Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/128

Rh teresting exercises and incidents of the occasion will be remembered as long as life shall last. I have visited the home whenever it was possible for me to do so.

"The official correspondence of the year has required much time and thought. I have written more than a thousand letters, and have issued eight general orders and one circular letter. Many invitations to fairs, camp-fires, anniversaries of posts and corps, have been accepted and thoroughly enjoyed. I have always been received at these gatherings with much courtesy and cordiality. I have assisted at the opening of four fairs, attended four receptions, eleven anniversaries, instituted two corps, installed the officers of twenty-four corps, visited many other corps and delivered the Memorial Day address at Leominster. Have been present at headcjuarters every Tuesday, Thursday, and Satunlay, with but two exceptions."

Mrs. Iiiowles served as Department Counsellor in 1891, and continued her active interest, visiting corps, participating in camp-fires, and other patriotic gatherings. By invitation of Granil Army posts she has delivered Memorial Day adtlresses in many parts of the State and in New Hampshire, and has been an elo(iuent missionary for the order. She continues her active work in the Department W. R. C, and has great influence in the conventions.

Her portrait hangs upon the walls of the Department headquarters in Boston. It was presented by Abraham Lincoln Corps, of Charlestown, in which she is still an active and honored member. Colonel Allen Corps, of Gloucester, the first corps instituted by Mrs. Knowles, has placed in its room at the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea a beautiful banner bearing her name.

She was assistant secretary at the National Convention at Detroit in 1891, and at Washington, D.C., in 1892, was unanimously elected National Chaplain for the ensuing year. As a professional elocutionist, Mrs. Knowles has filled engagements in many halls and churches in Ma.ssachusetts and other New England States, and has thus aided financially many churches, posts, corps, and other societies. Mrs. Knowles is one of the vice-presidents of the Executive Committee of Arrangements for the National Convention in Boston in August, 1904. One of the most eloquent addresses ever given at a public gathering of the order was her presentation of a flag to the Girls' High School of Boston on behalf of the Department of Massachusetts at its anniversary observance in the People's Temple, Boston, February 10, 1904. She is sure of appreciative audiences whenever taking part, in any service.

She was a member of the Ladies' Aid Association of the Soldiers' Home, and now belongs to the New England Helping Hand Society. She is State treasurer of the Independent Order of Odd Ladies, and was for several years secretary of the relief fund of this order. Her reports to the insurance commissioner of Massachusetts were complimented by that official, who regarded them as the best reports received from any fraternal insurance organization.

Mrs. Knowles is actively interested in church and Sunday-school work. For many years connected with the Bulfinch Place Church (Unitarian) in Boston, she is now a member of the Winter Hill Universalist Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Zoeth Rich Knowles have lived in Somerville since 1894. They have no children. Mr. Knowles was in the signal service of the Union army during the Civil War. He is a Past Commander of Abraham Lincoln Post, No. 11, G. A. R., of Charlestown, where they formerly resided. Mr. Knowles was one of the comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic who early in its history advocated form- ing Relief Corps, auxiliary to posts.

THEL HYDE.— The earthly sojourn of Miss Ethel Hyde, comprised within the brief period of twenty-eight years, was a healthy, contented, happy life, that reflected the sunny radiance of a pure soul, and, measured by quality, may be said to have been rounded out and complete.

Miss Hyde was born in Bath, Me., on the thirtieth day of August, 1871. Her father was General Thomas Worcester Hyde, and her paternal grandparents were Zina and Eleanor (Davis) Hyde. As a leading merchant of Bath in his day, Zina Hyde held an influential posi-