Representative women of New England/Harriet A. Ralph

by Mary H. Graves

HARRIET AUGUSTA RALPH, President of the Ladies' Aid Association of the Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts, is the wife of William H. Ralph, of Somerville. She was born in Camden, N.J., March 20, 1851, daughter of the late Joseph Parker and Hannah Elizabeth (Bullock) Myers. Her father was from Philadelphia.

Through her mother Mrs. Ralph is a great-great-grand-daughter of Abijah Reed, who, as recorded in the Revolutionary Rolls of New Hampshire, was a private in Captain William Walker's company. Third New Hampshire Regiment, commanded by Colonel James Reed in 1775, and in 1776 was in Captain William Barron's company, which rendered service in Canada. The Hillsborough (N.H.) County History names him as one of the soldiers who fought at Bunker Hill. He is said to have held at one time the rank of Corporal and later that of Sergeant. He died at his home in Dunstable, now Nashua, N.H., about the year 1828. His daughter Hannah married James Wheeler. Their daughter, Mary Sampson Wheeler, married Jabez Bullock; and Hannah Elizabeth Bullock, daughter of Jabez and Mary, married in November, 1845, Joseph Parker Myers, above named.

In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Myers removed to Boston. Mr. Myers enlisted in 1861 in Company G, Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment. He was commissioned First Lieutenant, and was in the early campaigns of the Army of the Potomac. As the result of injuries received and of disease contracted in the service, he was honorably discharged in August, 1862. He was an invalid the rest of his life, being incapacitated for^ active work. When Joe Hooker Post, No. 23, G. A. R., was formed in East Boston, Lieutenant Myers enrolled his name on its list of members. He was a man of sterling principles, and was highly respected by his associates. He died September 23, 1891, at the home of his daughter in Somerville. His grave is in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

Brigadier-general William W Bullock, who was prominent in the State militia before the Civil War and in subsequent years identified with national interests, was Mrs. Ralph's uncle. Her mother, who was General Bullock's sister, was President of the Soldiers' Ladies Aid Society formed in East Boston in 1871, which was one of the first societies of the kind organized in the country. Mrs. Ralph was a member of that society. In 1882 she joined the Willard C. Kinsley Relief Corps, No. 21, of Somerville, as a charter member. Of this corps she was the second President, subsequently serving as secretary.

In 1886 Mrs. Ralph was elected treasurer of the Department of Massachusetts, W. R. C. Aft-er serving with efficiency three years in this responsible position, she declined a re-election on account of illness, but accepted office as a member of the Department Executive Board two successive years. In the plans for the National Encampment of the G. A. R. in Boston in 1890 Mrs. Ralph actively represented the Woman's Relief Corps of Massachusetts. She was a delegate at large to the National Convention in Tremont Temple, and was a member of the Executive Committee of Arrangements and of subcommittees. As chairman of the Finance Committee, she had charge of several thousand dollars contributed to the Convention fund by the corps in response to an appeal for money to provide for the reception and entertainment of visitors and delegates.

Mrs. Ralph has also been a National Aide, press correspondent, chaplain, and Junior ViceHARRIET A. RALPH President. AMieu iKimiiiatcd tor the hitter of- fice, among the many testimonies to her work and ability was the following by Mrs. Mary L. Crilnian, Past De]«rtin(>nt President; "Mrs. Ralph has ably tilled positions of honor in this department, and, as has been stated, could have held the highest ofhce years ago hail not her duty to an invaliil soldier father seemed to her more imperative. Siie deserves this recog- nition in coming forward again. She has always manifested great interest in the work, and we appreciate her valuable services. She is highly respected as a noble woman wherever known. She has always been ready to help in any emer- gency ; in the past her services were such that we feel assured that if elected she will be a worthy leader."

Mrs. Ralph was chosen and, at the convention a year later, was unanimously elected Department Senior Vice-Presiilent; in accordance with the custom of the conventions this insures her election as Department President in 1905.

Mrs. Ralph joined the Ladies' Aid Association of the Soldiers' Home in Massachusetts soon after it was formed, in 1992, serving on the committee that drafted the constitution and also as recording secretary of the association. After holding the office of secretary for three years, she declined a re-election. A valuable silver service, suitably inscribed, was presented her in 1886, accompanied by an engrossed testimonial expressing the regard of the members and their appreciation of her work. She is now (1904) serving her fifth year as President.

The object of the association is to co-operate with the Board of Trustees in promoting the interests of the Soldiers' Home, assist in fur- nishing a library, and provide, as far as possible, such articles as are necessary for the comfort of tlie inmates. The appointment of finance committees to solicit memberships and the issuing of appeals through the papers and by circulars were the first methods adopted to enlist co-operation and financial support. Women who had rendered service in hospitals and elsewhere during the days of the civil strife, representatives of the old Soldiers' Home or- ganization, members of the Woman's Relief Corps and of other organized charities in Massa- chusetts, have united their efforts in promoting the work of the Ladies' Aid Association.

Every week since the home was opened, the hearts of the inmates have been cheered by their visits, and by the books, flowers, fruit, and nu- merous other gifts that they have distributed. The entertainments given by the association for the financial benefit of the home have been well patronized. The Ladies' Aid table, with its several annexes, furnished by invitation of the executive connnittee of the Soldiers' Home Carnival in 188.3, netted five thousand four hundred ninety-five dollars and ninety cents to its treasury. The kettledrum arranged for the evening of February 14, 1884, which was attended by five thousand persons, and was recognized by the public anil recorded in the press as a brilliant social event, added four- teen hundred dollars. A part of this sum was expended in the purchase of a lot in Forest Dale Cemetery, Maiden.

In referring to the work of the Ladies' Aiil, Mrs. Ralph, in an address given at a church gathering in Sumerville in 1900, said in part : "The association has borne the entire expense of caring for the cemetery lot, which amounted to more than one thousand dollars from 189G to 1899, inclusive. Through the efforts of the late Mrs. E. Florence Barker, condenmed can- non were secured from the War Department and mounted on the lot at a cost of one hundred and twenty-five dollars. The monu- ment of granite was the gift of Mrs. Lyman Tucker, who was an active member from the date of organization until her life's work was completed, ami who remembered the association in her will.

"In 1885 new steps to Powder Horn Hill, Chelsea, where the home is located, were built at a cost of four hundred and five dollars and forty-five cents, and in 1887 new floors were laid in the home, for which over one hundred dollars were appropriated. General Horace Binney Sargent Hall has been furnished for religious services and entertainments. The association assisted in furnishing the additional building erected in 1890, and in 1898 refurnished the surgeon's office with desk, chair, and other supplies. In 1899 clocks were placed in three of the larger rooms. Assistance has been given in furnishing a library, and the care of some rooms has been assumed by members who bear all the expense of this pleasant duty."

At the annual meeting twelve directors and twelve visitors are elected, and one of each of these visits the home in some month during the year. In order that the duties may be thoroughly understood, it is required that before being elected to the Board of Directors a member shall serve as visitor. A fair held in Horticultural Hall, Boston, in November, 1900, for the perpetual care of the buri;d-lot above referred to netted three thousand dollars, checks for liberal amounts being received from Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Converse, of Maiden, and generous contributions from other friends.

The Presidents of the Ladies' Aid Association have been Mrs. Caroline King, Mrs. Julia K. Dyer (who served ten years), Mrs. Austin C. Wellington, Mrs. William A. Bancroft, Mrs. Augusta A. Wales, and Mrs. Harriet A. Ralph.

The late Captain John (1. B. Adams, in his last report as president of the Board of Trustees of the Home (July, 1900), mentioning the services at Forest Dale Cemetery, Maiden, on Memorial Day, carried out by Gettysburg Post, of Boston, under the direction of the Ladies' Aid, said: "This association has maintained its interest in the home unabated, and in very many ways has rendered service which could not be otherwise provided. It has been a blessing to us since the incorporation of our board. It surely is, and I trust will ever continue to be, what its name implies, an and association."

Mrs. Ralph is a member of the Broatlway Congregational Church of Somerville, and is deeply interested in religious work. She is also identified with Ivaloo Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah, of Somerville, has served as its treasurer, and declined higher offices that have been tendered her. She is interested in other social and charitable work connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Ralph is a member of the Heptorean Club Auxiliary of Somerville.

The marriage of Harriet A. Myers and William H. Ralph, of Boston, took place in May, 1874 They removed to Somerville, and have continued their residence in that city. Mr. Ralph is one of the leading Odd Fellows in Massachusetts, and has been an officer of the Grand Encampment, I. O. O. F., and is Grand Marshal of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. He was Commandant of Canton Washington, Patriarchs Militant, of Somerville, at the time of the competitive drill at Chicago. This canton there won the second prize, which consisted of a valuable diamond i)in for the commandant and a magnificent banner for the canton. Mr. Ralph was Colonial of the Second Massachusetts Regiment, Patriarchs Militant, in 1891, and was Chief of Staff of the parade when the Sovereign Grand Lodge met in Boston in 1894. He is also a member of the Masonic order.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph are highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends. They have had three children—namely, Joseph William, born April 11, 1875; H. Florence, born September 22, 1880—both graduates of the Somerville High School, and Charles Warren, born August 17, 1877, who died January 9, 1880. Their eldest son was a young man of talents and ability that gave promise of a successful career. His christian fortitude, his manly bearing and genial companionship, won for him many friends in all circles of society. He passed to the life beyond, SeptcTuber 13, 1903.