Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/516

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Women from the Time of Mary Washington
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Chapter of Puerta del Ora. Mrs. Gibbons was eligible to the Daughters of the American Revolution through several lines, but chooses to found her claim to membership upon the services of Captain Samuel Taylor of Danbury, Connecticut, an ancestor of her father, Samuel Augustus Raymond. When, during the war with Spain, San Francisco became a vast camp and the Red Cross Society was established for the aid of our volunteers, the patriotic instincts and the generous feeling of Mrs. Gibbons at once responded to the call.

E. ELLEN BATCHELLER.

Miss Batcheller was born in Freetown, New York. The founder of her family in America was Honorable Joseph Batcheller who came from England in 1636 with his wife Elizabeth, one child and three servants. Miss Batcheller's father, Charles Batcheller was the personal friend and co-worker with Gerrit Smith and Wendell Phillips. Too old to enter the army at the time of the Civil War, he sent his son, who was a martyr to the cause. Miss Batcheller is also eligible through two grandmothers, Rebecca Dwight and Sarah Norton, to membership in the Mayflower, Colonial Dames and Huguenot Societies, but her chief patriotic work has been with the Daughters of the American Revolution, organizing the General Frelinghuysen Chapter and remaining regent until elected state regent, in which position she was eminently successful, organizing nine new chapters in as many months. Few, if any families have more illustrious members—Whittier, Daniel Webster, Caleb Cushing, General Dearborn, Senators Morrill and Allison and many others. A sister of Miss Batcheller married James Jared Elmendorf, a descendant of Sobieski, King of Poland. Miss Batcheller is a staunch Episcopalian, has traveled extensively in her own country and resides in Somerville, New Jersey.

ELLEN SPENCER MUSSEY.

Mrs. Mussey is a woman esteemed for her knowledge of practical affairs and general business capacity. She was chosen by the District Supreme Court as successor to Mrs. David J. Brewer on the Board of Education for the district. For years was active in the business life of the Capital and a genuine factor in the practice of law at the local bar. Organizer of the Washington College of Law. Member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and state regent of the District of Columbia. Descended from Caleb Spencer, who enlisted from Danbury, Connecticut, under Captain Benedict, in the first call for troops.

MRS. ROBERT A. McCLELLAN.

Mrs. Aurora Pryor McClellan is the daughter of Luke Pryor, who was prominent in public life of Alabama for many years, and in 1880 succeeded George S. Houston, his law partner, as United States Senator from Alabama. Mrs. McClellan's mother was Isabella Harris, a descendant of distinguished Virginia families—the Spotswoods and other well-known families of that state. Mrs. McClellan's father was descended on the paternal side from the Blands, of