Biographies
Miss Alice Cunningham Fletcher
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Poet, born in Bedford, Mich., 26th August, 1860.
In 1862 her parents removed to Nebraska. Her earliest recollections are of the great West, with its prairie billows crested with pleasant homes, its balmy breezes and its sweeping gales. Her parents were highly cultured, and gave her every possible assistance and encouragement.
She began to write rhymes in her childhood, and when ten years old a poem from her pen was published in "Our Young Folks." then edited by J. T. Trowbridge. Receiving a good common-school education, she was for a time a successful school-teacher.
In 1878-79 she was a student in the Nebraska State University. There she met William T. Bumstead, to whom she was married in 1880.
One of their two children, a son, died in infancy, and the other, a daughter, brightens their pleasant home in Ontario, Cal. Mrs. Bumstead is of Quaker descent, and is like the Friends in her quiet tastes and sincere manners. Except to a congenial few, she is almost as much a stranger in her own town as abroad. Remarkably well informed and having an analytic mind, she is a keen, though kindly, disputant, accepting nothing as proved which does not stand the test of reason.
She has had little time for writing and has used her pen mostly to
please the child-readers of "St. Nicholas" and the "Youth's Companion,"
having been a special contributor to the latter for several years. She
thoroughly enjoys her work and asks nothing of fame but to win for her
a circle of loving little friends.
American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies Vol 1 Publ. 1897 Transcribed by: Marla Snow
Philanthropist, born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1832.
At an early age she became the wife of Mr. Cochran, a Virginian, who died, leaving her with a family of three small children.
Six years after his death she was united in marriage to N. J. White, who was killed in the battle of Antietam. Mrs. White took charge of the sanitary supplies of Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and served subsequently under the Sanitary Commission on the steamer "R. C. Woods;" at Jeffersonville, Ind.; and over the White Women's Refugee Hospital, at Nashville, Tenn.
She settled in Nebraska, pre-empting a homestead, on which she lived two years. During that period and for two years afterward she filled the office of Grand Vice-Templar in the order of Good Templars. Then the crusade spirit fired the Great West, and, laying down her Good Templar work, with other sisters, she joined in the crusade against the saloons in Lincoln, Neb.
In 1880, in Lincoln, Neb., she became the wife of Rev.
Joseph Cadwallader, of the Congregational Church. On account of his
failing health they removed to Jacksonville, Fla., where in 1886 she
was made president of the State Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In
that office she brought the work in that State from a condition of
apathy and indifference to a healthy and steadily increasing growth. She
resigned her position as State president and is now engaged in the
crowning work of her life, the establishment of the Woman's Industrial
Home, in Augusta, Ga.
American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies Vol 1 Publ. 1897 Transcribed by: Marla Snow
Woman suffragist and temperance worker, born in Gloucestershire, England, 26th December, 1852. Her maiden name was Morgan. Her father was of Welsh extraction, and her mother came of an old country family the Blagdons, proprietors of the manor of Boddington since the days of William the Conqueror. She was educated in Clifton Ladies' College and passed the Cambridge local examination the only form of university privilege open at that time to girls.
She came to the United States with her parents and their five younger children in 1870. The family settled in Fillmore county, Neb., and Clara engaged in teaching.
In September, 1872, she became the wife of Clarence C. Chapin, of Sheffield, Mass., and shortly after they removed to Franklin county, Neb., where both took a prominent part in the development of that new State. Mr. Chapin served as a member of the State legislature, while his talented wife by the use of her pen and personal influence aided in securing the enactment of the famous Slocum license Law, at that time supposed to be the panacea in temperance matters. They also aided materially in securing the temperance educational and scientific law for that State. She was particularly interested in all movements for the advancement of women and took an active part in the woman suffrage campaign of 1882. She was a prominent member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and wrote much for the press on the woman and temperance questions.
Being a little body, Mrs. Chapin commonly went by the name "La Petite" among her co-workers in Nebraska, but, though small of stature, she is of that fine mental acumen which gives great individuality and force of character. Though of English birth, Mrs. Chapin's life-work has been and still is American.
She now resides, with her husband, son and two
daughters, in one of the pleasant suburban towns Chicago. Ill.
American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies Vol. 1, by Frances Elizabeth Willard & Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, Publ. 1897. Transcribed by: Marla Snow
Religious and temperance worker, born in Lima, N Y., 1st November, 1831. Her maternal ancestry was of the French nobility who, for religion's sake, left title, fortune and home, and, casting their lot with the persecuted Huguenots, found in New Jersey, among the Quakers, a refuge and a home where they might worship according to their faith. Many of the descendants became distinguished soldiers during the national struggle.
On her father's side she is descended from the Puritans of 1636. They settled in North Adams, Mass., and some of the eminent men of that State are of kindred blood.
Till the age of sixteen she attended the public schools, and then was a student for a year each in Buffalo, in Rochester and in Aurora Academy, now Wells College. She was for five years a teacher in Buffalo, and then became the wife of Rev. R. Cooley, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a graduate in Meadville, Pa. After that for one year she was preceptress of Cooperstown Seminary.
They moved to Wisconsin in 1862, and she began her public work in the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. She was for several years vice-president of the society in Wisconsin Conference and organized many auxiliaries. Her temperance work was begun in 1869. When once awakened to the extent of the liquor evil, she became one of its most determined foes.
Though grown white-haired in the service, she is still an indefatigable worker in the cause of prohibition. In 1880 her husband was transferred to the Nebraska Conference. She had resolved to enjoy home rest for a season after that change, but her fame preceded her in letters to the State officers from Miss Willard and others. She was made State organizer for the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Nebraska, in her first year with that body. She served four years as State and three years as National organizer, speaking in every State of the Union. She has been for several years president of the second district Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Nebraska. Not alone in the temperance cause has Mrs. Cooley been known as a power for good.
Though not an ordained minister of the M. E. Church, being a woman, she
was known as an "exhorter," and she was twice appointed by the
presiding elder to supply the pulpit of a church without a pastor. Each
time her labors were successful and the membership greatly increased.
American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies Vol. 1, by Frances Elizabeth Willard & Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, Publ. 1897.
Transcribed by: Marla Snow
Miss Alice Cunningham Fletcher
Ethnologist, born in Boston, Mass., in 1845. She received a thorough and liberal education. After studying the archaeological remains in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys she went, in 1881, to live among the Omaha Indians, in Nebraska, to make an investigation of their customs and traditions, under the auspices of the Peabody Museum of American Archaeology, of Harvard University. She became interested in the affairs of the Omahas and secured the passage of a law allotting lands to them. She was chosen to make the allotment in 1883 and 1884. She caused a number of the children of the Omahas to be sent to the Indian schools in Carlisle, Pa., and Hampton, Va., and she raised large sums of money to defray the expenses of the education of other ambitious Indians. Under the auspices of the Woman's National Indian Association she established a system of loaning money to Indians who wished to buy land and build homes of their own. Her scientific researches have been of great value, covering Indian traditions, customs, religions, moneys, music and ceremonies, and many ethnographic and archaeological subjects. In 1884 and 1885 she sent an exhibit of the industries of civilized Indians to the New Orleans Exhibition, prepared on request by the Indian Bureau. Her labors and lectures on that occasion won her a diploma of honor. In answer to a Senate resolution of 23rd February, 1885, she prepared her valuable book, "Indian Civilization and Education." In 1886 she was sent by the Commissioner of Education to visit Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, where she made a study of the conditions of the natives. In 1888 her reports were published in full. Acting for the government, she has allotted lands in severalty to the Winnebagoes, of Nebraska, and the Nez Perces, of Idaho. Her work in behalf of the Indians has been incessant and varied. She brought out the first Indian woman physician, Susan La Flesche, and induced other Indians to study law and other professions. Her work has been of the highest order, both scientific and philanthropic.
Temperance reformer, born on a farm near Savannah, Ashland county, Ohio, 4th May, 1846. Her father's family removed from Pennsylvania to that farm when he was a boy of fourteen years, and Mrs. Black there grew to womanhood. Her ancestors were Scotch Irish people, all of them members of the Presbyterian Church. Her mother's maiden name was Townsley. Miss Hearst attended school in a typical red school-house situated on a corner of her father's farm. At thirteen years of age she began to attend school in Savannah Academy, where she completed a regular course of study. She made a public profession of religion in her fifteenth year and soon after became a teacher in the Sabbath-school, and has continued in that work ever since. After completing her course of study, she entered the ranks as a teacher, and that was her employment for more than ten years. In 1878 she was married to Rev. J. P. Black, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, and went with him to his field of labor in Pennsylvania. They removed to Kansas in 1880, and since that time she has borne the labor and self-denial incident to the life of a home missionary's wife in Kansas, Nebraska and now in Idaho. She became actively engaged in Woman's Christian Temperance Union work in 1885, in Nebraska, and was elected president of the fifth district of that State for two years in succession. After her removal to Idaho she was chosen president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in that State. Her home is in Nampa.
Born in Valparaiso, Ind., 1st January, 1846. She is of Scotch, English and Dutch descent. The father was a practicing physician and surgeon of prominence in the allopathic school. Mrs. Briggs' early school-days were spent in the public schools of Iowa. Later her education was continued in the young ladies' seminary in Council Bluffs, Iowa, receiving prizes for excellent scholarship. In the month of August, 1861, her family removed to Quincy, lll., where she resumed her studies and there enjoyed the advantages of the best schools until she was nineteen years old. In religious belief Mrs. Briggs is strictly a Presbyterian, was born "in the faith,'' and has always lived the practical life of a consistent Christian. Rev. F. S. Blayney, LL.D., the first pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Omaha, writes of Mrs. Briggs's practical and valuable aid during the long and severe trials from 1880 to 1886 in the struggle to found and build his church, she being one of the foremost workers for the society's welfare. She has always taken a vivid interest in public characters and the local and foreign politics discussed in the newspapers. ' She was married to John S. Briggs, 24th December 1867, since which time they have resided in Omaha, Neb. Mr. Briggs was born in Ohio, but was reared in Iowa, removing to Nebraska in 1856. He is the son of the late Ansel Briggs, first governor of the State of Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Briggs three promising children have been born. Mrs. Briggs has filled many important public positions. During eleven years she served as assistant secretary, superintendent, reporter for the press, and manager of county, state and inter-state fairs. While on a visit to Idaho, she and her husband prepared a collection of minerals, stalactitic and calcareous deposits, which, at the suggestion of the officials of the Union Pacific Railroad, was sent to the Mechanics' Institute in Boston, Mass. Mrs. Briggs is interested in art and is secretary of the Western Art Association, which has three-hundred members. In literature she has won an assured position by her poems, one volume of which has been compiled and published. Mrs. Briggs was selected by Mrs. Potter Palmer as one of the six representative women of the West to serve on the executive committee of the Board of Lady Managers of the World's Columbian Commission for the Exposition in 1893. She was appointed a member of the bylaws judiciary committee and was elected an honorary and corresponding member of the woman's branch of the World's Congress Auxiliary, and served on several committees. She possesses an intimate knowledge of Nebraska, its history, its resources, its development and its people.
Reynolds Johnston Burt 
Reynolds Johnston Burt, soldier of Washington, D.C., was born in Nebraska. Since1861 he has been a captain in the ninth regiment United States infantry.
Transcribed by: AFOFG
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