
Of his and Catherine's other four sons, Edward Moody became a major general; the Rev. Henry C. McCook was an army chaplain; Roderick S. McCook was a naval commander and the Rev. John James McCook served as lieutenant in the First Virginia volunteers.
Fate was far kinder to Catherine McCook than to Martha, her sister-in- law. None of Catherine's sons lost their lives in the war. But of course, she had no way, during all that period of suspense and anxiety, of know- ing that they ever would return-all of them to become moreover, distin- guished men. No, Catherine, like Martha, had to carry on from day to day, the best her courage would permit.
That was their job. They were the wives and mothers of the "Fight- ing McCooks."
RUTH N. MOORE
RUTH N. MOORE (Mrs. Alfred D. Moore), executive secretary of the Cincinnati Peace League, of Glendale, has two main purposes in life, the pro- motion of the happiness and welfare of her family and the promotion of effective education against the greatest of human follies, war.
She was born at Spuyten Duyvil, N. Y., the daughter of John Jay and Mary Mattocks McKelvey, and received her earlier education at Brearley School. Ruth McKelvey was graduated with A.B. degree from Barnard College in 1916, took special courses at Columbia University and in 1920 was married to the Rev. Alfred Douglass Moore, then pastor of a New York City Mission Church and settlement.
About 18 years ago, although reluctant to give up his East Side set- tlement work, Dr. Moore complied with a request to launch "The Target" a Methodist Episcopal Church publication for boys. Later he became editor of "The Classmate" leading young people's paper of the M. E. Church.
Mrs. Moore's deep interest in human welfare and social progress regis- tered definitely soon after their coming to Cincinnati in work for a num-
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ber of important organizations. She is active in the Fellowship of Recon- ciliation, in the Consumers League, the Valley Co-operative Society and the League of Women Voters. She is a board member of the Young Women's Christian Association and is vice chairman of the Cincinnati Branch, Wom- en's International League.
Several years ago Mrs. Moore was made executive secretary of the Cin- cinnati Peace League, of which Dr. Moore is president. Responsibilities of this position, added to those of her household and three children, might have discouraged a less courageous and efficient worker. But not Ruth Moore. "Talk will never rid the world of war," she says. "But work will-if we work hard enough and long enough."
MRS. FRED M. ORR
Year after year MRS. FRED M. ORR of Youngstown has told the di- rectors of Mahoning Red Cross they would have to get a new chairman. And year after year they go out and re-elect her chairman. That's been going on now since 1916.
She comes from a family of people who have done things for the com- munity. Her sister, Miss Sarah Sims recently resigned after serving the Florence Crittendon Home for years as its superintendent.
Mrs. Orr was born in Youngstown and attended the Rayen School and later a business college. She followed this with home economics courses in Philadelphia and in 1901 was graduated from the Pennsylvania Hospital.
She returned home to marry Fred M. Orr, member of a long time promi- nent valley family. Her training interested her in the Visiting Nurses' Association, then being formed at Youngstown and she was a member of its first board of directors. She headed the campaign to raise funds for the first baby welfare campaign, and for several years she conducted the sale of Christmas seals for the Associated Charities.
In 1913, when Youngstown was swept by a devastating flood, Mrs. Orr was called upon to head the group that provided relief. It was character- istic of her that she directed the work in hip boots in the flooded area and not from an office.
When the soldiers went to the Mexican border in 1916 it was Mrs. Orr who got a group of women together in the Stambaugh building and under Red Cross auspices made comfort bags for the boys. The "boys" of that day are the city's leaders today but they have not forgotten Mrs. Orr.
In December of 1916 they made her chairman of the Red Cross and she has never been replaced.
While Mrs. Orr was seated at services in the First Presbyterian Church, December 3, 1917, a messenger came up the aisle. He brought her a tele- gram from Washington asking immediate organization for war service. She
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raised $50,000 almost overnight to outfit Base Hospital 31. A canteen was established and every train of soldiers that went through day or night was met by Red Cross women.
In 1918 during the flu epidemic, Mrs. Orr again took charge and estab- lished emergency hospitals everywhere.
There is never any trouble to get members of the Red Cross. It always goes "over the top." So does Mrs. Orr.
BELLE STRAUSS STIX
BELLE STRAUSS STIX (Mrs. Aaron Stix), one of the founders and most steadfast supporters of the Cincinnati Peace League, was born in Cincinnati, the daughter of Isaac and Sophie Peitz Strauss. Both of her parents were born in Germany, and took with them to their adopted country, their love of liberty ; of education and of human welfare ; their deep distrust of autocracy and of arbitrary oppression. This spirit of democracy was motivation of the fine service and citizenship which marked their lives and which has con- tinued to actuate the lives of their descendants.
Belle Strauss was married to Aaron Stix, an outstanding business man whose sterling character and personal kindliness were admired by all and of benefit to many. His death, several years ago, was mourned by the two sons and two daughters born to the union.
Both through habit of mind and kindliness of heart, Mrs. Stix has been deeply interested in many social problems and has worked with organizations seeking their solution.
The World War intensified this deep interest, challenged new efforts. She worked energetically and most efficiently with a group that sought jobs for men and women who could not find employment unaided.
The World War impressed on her as on innumerable other thoughtful human beings, the crying need for organized systematized and unremitting effort for abolition of war as a method of settling the disputes of nations.
So, in 1924, largely due to the earnestness and determinations of Mrs. Stix and Mrs. Simon Kuhn, her kinswoman, there was organized the Cin- cinnati Peace League.
It was in the beginning but a small group but today numbers more than 1,200 of Cincinnati's intelligent and fair-minded citizens.
Basic purpose of the Cincinnati Peace League, now recognized as one of the most efficient anti-war organizations of the country, is, as stated in the constitution "to study the causes of war and to foster in the community the desire and will for peace." Among important activities of the League are-An annual Armistice Day mass meeting and periodic luncheon gather- ings at which prominent speakers discuss questions pertinent to the peace structure of the world; Awarding a fellowship for attendance at the School of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland. Up to 1937 twenty people
MRS. FRED M. ORR Chairman, Red Cross, Youngstown
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were enabled in this way to learn at close range the fundamental problems of world affairs; Awarding through one of its interested members, scholar- ships to two University of Cincinnati students for research on legislation related to neutrality and munitions investigations; Sending delegates to meetings of the Academy of Political and Social Science, the American League Congress and other conferences relating to the problems of peace. Co-operat- ing with the Emergency Peace Campaign, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, National Council for Prevention of War, and other organizations interested in the peace movement.
Many women of fine attainment and achievement are members of the Cincinnati Peace League.
But among them all there is none more broadly humanitarian or less a prey to narrow prejudice than the one who has done most to make the League truly serviceable to all mankind-Mrs Aaron Stix.
AMANDA STOKES
Lebanon, Ohio has numerous records of its distinguished men but the names of few women have been listed, although a number are well entitled to a place of honor, in local history. Among them none is more worthy of mention than AMANDA STOKES, Civil War nurse and heroine. Women do not appear in official reports of the war to preserve the union. It was dif- ficult to find adequate account of the services of faithful, loyal Amanda Stokes. Basic facts were gathered from different sources, many from the "Western Star" and some from the reminiscences of old soldiers, now gone to rest.
Miss Stokes enlisted in the army at the outbreak of the Civil War. She was probably the first, though not the only woman, in Warren County to offer her services for her country.
At the beginning of the war she was engaged to be married, but Amanda sold her wedding trousseau and everything she had of any value. She used this money (amounting in all to about one thousand dollars) to aid Union soldiers and to buy delicacies for the sick or wounded.
Amanda Stokes served in the northern army for five years. She was in the battles of Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Chickamauga and with Hooker above the clouds at Nashville.
She was nearly drowned in crossing the Coochie River in an ambulance, taking wounded soldiers to the hospital. The horses became unmanageable, broke loose from the harness. Amanda managed to climb out and to aid the others, but in doing so lost her treasured war records.
At the close of the war Amanda Stokes was practically without means of livelihood. Through the efforts of General Durbin Ward. in 1878, she was appointed a matron of the O. S. and S. O. Home at Xenia, which position she held until 1881.
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A year before her death, Miss Stokes was made librarian at the Home where she remained until her death on March 27, 1886. She died while in full discharge of her duties in the 65th year of her age. Her funeral took place at the East Baptist Church. Lebanon, Ohio, of which she was a member.
Amanda's casket was draped with the American Flag and there was a wreath on top from the Home in Xenia. The Grand Army of the Republic had the services in charge. It was the second time in its history that this honor was extended to a woman.
The only surviving relative of this splendid Ohio woman is Mrs. Eliza- beth Lewis, a niece, Librarian at the Public Library of Lebanon, Ohio. In 1906 at the suggestion of the late Mrs. Harry Murphy a charter member of the lodge, the Daughters of America, named their lodge the Amanda Stokes Council No. 132, in memory of Miss Stokes.
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