Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/387

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Part Taken by Women in American History


vices in her department, and by work before that, for the veteran. From the beginning of the Civil War until its close, she had been assiduous in promoting the work of the Sanitary Commission, and in looking after the comfort of the soldier in the hospital, on the field, and in the camp. When the Woman's Relief Corps was organized, she found that her work was only begun, and that the field had widened, but her shoulder was to the wheel and she asked for no discharge. She made a splendid executive, and when her year was finished found that there was other and more sacred work to do. She was made a member of the Andersonville Prison Park Board, and when the chairmanship was made vacant by the death of Mrs. Turner, what more natural than that she should be asked to fill the vacancy, and right nobly has she fulfilled the trust. Last May 30th, it was her duty and privilege to present a monument and tablet (upon which are memorialized the history of the gift of the park to the Woman's Relief Corps, and their transfer of it to the United States Government) to Mrs. Belle C. Harris, national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, who in turn presented it to a representative of the Government, Captain Bryant. It stands within the stockade at Andersonville. Mrs. Winans is the daughter of a minister, and the wife of a soldier who carries the marks of battle upon his person. Their home is in Toledo, Ohio.

MRS. FANNY E. MINOT.

Mrs. Fanny E. Minot, twenty-second national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, is a native of Barnstead, New Hampshire, but when quite young removed with her parents to Concord, where she has since resided. She is descended from John Pickering, who went from Massachusetts to Portsmouth, N. H., as early as 1633, having originally emigrated from England. In 1874 Miss Pickering was married to James Minot, a veteran of the 140th New York Volunteers, and cashier in the Mechanics Bank in Concord. Mrs. Minot is interested in everything which tends to uplift humanity. She is a member of the Concord Woman's Club, a member of Rumford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is much interested in literary and educational matters, and has for many years been officially connected with missionary and charitable organizations of the city. Her home is in Concord, New Hampshire.

MRS. ABBIE A. ADAMS.

Mrs. Abbie A. Adams, twenty-third national president of the National Woman's Relief Corps, came to the office full of honors which had been given her in her own department. She was the first national president which the state had ever had, and the organization had been hard at work in it for twenty-two years. Mrs. Adams made an excellent presiding officer, and there was growth along every line while she was in office. Mrs. Adams is the wife of a veteran, and from her patriotic ancestry, some of whom fought in the Revolutionary War, she became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is identified with many philanthropies, and is active in church work. An ideal wife and mother, she has such a fine system that everything goes on smoothly and nothing