REBECCA RUTER SPRINGER.
Mrs. Rebecca Ruter Springer was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 8, 1832. Daughter of Rev. Calvin W. Ruter, a prominent clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was educated in the Wesleyan Female College in Cincinnati, Ohio.
In 1859 she married William M. Springer, a noted lawyer of Illinois, and afterwards Congressman for several terms from that state. Mrs. Springer passed much of her life in the Capital City, and no woman was more beloved nor more conspicuous through her abilities and charm of manner. Mrs. Springer wrote several books of verse and two novels, entitled "Beechwood" and "Self," and a volume of poems under the title "Songs of the Sea." Mrs. Springer's death occurred in 1904.
B. ELLEN BURKE.
Was born in Lawrence County, New York, in 1850. Her husband was Charles A. Burke, a lawyer of Malone, New York. In 1896, she organized the Teachers' Institutes for the instructors in Catholic schools, and teachers were brought together from all the states. Her assistants were among the ablest Catholic teachers of the country. She originated and improved the methods of teaching in the Sunday Schools. Has given talks and lectures at the Catholic summer schools of Madison, and Detroit, Michigan, and also the Catholic winter school of New Orleans. In 1889 she accepted the position of editor for the Catholic publishers, D. H. McBride and Company, and in 1900 published the Sunday Companion, a periodical for young Catholics, and on the retirement of these publishers from business, she bought the paper and has since been its owner and editor. She has published also a Catholic monthly called The Helper, intended for teachers and parents. Has written and compiled a set of readers for Catholic schools and two geographies. Is a prominent contributor to other periodicals beside her own. She taught the first "Method Class," and started the New York Normal School for Catechists, the faculty of which now numbers twenty-eight.
MARGARET MARY BROPHY HALVEY.
Was born in Queens County, Ireland, in the early sixties. Her father's family came to Ireland at the time of Henry II, in 1192, and her mother was one of the first Catholics in her family since the Reformation. In 1884 she married Timothy Frederick Halvey, founder of the first Gaelic School in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Buffalo, and originator of Robert Emmet Day (March 4). She was active during the World's Fair and Social Science Exhibit, introducing the Irish industries, particularly the lace exhibit. Was the first woman secretary of the Catholic Historical Society, and secretary and co-founder of the Woman's Auxiliary Board. Author of poems and short stories. Ts one of the officers for the Anti-Vivisection Society; also the Woman's Pen Society, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and president of the Ladies' Land
