USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume III > Part 10
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Mrs. Bloch was among the earliest and most deeply interested members of the Cincinnati Woman's City Club. She gave similar service to the League of Women Voters, the Council of Jewish Women, to Robert Krohn Livingston Camp, to the Mothers Training Center, to the League for Good Government and to the Consumers League.
During the World War she devoted her utmost efforts to the Red Cross, services recognized by an official certificate of merit from the U. S. Govern- ment. She helped to build up Wise Center as a community forum now na- tionally known and to further the encouragement of fine handicraft through The Crafters. Her best energies are still devoted to these and other services. She believes that is what life is for.
MRS. DAVID BOALS
MRS. DAVID BOALS, Mansfield, president and one of the founders of the Council of P. T. A. in Mansfield, has within the past few months been awarded the Chamber of Commerce award for highest civic achievement dur- ing the year 1938. The trophy was presented to her at the annual dinner meeting of the group held in February 1939.
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The award was based on her work in behalf of a half million dollar bond issue for the building of two new junior high schools in Mansfield. The bond issue means not only work for several hundred men for more than a year, but it brings the city an additional half a million from WPA funds.
Although school officials, civic leaders and Parent-Teachers groups worked hard previously to have the bond issue pass, it was defeated at the primary election in August 1938.
Men interested in the issue had put forth great effort and were much disappointed at failure to win two-thirds of the vote. Most of the campaign leaders left on summer vacations a few days after the bond issue was de- feated.
Mrs. Boals, however, gathered about her the women leaders of her or- ganization (Council of Parent-Teachers Associations) and after analyzing the causes that had combined to defeat the bond issue, decided that the obstacles could be overcome. A special election was decided upon and the necessary steps taken to bring it about.
Then Mrs. Boals literally rolled up her sleeves and went to work. She organized 100 women, covering every ward and precinct in the city. Almost two thousand voters, who had just moved into the city and had failed to register, or who had moved from one section of the city to another and had neglected to re-register, were listed and every one of them were personally contacted and "sold" on the school bonds. Besides these, hundreds of luke- warm voters were contacted. On the special election day, a fleet of cars was mobilized and hundreds of persons were taken to and from the polls.
The bond issue carried by considerably more than the necessary two- thirds, and as a result Mansfield has a million dollar school building program under way.
Reared in Mansfield, Mrs. Boals attended the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until she became a high school student. Later she pursued a business course and for a time held the position of assistant cashier in the office of the Mansfield Telephone Company. She left there, however, to become the wife of F. David Boals, who is sales manager with the Mansfield Rubber Company and they are now the parents of three chil- dren, David Hall, Jeannie Elizabeth and Margaret E. Her home and her children are Mrs. Boals' first consideration but she also finds time for active participation in affairs relating to the benefit of the individual in the mat- ter of intellectual and moral advancement and to the upbuilding of the com- munity at large. Her interests along that line have occasioned her to be an earnest, loyal and effective member of the Parent Teachers Association for almost two decades, during which period she has served in various de- partments and on many committees, whereby she has become well qualified to serve as president of the organization, to which office she was elected. She is also president of the Mothers Club and is district chairman of the Citizen- ship Juvenile Association.
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Mrs. Boals belongs to the Episcopal Church. She is fond of good litera- ture and she also keeps thoroughly posted on legislative acts and vital po- litical situations, at all times recognizing the duties and obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship.
MRS. CHESTER C. BOLTON
In one way or another, the philanthropic, civic, and educational activities of MRS. CHESTER C. BOLTON may be said to touch the life of every resident of Cleveland, Ohio.
In memory of her mother. Mary Payne Bingham, Mrs. Bolton contributed $1,000,000 to the School of Nursing of Western Reserve University. Her father was the late Charles W. Bingham and her family has been an important factor in the life and development of her native city for the past 103 years.
Her husband, former Congressman C. C. Bolton, has shared many of her interests, especially her efforts in the field of public health. Mrs. Bolton is a member of the Advisory Council of the National Organization for Public Health Nursing. a member of the board of Lakeside Hospital and of the Advisory Committee of the University School of Nursing. Realization of her exceptional ability is wide spread. Recently she was appointed by Dr. Glenn Frank as vice-chairman of the National Republican Program Committee.
Mrs. Bolton, spending her girlhood days in Cleveland, attended the Hathaway Brown school and some years later was graduated from a school for girls in New York City. In 1907 she became the wife of Chester C. Bolton. They have a family of three sons-Charles Bingham, Kenyon Castle and Oliver Payne, all living in Cleveland.
Mrs. Bolton is interested in various club, social and political activities. She has membership in the National Woman's Republican Club of New York, the Cosmopolitan Club, also of New York City, the League of Repub- lican Women, of Washington, D. C .; the Selgrave Club of Washington; and the Woman's City Club of Cleveland. Association with her husband's in- terests and her own participation in politics has given her broad and intimate knowledge of the leading questions and issues of the day and made her largely conversant with the problems that most largely affect the public welfare.
MRS. DUDLEY BLOSSOM, of Cleveland, sister of Mrs. Bolton, has inherited the same spirit for advancement of human progress and the same generous enthusiasm contributing thereto. One of the outstanding benefactions of Mrs. Blossom was the gift of $25,000 to Yale University which made possible a series of anatomical studies of vertebrates directed toward more definite knowledge of the processes of the human brain.
MRS. CHARLES J. BUSHNELL
Practically the lives of all individuals center around one dominant in- terest. With Mrs. Bushnell it might be scientifically classed as vocational
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training, but undoubtedly those who know her best and have watched the splendid effort she has put forth for the benefit of the young would describe it as her love for and interest in girls. This has been the actuating force which has prompted her continuous service in calling forth the best in each individual and in quietly but effectively pointing out to them the upward path.
Mrs. Bushnell is a native of Oregon and a daughter of Henry H. and Margaret J. (Rowland) Hewitt, the former a native of Oregon and the latter of Virginia. but the mother died when her daughter was a young girl.
Mrs. Bushnell attended a private school in her native state and later graduated from Albany College, after which she entered Mills College, a school for girls. She took her graduate work at the University of Chicago and at Toledo University, where she received her Master's degree although she did all the work for it at the University of Chicago. Afterward she engaged in teaching for four years, which was a requirement in obtaining a teachers life certificate. Two years of that period was spent as a teacher in Sylvania, Ohio, one in Toledo and one in Trinity University at Waxahoxie, Texas. In the meantime she had become the wife of Charles J. Bushnell, head of the sociology department of the Toledo University. In the summer season they traveled over the country organizing playgrounds and recreation centers for young people in various cities, including Washington, D. C., and the handiwork of the children there won prizes at the Jamestown (Va.) Exposition. They also established the playground at Lansing, Michigan.
When they came to Toledo Mrs. Bushnell was requested by Mayor Bernard Brough to become play supervisor for the city and she continued in the work through three summers. In the meantime she was teaching in Toledo University, having charge there of the first classes in home economics and in the night schools she had charge of the vocational work in which she has always been greatly interested. She has always been much interested in girls and is now city sponsor for young business girls. The Bushnell home is a rendezvous for the boys and girls of Toledo University, which is situated just opposite their residence. She finds keen interest in helping the girls solve their problems and in pointing out to them their possibilities for achievement in helpful and uplifting lines.
Mrs. Bushnell belongs to the Business and Professional Women's Club, to the P.E.O. of Toledo, the Woman's Club, the Educational Club, the Samagama and the Delphians and also the Pi Gamma Mu. She is greatly interested in the Theta Gamma Phi, a local sorority. She is serving on the city planning board and is interested in all that has to do with civic develop- ment. She has staged May Day pageants for various colleges in many dif- ferent sections of the United States and in Waxahoxie, Texas there were more than two hundred girls in the pageant. Mrs. Bushnell is a member of the Congregational Church and she is an associate member of the Toledo
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Writers Club and is now a member of a class in creative writing at Toledo University. The workshop group of the Toledo Writers Club meets in the study of the Bushnell home. All this indicates how broad are the interests and activities of Mrs. Bushnell who from early womanhood has been a contributing factor to many educational and cultural agencies and whose example has been a stimulating influence in the lives of many young women who have found her guidance the path to higher ideals and broader service for mankind.
ELIZABETH LAMSON CHAMBERLIN
In connection with the Young Women's Christian Association there are few people so widely known as ELIZABETH LAMSON CHAMBERLIN of Toledo, who is serving on both the national and world boards of that organi- zation. Her work has been of a most constructive character and she has contributed in very definite measure to the upbuilding of the cause.
Mrs. Chamberlin is a daughter of Julius G. and Katherine (Tracy) Lamson, whose family numbered three daughters, the eldest being Miriam, now Mrs. Sydney D. Vinnedge and the mother of three children-Virginia, Sydney, Jr., and Jules Lamson. The second sister, Katherine, is the wife of Charles E. Swartzbaugh and has four children-Katherine Ann, Charles E., William Lamson, and John David.
Mrs. Chamberlin attended the grade schools of Toledo and after gradu- ating from the Central High School entered Wells College, where she pursued a general course and was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1904. During her student days there she was vice president of the Young Women's Christian Association cabinet. With her return to Toledo, Mrs. Chamberlin entered the Y. W. C. A. of this city, served as chairman of its industrial committee and was its president in 1910. It was in that year that she became the wife of Harry Rogers Chamberlin and they removed to Newton, Massachusetts, where they remained until the death of her husband in 1918.
Mrs. Chamberlin then became director of the hostess house at Camp Merritt and after the signing of the armistice she was made executive sec- retary of the field committee for Ohio and West Virginia, with headquarters at Cincinnati, where she remained until 1922, when she went abroad, touring the world and visiting the Young Women's Christian Associations in many cities. On her return in 1923 she became a member of the board of the Toledo organization and has since served in this connection. She has been most active and efficient in the organization, served on the national board and from 1932 to 1936 was president of the Y. W. C. A. of the United States. In 1936 recognition of her service was given her in the bestowal upon her of the Bachelor of Laws degree by the University of Toledo. She is now first vice president of the national board, in which connection she has visited asso-
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ciations in this country and abroad in large measure and her understanding of the work and its high ideals has rendered her service an inspirational force to many of its societies. She is also vice president of the world Young Women's Christian Association, which has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzer- land, whither she often goes to attend executive committee meetings. The first world's council which she ever attended was held at Budapest and while abroad she spent some time in Constantinople. She has attended the council meetings annually since 1928 and her opinions have much weight in its deliberations.
Mrs. Chamberlin also belongs to the League of Women Voters and was its president for one term. She belongs to the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church and is active on the church board and committees, also teaches a class of young married people in the Sunday school. Her recreation largely comes through driving and walking which affords her chances to enjoy the beauties of nature. Loving her work, she rejoices in its opportunities for character upbuilding and for the development of that cooperation which must underlie Christian service if the best and most permanent results are to be won.
OTELIA COMPTON
OTELIA COMPTON (Mrs. Elias Compton) of Wooster, Ohio, was granted, several years ago, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by the Western College for Women for a reason probably unparalleled-as regards specific statement-by any college in the world.
With due ceremony, an LL.D. was bestowed on this then seventy-four year old woman "for outstanding achievement as the wife and mother of Comptons." For this achievement she received in 1939, another high honor, being elected "American Mother of 1939" by the Golden Rule Foundation of New York City.
Thus was motherhood classified and extolled, as a science and an art, in the person of an individual who-until this unprecedented recognition- had, she steadily maintained, achieved nothing important beyond being the best wife and mother she knew how.
It would be hard to find a better illustration of the fundamental im- portance of a career to which millions of Ohio women have devoted their lives without even knowing that it was a career. Ohio is called the "Mother of Presidents." By the same token, it might well be called the mother of mothers of presidents-and of men and women who have served their com- munities, their country and the world in, perhaps, even more ultimately beneficial capacities.
The three sons and the daughter of Otelia Compton are undoubtedly a case in point. Karl Compton, oldest son, is president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a physicist of world wide reputation. Mary Compton,
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born second in the Compton family, is principal of a great missionary school in India. Wilson Compton, third child, famous attorney and skilled economist, is manager of the Lumber Manufacturers Association and Arthur Compton, the youngest, was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics-that great award which took on new distinction when it was bestowed on the greatest of all physicists, Madame Marie Curie.
Both Otelia Compton and her husband began their work as country school teachers. Elias Compton, though only two years her senior, was Otelia Compton's teacher in a country school near Hamilton, Ohio. As he went on to college at Wooster and then to theological seminary, she attended the Western College for Women. They planned on completion of his sem- inary course, to become foreign missionaries. In his last year at seminary, however, he was called back to Wooster to substitute in the teaching position of his favorite professor in the Department of Latin, and thus began his life's work as professor, then dean and acting president of the college. Elias Compton was a born educator, a fact well accepted at Wooster College, of which he was a faculty member for forty-five years. It is said that while their four children were young, Dr. Compton's salary averaged $1,400 a year. Despite the difficulties of managing a home which should provide her family with maximum comfort, opportunity and happiness, Otelia found time and energy to serve as a director of two homes for children of Presby- terian missionaries.
It is true that her children-and her husband-did their part. The mother of the Comptons believed in the disciplinary value of hard work for her children as well as for herself. But she believed also in hard play- saw to it that their interest in athletics had a chance to develop. There was no spot in the modest home of the Comptons too good for a Compton to play in, no household task to important for interruption when a little Compton had ideas to develop or important questions to be answered. The ideas and the questions may have been quite unimportant in themselves but the mother who fails this opportunity of actually participating in the life of her child is undoubtedly far from the convictions carried to such successful outcome by the "Mother of Comptons."
Mrs. Compton still lived-at the time of this writing-in the old frame house at Wooster, to which she returned after the conferring of her extra- ordinary degree. Undoubtedly her honors pleased and touched her deeply. Undoubtedly, also, she was glad to relinquish the temporary symbol of her academic dignities. Undoubtedly she felt more at home when she donned, as she still did when so disposed, a kitchen apron.
BELLE KNOX COOK
BELLE KNOX COOK of Mt. Gilead, widow of the late Perry Cook, and sister-in-law of the late Mark Cook, Mt. Gilead bankers and financiers,
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was born in Knox County, teaching in the rural schools of the county for a number of years.
Mrs. Cook is a leader in Mt. Gilead civic and club affairs. She has also aided a number of deserving young persons in securing an education by loaning money to them. She served on the local school board for years and also as president of the Library Board.
The Cook Brothers erected a number of substantial business blocks, in- cluding the Masonic Temple and Knights of Pythias club rooms, as well as residence flats and offices. Mr. and Mrs. Perry Cook donated rooms which they owned in the Union Block, to the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary for club rooms.
Mrs. Cook is also a generous contributor to different church organiza- tions, and altogether is one of Mt. Gilead's leading and better-known citizens.
CLARA C. CROCKER
CLARA C. CROCKER (Mrs. Samuel Crocker), of Cincinnati, has achieved especial distinction and has provided infinite inspiration for her fellow citi- zens, through her long, loyal and valuable service in the cause of the Children's Hospital. This noted Cincinnati institution was established for sick children, the large proportion of whom come from homes where the parents are unable to pay for nursing or medical care. First a member of the Lady Board of Managers, and then an elected member of the present board, consisting of six men and six women, Mrs. Crocker has been intimately connected with the administration of the hospital for a period of twenty-five years.
She has also worked on the board of the Cincinnati Woman's Club and the Woman's Exchange. She is a charter member of the Garden Club of Clifton, and has held, in turn, every office in that organization. It is for her generous, consistent, able social service, however, in connection with the Children's Hospital, that Cincinnatians know her best, and feel for her their deepest appreciation.
CLARA DAUGHERTY
CLARA DAUGHERTY, born in 1863 and died in 1936, was a Bucyrus, Ohio woman of great vigor who lent her time to church work and the main- tenance of library, hospital and King's Daughters' homes.
In 1928 she was appointed by Mayor Arthur Schuler to a place on the Bucyrus Public Library Board and was president of the board of trustees at the time of her death.
It was due to her efforts in 1933 that the library was kept open at a time when the future of the institution looked doubtful.
Calling a citizen's meeting, she took public subscriptions to assure the library's continuance right at a time when the country was in the midst of a bank holiday.
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She was born in Tiro, north of Bucyrus, and came to Bucyrus in 1917. For four years she attended a music school in Columbia, Ind. and also took courses at Ohio Northern University.
In 1927 she was Crawford County chairman of the tuberculosis seal sale.
Miss Daugherty was very active in King's Daughters' work and was leader of In-As-Much Circle and for a period was a member of the board of trustees.
As a medium for raising funds for the circle's many charities, she orig- inated, in 1933, the King's Daughters seal sale which is sponsored annually at holiday time. She designed the first seal.
She contributed generously to the old Monnett Hospital and was a member of the woman's board. In her will Clara Daugherty remembered Maplecrest, the state home for girls, and the Chapter House, maintained by In-As-Much circle for meetings of King's Daughters and other organizations.
ESTELLE RICKMAN DAVIS
ESTELLE RICKMAN DAVIS, Cincinnati Civic leader, was born in New Albany, Indiana, the daughter of Edward and Rebecca Rickman. Both were members of pioneer families who traveled from Pennsylvania and settled in Indiana in 1798. Her father was purchasing agent for Ohio Steamboat Lines for years, her mother a teacher.
She was educated in the schools of Indiana and enjoyed the distinction of being an honor student through both the elementary and high school courses and the youngest pupil ever to graduate from the schools there.
After completing a course in teacher training at Depauw College and a business course at Bryant and Stratton Business College, she began the study of medicine, but gave this up and accepted a position as teacher, the chosen profession of her mother and sisters. She taught in New Albany, Indiana and Henderson, Kentucky.
Estelle Richman married Charles R. Davis, December 25, 1894. He was head of the order department of a wholesale drug house and later he organ- ized the first life insurance company among Negroes, north of the Ohio River. Their home has stood as an example of ideal family life; where have been welcomed and entertained many celebrities.
Having no family of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Davis have given themselves to service for others. Many a youth has been able to complete his education because of their help and guidance.
Mrs. Davis has continued special courses in sociology, child welfare, Negro history, and religious education. Coming to Cincinnati a youthful bride in 1894, her family training, education, and culture expressed themselves in a desire for racial advancement and movements for moral and social uplift of her race.
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Through her work in Sunday School, church, missionary, community and club organizations, she has molded thought, enlarged vision, led women and girls on to better womanhood. She has traveled exensively and counts among her acquaintance leading citizens of both races throughout the country.
Mrs. Davis has worked among women's organizations since 1904. She has served as officer in the Ohio State Federation of Women's Clubs from head of department up to the presidency. Nine students were given scholar- ships, the clubs increased from 79 to 149. The state raised $1,895.75 for re- pairing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Home, leading all other states.
To encourage youth in higher education Mrs. Davis traveled over the state and raised $2,107.50 for the National Scholarship Fund of $50,000.00. This is the largest amount ever given at one time by any organization of this racial group for education. She organized the Girl's Department in June, 1924 and today the State Federation of Girls is one of the best in the National Association of Women.
She is affiliated with the International Council of Women through the National Association of Colored Women, is secretary of the Central Associa- tion of Colored Women, vice president of State Conference of N. A. A. C. P. Branches, vice president of the local branch of the N. A. A. C. P. and youth advisor of the local branch. Auditor and historian of the Ohio Baptist Wom- en's Auxiliary, honorary president of Cincinnati Federation of Women and president of the Holding Company of the Cincinnati Federation of Women under whose guidance a mortgage debt is being steadily reduced.
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