USA > Ohio > Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state, Volume III > Part 16
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After her marriage to James Cadwallader Williams, of Mississippi, they lived on the Williams plantation, at Sligo, near Natchez, where their two children were born and for a period after the death of Mr. Williams, she continued to manage his Mississippi estates.
But she returned to Wilmington in later years and except for extensive travel, remained there. Mrs. Williams had already given evidence of a real and vigorous interest in her city and its people. She organized the Wil- mington chapter of the American Red Cross in 1917, had led a fund raising campaign for celebration of the city's centennial, and as organizer of the Civic League, she initiated a movement for adequate city streets. Mrs.
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Williams worked enthusiastically with the League of Women Voters, with relief and welfare organizations. She was a guiding force for good.
VIRGINIA REMINGTON WING
VIRGINIA REMINGTON WING, executive secretary of the Cleveland Anti-Tuberculosis League and of the health education department of the Cleveland Health Council, is frankly and freely credited by many Clevelanders with having made their city a better place to live in. She has led a steady, unrelenting, intelligent and therefore winning fight against tuberculosis, that ancient, special, enemy of the poor and under privileged. She is still lead- ing in this and other peaceful but persistant battles for the preservation and improvement of human life.
Like her sister, Marie Wing, whose biography appears in the Chapter on Women in Public Service and Political Life, Virginia Wing was born in Cleveland, the daughter of Francis Joseph and Mary Remington Wing, whose ancestry goes back to early American settlements and whose forbears were leaders during the struggle for independence.
Miss Wing was graduated from Miss Mittleberger's School at Cleveland, studied under private tutors and later attended the Ogontz School in Pennsyl- vania. In 1918 Virginia Wing became associated with the Red Cross as a field representative in the department of education. In 1922 she was trans- ferred to the Washington, D. C. office of the Red Cross, to serve as publicity director for eight states and early in 1923 she was assigned to the St. Louis office, where she served in the same capacity for ten states. In September of 1923 she returned to Cleveland as executive secretary of the Anti-Tuberculosis League and as secretary of health education of the Cleveland Health Council. In 1929 she took on the secretaryship of the Brush Foundation and in 1933 that of the Sight Saving Council, all of which Cleveland positions she now fills.
For many years prior to the franchise Virginia Wing, like her sister, was an active leader in the Women's Suffrage Association. She is chair- man of the Housing Standards Committee of the Regional Plan Association, board member of the Association for the Crippled and Disabled, she has directed 15 Welfare Levy campaigns for Cleveland and of Cuyahoga County and has functioned ably in numerous similar capacities.
AGNES WEST WOLFROM
AGNES WEST WOLFROM was born in Johnstown, Pa., the daughter of Johnston G. and Mary Vickroy West. Her mother was a member of a literary family. Several sisters were authors of poetry and children's stor- ies ; one was a newspaper correspondent. Mary V. West was a writer of beautiful verse, most of it of a religious or domestic nature. A privately published book of her verse, "A Bouquet of Rhyme" was published in 1922.
ANNE M. WOODWARD
Director of Allied Council, Youngstown, Ohio, for twenty-five years
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Agnes, the youngest daughter, graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1908, and after acting as college librarian for two years, married Earl Wolfrom, a local business man.
She is a daughter of pioneer families and three ancestors were Ameri- can soldiers in the Revolutionary Army.
She has been active in civic and social circles. President of the Ada Federation of Women's Clubs; President for two years of the P. T. A. Served on the Aid to Dependent Children committee in Hardin County for two years. Member of two literary clubs and organized and sponsored a Junior Club, until they were able to assume senior club status.
Mrs. Wolfrom is the mother of four children. Her older daughter Mary Wolfrom, is an attorney.
ANNE M. WOODWARD
ANNE M. WOODWARD, director of the Allied Council of Youngstown for almost a quarter of a century, has become a national figure in social serv- ice work.
She has directed the spending of $1,259,608 given by the public spirited people of Youngstown, largely for direct relief of needy families and used for food, clothing, shoes, coal and other means of keeping body and soul together.
In 1921, she saw her budget of $75,000 spent almost overnight to pro- vide direct relief. Almost single-handed she raised $130,944 to carry her needy through the winter. When the crash came in 1929 again the Allied Council undertook the problem of relief. She handled all this sort of thing in Youngstown until the government took it over in 1932.
During the period of her heaviest work she constantly amazed boards of directors discussing relief problems and especially those taking up some special case by identifying the case by name and address and giving a com- plete history. Her car was seen everywhere at all hours of the day and night. She was never satisfied to go over reports but wanted the answers herself.
"Don't feel sorry for yourself," was her constant admonition, "but get up and get on your own. Failure is only for those who think failure."
She has lived as she has preached. She has been constant in her at- tendance at the First Presbyterian Church, a member of and a student in The Social Workers' Study Club, International Institute, Inter-Racial Committee, and the Red Cross and Y. W. C. A.
Anne Woodward was born in Utica, N. Y., attended the Rochester Schools and Geneseo Normal School where she specialized in kindergarten work; then just getting a foothold in this country. Her work in Rochester at- tracted the attention of Youngstown social workers who brought her to Youngstown in 1917.
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FRANCES SMITH WYMAN
FRANCES SMITH WYMAN (Mrs. Frances S. Wyman), is a native Cin- cinnatian, daughter of the late Judge Rufus B. Smith and Edith Harrison Smith, both members of pioneer families of Ohio long distinguished for public service and private generosities. For many years, her father, as chairman of the board of directors of the University of Cincinnati wielded a wise and wide influence in the affairs of that institution.
Frances Wyman herself, has, in turn, brought to her work for her city the same spirit of unstinting service and intelligent conception of its social needs.
She has acted as chairman of the Welfare League of the Community Chest; has campaigned ably for the passage of needed bond issues ; has done volunteer work at the General Hospital, in conducting B. M. R. tests; has served as president of the Fresh Air and Convalescent Aid Society and as chairman of the volunteer workers of the Red Cross.
Her greatest achievement, however, is her remarkable record as chairman of the Women's Committee of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, from 1936- 38. In the drive conducted by her for new subscriptions, she sold 4,524 more season subscriptions to the concerts than were sold in any previous year. She organized a committee of 1,500 civic, social and educational leaders each pledged to active solicitation. This is a world's record and has never been equalled by any woman's committee of any other major orchestra.
WOMEN WHO PROMOTE CIVIC BEAUTY OHIO ASSOCIATION GARDEN CLUBS
By MRS. SILAS B. WATERS, President
The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, organized in 1930, has had a phenominal growth in the eight years of its progress-now number- ing two hundred and sixty clubs with a membesrhip of over seven thousand.
It is truly altruistic in its aims-that of encouraging the small home owner as well as the large estate, to make the surroundings of home more attractive-to arouse an interest in native trees and plants through conservation, to preserve the beauty of roadsides. Its officers are all well informed gardeners, and keen nature lovers, alert to the things which will tend toward state beautification.
FRANCES SMITH WYMAN former President Women's Committee, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
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The president has as her associates-Miss Laura Beggs of Newark, vice president, who as head of the Newark Garden Club has done much to create beauty in the county and has aroused keen interest in garden club work.
Miss Zorada Sheets of Shelby, vice president, has been an inspira- tional leader in northern Ohio as well as the maker of a lovely garden.
Mrs. Malcolm Stickney of Granville, vice president, has a broad outlook on program and activities for the associations. She has brought in new ideas on program work, as has Mrs. Ralph Trigg of Youngs- town who has prepared clipping books to assist in providing sug- gestions.
Mrs. John Trequair of Chillicothe, Ohio, treasurer, has a lovely garden at her home "Braehead."
She has given leadership to garden club movement in Ross County.
Directors are Mrs. H. E. Ward, Pemberville; Mrs. J. R. Tillotson, Lima; Mrs. E. T. Fisher, Dayton; Mrs. D. W. McNeil, Cincinnati ; Mrs. Arthur Winston, Springfield; Mrs. Clara H. Lee, Bellville; Mrs. Mal- colm Stickney, Greenville; Mrs. Marshall Fenton, Chillicothe; Mrs. Zora Todd, Portsmouth; Mrs. G. H. Stansbury, Middleport; Mrs. Albert Pfeiffer, Wooster.
Among enthusiastic members is Mrs. Stanley Crooks of Columbus. Besides being a good gardener is outstanding in her work for proper legislation to preserve the scenic beauty of our highways. In Lima, Mrs. Roy Gregg and Mrs. Mark Kilter are noted for their lovely gardens and for the inspiration they give to the betterment of homes in their county.
In Dayton alone there are thirty-five very worthwhile clubs whose membership comprise those who do much in the way of beautification both of home and community. Mrs. Frederick Rike has a beautiful garden which she plans and works in. Mrs. William Darrow, well in- formed in plant growing, is always ready to help in making Dayton flower conscious. Mrs. John Aull's lovely wildflower garden is known far and wide.
Among other skilled and enthusiastic Ohio gardeners are:
Mrs. William Stanhope Rowe, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Mrs. Lena Kling Reed, Portsmouth, Ohio.
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Mrs. G. G. Thornburg, Columbus, Ohio.
Mrs. Arthur Winston, Springfield, Ohio.
Mrs. Robert Hartshorne, Zanesville, Ohio. Mrs. J. T. Merwin, Athens, Ohio.
Mrs. John Traquair, Chillicothe, Ohio. Mrs. Gideon Palmer, Middletown, Ohio.
Miss Zorada Sheets, Shelby, Ohio. Miss Laura Beggs, Newark, Ohio. Mrs. E. D. Longwell, Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Alfred Allen, Glendale, Ohio.
Mrs. Wm. Cooper Proctor, Glendale, Ohio.
Mrs. Stanley Rowe, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Association's present main project is the planting of two hundred and fifty thousand trees in the Federal Forest in Southeastern Ohio. The Forest to be dedicated to children as a means of inspiring youthful interest in reforestration.
THE GARDEN CLUB OF OHIO By FLORENCE McKELSEY CLEGG, President
To MRS. KERMODE F. GILL, 2178 Harcourt Drive, Cleveland, Ohio, the Garden Club of Ohio owes its origin and to her untiring efforts should go the praise for the fine organization that it is in 1939.
She says, "My mad garden career started in 1925 at the first Cleveland Flower Show. At the instigation of Mr. A. D. Taylor, chairman of this show, I called together the presidents of the then existing garden clubs. We formed the Garden Clubs Committee of the Cleveland Flower Show and rushing in where wiser people feared to tread, I took upon my shoulders the chairmanship of this committee. 'How can I join a Garden Club?' was asked me a hundred or more times a day while serving in this capacity. I had to tell them the then existing five Garden Clubs had a limited and filled membership. Then came the query, 'How to form a Garden Club?' So I who had never talked in public before told them to get together fifteen to thirty people and I would come and talk to them and help them all I could. Sandusky was my first effort and then Erie, Pa., my second. I am very proud of the splendid work both are doing."
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In 1926 Mrs. Gill with the assistance of a small Cleveland group and a representative from several other towns formed the Federation now known as the Garden Club of Ohio, a member of the National Council of State Garden Clubs with headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York City.
The National Council was formed in May, 1929, and Garden Club of Ohio was one of the 17 charter members.
The first Garden Club in Ohio was the Cleveland Garden Club formed in 1915 and three months later the Garden Club of Youngstown started.
Presidents of the Garden Club of Ohio have been in the order named-
Mrs. Kermode F. Gill, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Chas. Snelling Robinson, Youngstown, Ohio.
Mrs. Frank B. Stearns, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Guy C. Myers, Ashland, Ohio.
Mrs. Florence McKelvey Clegg, Youngstown, Ohio.
Among those deserving special mention is Mrs. Paul North of Lakewood, Ohio, who served ably as treasurer during the twelve years.
Ohio is a more beautiful state because of the work of these garden clubs and the untiring work of the boards and officers who have served the Garden Club of Ohio so conscientuously. Among the earlier mem- bers were:
Mrs. Frank B. Stearns, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Windsor White, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. A. C. Ernst, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Cary Alburn, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. John Sherwin, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Paul North, Lakewood, Ohio.
Mrs. Benjamin H. Siness, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Benjamin Lowenstein, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. E. C. Crawford, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Edith Seymour Carothers, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. Andrew Squire, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. William Mather, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. L. A. Reed, Cleveland, Ohio.
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Mrs. Robert Beatty, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. William Moeller, Cleveland, Ohio.
Mrs. C. S. Robinson, Youngstown, Ohio. Mrs. George Kalbfleisch, Tiffin, Ohio.
Mrs. Ida Hoffee, Tiffin, Ohio. Mrs. H. B. Stewart, Hartville, Ohio.
Miss Linnie Kugel, Sandusky, Ohio. Mrs. C. S. Rindsfoos, Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Fred Harphorn, Akron, Ohio. Mrs. Charles Paul, Norwalk, Ohio.
Miss Ellen Little, Norwalk, Ohio. Mrs. Guy C. Myers, Ashland, Ohio.
Mrs. C. J. Goldthorpe, Youngstown, Ohio.
Mrs. Goldthorpe was one of the early directors who started the "Garden Forum" in Ohio. This was formed in Youngstown and vicinity in 1930 and many other cities have since formed similar groups.
A garden center was first started in Cleveland and is still the model. The leading spirit in this for many years was Mrs. Windsor T. White of Gates Mills.
These earlier workers have many of them been replaced with new ones and yet many are still carrying on the active part of the work. Mrs. William Mather of Cleveland has been untiring in her efforts during the entire life of the organization, working constantly to pro- mote conservation in Ohio.
To all who have served in Garden Club of Ohio-We salute you and most sincerely thank you. Ohio is a finer and more beautiful state because of your interest and co-operation.
MRS. SILAS B. WATERS
MRS. SILAS B. WATERS, of Cincinnati, president of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, was born in Gallia County, the daughter of Francis M. and Lovinia Matthews Washburn. Her parents were of New England ancestry. Her forbears on the maternal side served in the Revolutionary Army, later leaving Massachusetts with Israel Putman and other members of that valiant group who made the long and arduous journey to the Northwest Territory.
Cincinnati became Mrs. Waters' home in early childhood. She attended the Bartholemew School, at that time one of the best private educational institutions of the middle west.
MRS. SILAS B. WATERS President, Ohio Association of Garden Clubs
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Love of growing things was inherent in this daughter of pioneer stock. As a child she was given a little plot all her own, in which she grew sweet peas, petunias, marigolds, "lady slippers" and other old fashioned annuals.
This childhood garden would today have little in common with the Alpine rockeries, the high-bred Iris, the luscious peonies and the glorious dahlias which attract professional as well as amateur horticulturists to the gardens of Mrs. Waters at Edgecliff Point, Cincinnati. These gardens occupy a precipitious hillside directly overlooking the Ohio River. A finer view or vantage point could hardly be imagined. By the same token, original difficulties presented by the original soil of clay crowded with hugh limestones, exposed to bitter wintry blasts and to burning summer heat, could hardly be exaggerated.
The continuous moisture, long continued protection of winter snows and tempered summer warmth, the friable soil in which roots can penetrate deeply between the interstices of surface rocks, all these were lacking at "Rockledge."
All had to be-and were-supplied. When travelling abroad, Mrs. Waters spent much of her time in the Swiss Mountains, learning at first hand the secrets of habit and habitat which transform mountain, slopes into soft seas of bloom. She has also mastered the technique of growing beautiful rock plants indigenous to this country. Mrs. Waters was among Cincinnati garden lovers who early realized the possibilities of systematized Iris culture and her gardens were noted for the beauty and variety of this splendid flower.
That this basic interest was important to the community as well as to the individual, that its civic side was more significant than its personal aspect, was long since recognized by this gifted gardener. She has given unstinted time and effort to development of school and community gardens and has cooperated whole-heartedly in all enterprises that have helped to earn for Cincinnati the title of "The City Beautiful."
One of the present outstanding projects of the Ohio Association of Garden Clubs, a federation of 260 local clubs, of which Mrs. Waters is head, is the planting of 250,000 trees in the Federal Forest area of Southeastern Ohio. Aid and interest of children has been enlisted and the entire tract, when completed, is to be dedicated to childhood.
In addition to the responsibilities of leadership of the statewide federation, Mrs. Waters is vice president of the Ohio Council for Roadside Improvement, regional vice president of the American Iris Society, former president of the Cincinnati Federation of Garden Clubs, and active in numerous other groups that have as their purpose, the development of beauty out-of-doors.
MRS. CAREY PRATT McCORD
MRS. CAREY PRATT McCORD is president of the Federated Garden Clubs of Cincinnati and vicinity. Her election as head of this federation which includes fifty-two organizations with a combined membership of 1,800 took
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place in 1937 for a three-year term. In 1938 under her supervision the Feder- ation sponsored a flower show at Coney Island, attended by 20,000 people.
The federation is co-operating with the Adult Education Council by financ- ing a gardening school for a two-year term and is also working with the city officials of Cincinnati in the smoke abatement drive. In line with this later project the federation obtained the assistance of Radio Station WCKY in giving regular Sunday time for two years to the smoke abatement subject.
In its conservation program the federation has been working with the park board and started as one of its first projects the planting of trees in the national forest in Wayne County, as well as in Cincinnati environs.
Inasmuch as the federation's aim is to make Cincinnati a more attractive place in which to live the organization also supported the Chamber of Commerce in its clean-up campaign in 1939.
Mrs. McCord is a board member of the Regional Planning Council and a former president of the Glendale Crafters Club. She is also a member of the Glendale Monday Class.
She is the wife of Dr. Carey Pratt McCord, an industrial physician, born in Alabama. They first met while students at the University of Michigan, where Mrs. McCord obtained her degree.
Mrs. McCord was Catherine Mackay of Mt. Carroll, Ill., the daughter of Henry MacKay, an attorney, and Susan Hostetter Mackay. She taught school at Mt. Carroll for one year before going to college.
She is the mother of MacKay McCord, student at the University of Cin- cinnati, and Malcolm Christian and Kay McCord, Glendale school students.
FLORENCE SNEIDER MORLEY
FLORENCE SNEIDER MORLEY, who has been prominently connected with the garden clubs of the Toledo area and is now president of the Garden Clubs Forum, is also well known in musical and church circles of Toledo. She is the wife of Dr. W. Frank Morley and. a daughter of George H. and Minnie Belle (Byrhit) Sneider, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Indiana. Her father, who was engaged in the linseed oil business in Toledo for a number of years, died about 1926, while his wife passed away in 1918. There were but two children in their family, the sister of Mrs. Morley being Helen, who was Mrs. Norman Bel Geddes and died May 28, 1938, leaving two daughters, Joan Geddes and Barbara Geddes.
Mrs. Morley, who was born in Toledo, attended the public schools here until graduated from high school, after which she concentrated her attention upon the study of music, specializing on the pipe organ. She served as assistant organist of Trinity Episcopal Church at Toledo and later became organist of the First Unitarian Church, where she continued for six years. She is now director of the choir of St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Maumee, Ohio, and has been organist of the church school for several years.
PART OF "ROCKLEDGE" GARDEN of Mrs. Silas B. Waters, Cincinnati
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It was on the 27th day of May, 1919, that Florence Sneider became the wife of Dr. Morley and they now have four sons: Francis Weyland, Jr., who is a pre-law student at the University of Michigan; Buel, who is a graduate of the Toledo High School and is planning to enter the University of Michigan; George William, and Robert Byrhit.
In addition to her activity in musical circles Mrs. Morley has cooperated in many interests of public worth and benefit. She has been home service director of the American Red Cross, was president of the Harvard Parent-Teachers Association for two years and is a past president of the River Road Garden Club. For two years she was treasurer of the Garden Center and is now presi- dent of the Garden Club Forum, which is composed of twenty-three clubs in this district. In 1938 she was chairman of the convention of the garden clubs, which met at the Commodore Perry Hotel in Toledo, and she is treasurer of the A. G. Chapter of the P. E. O. She is a member of the Toledo Woman's Club, the Samagama Club and of the Upper River Boat Club, the last named indicating something of the nature of her diversions.
MRS. STANLEY MELVILLE ROWE
MRS. STANLEY MELVILLE ROWE, who, with the enthusiastic coopera- tion of her husband, has established one of the most extensive private arboretums of the country at their estate, Indian Hill, Cincinnati, was born at Memphis, Tenn., the daughter of R. Brinkley and Sara Day Snowden. Both of her parents are of very early American stock. Her mother's family was established in this country in 1604 and her father's in 1632.
Mrs. Rowe is herself deeply interested in genealogy and is now writing the life of a notable ancestor, Thomas Day. Her story of three generations of the Day family gives a colorful picture of the period from 1715 to 1896.
She was educated at St. Mary's Episcopal Church School and at Dobbs Ferry, New York, came to Cincinnati soon after her marriage and at once became identified with a number of important social and religious service organ- izations. She is president of the Church Mission of Health (Episcopal), a member of the Church of the Advent and was one of two women chosen to serve on the executive board for the tri-ennial convention of the Episcopal Church when this great meeting was held in Cincinnati in 1937.
Mrs. Rowe is an active member of the Colonial Dames of Ohio and a leader in the Indian Hill Garden Club and in the Garden Club of Cincinnati. Her deep interest in gardening, her natural aptitude for horticulture and her thorough study of this art and science have not only established her as an authority but have also proven of first aid in the inaugurating and carrying out of many community projects throughout the state.
Mr. and Mrs. Rowe have two sons, Stanley M. Rowe, Jr., now at Yale University, and Brinkley Snowden Rowe, 10 years.
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MRS. WILLIAM STANHOPE ROWE
If the source of numberless services in the cause of human helpfulness were as well known as the results of these services, women such as MRS. WILLIAM STANHOPE ROWE (Margaret Anna Richardson Rowe) of Cincinnati would doubtless be embarrassed and distressed by all two frequent public tribute.
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