Venango County PA Biographies

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BABCOCK, Mrs. Emma Whitcomb, author, born in Adams, N. Y., 24th April, 1849. She is now a resident of Oil City, Pa., in which town her husband, C. A. Babcock, is superintendent of schools. As a writer, Mrs. Babcock has been before the public for years, and has contributed to journals and magazines, besides doing good work as a book-reviewer, but is probably best known through her series of unsigned articles which during five years appeared in the New York ''Evening Post.'' She was a contributor to the first number of "Babyhood" and also of the "Cosmopolitan." She has published one volume, "Household Hints" (1891), and is about to issue another, "A Mother's Note Book." At present she is conducting a department in the "Homemaker." Mrs. Babcock has written a novel, which embodies many distinctive features of the oil country. Her husband's profession turned her attention to educational subjects, and she has published many articles in the technical journals on those subjects. She is interested in home mission work and is president of a literary club which is known throughout western Pennsylvania, ad which has founded a public library.

(American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies, Volume 1, Publ. 1897. Transcribed by Marla Snow)

HAYWARD, Mrs. Mary E. Smith, business woman, born in Franklin, Pa., 9th July, 1849. Her maiden name was Mary E. Smith. When she was twelve years old, her father died. Her mother's determined efforts secured for her a good education. Imbued with the desire of being a useful member of the commonwealth, and endowed with natural abilities for a practical business life, she, after a season of teaching, entered into the oil and mercantile business till 1885. when she removed to Dawes county, Neb., then but sparsely settled, and took up some land claims. When the town of Chadron was located, she was one of the first to go into business there. She has been very successful. Tender toward all life, though her business includes a large millinery department, she never sells a bird or wing. On 29th December, 1887, she became the wife of W. F. Hayward. For years she has been one of the most prominent woman suffragists of Nebraska and has been identified with all humane work and reforms. She believes the church is responsible for the subservient condition of women. She is an agnostic and believes in "one world at a time." Mrs. Hayward is an embodiment of energy, push, perseverance and industry, and a fair example of woman's ability to succeed in practical life. She is a State member of the Nebraska Woman Suffrage Association.

(Source: American Women, by Frances Elizabeth Willard, Mary Ashton Rice Livermore, Vol 1, 1897. Transcribed by Marla Snow)