Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/287

216 of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. In addition to her home duties she has found time for many outside interests. She is a member of the Worcester Woman's Club and a charter life member of the Worcester Y. W. C. A., also of the Y. M. C. A. Woman's Auxiliary, in both of which societies she has held offices. The presidency of the charitable society known as the Worcestf»r Branch of the Baldwinsville Hospital Cottages for Children, its purpose being to aid that benevolent institution, Mrs. Bigelow has held for four years and, as indicated above, still holds. For the same length of time she has served as treasurer of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Worcester, remaining in office at present writing (November, 1903).

ARRIET 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 Vice-