Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/600

Rh School for Boys, also for addresses in the interest of a reformatory prison for women and in the cause of equal suffrage. Her presentation of these subjects has been remarkable for foresight and sound reason, with an earnestness and womanly grace which appealed to both the minds and hearts of her hearers. Though actively identified with so many public interests in her native city and State, she has always consistently maintained that a woman's first duty was to her home, and she has never allowed anything to interfere with her family and social relations. The generous hospitality of Mrs. Hunt and of her husband, in his lifetime, has long made her home a centre of attraction to kinsfolk, friends, and distinguished guests Mr. Hunt died in 1896. Their two sons are living, one in Portland, the other in Minneapolis.

ELIA FRANCES BASSETT ROCKWOOD, Department Patriotic Instructor of the Woman's Relief Corps of Massachusetts, was*born November 4, 1843, in Little Falls, N.J. She is descended on her father's side from William Bassett, who came to Plymouth in the second forefather ship, the "Fortune," in 1621. Joseph Bassett, her great-grandfather, was a Revolutionary soldier. (His record can be found in " Massachasetts Soldiers and Sailors of the American Revolution," vol. i., p. 760, Captain John Callender's Company.)

Nathaniel Bowman Brown Bassett, her father, was born October 19, 1814, in Plymouth, Vt., and died July 10, 1866, in Milford, Mass. He was a teacher in Albany and .several other places in New York and in New Jersey, but failing health compelled him to give up the profession which he had followed with success for many years.

Mrs. Rockwood's mother, Caroline Fisher Bassett, daughter of Benjamin Fisher, was born in West Fairlee, Vt., and died in Milford, Mass., July 29, 1899. She was descended from Anthony Fisher, an English Puritan, who settled in Dedham, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1637.

Lelia Frances Bassett (Mrs. Rockwood) attended the public schools of Milford until she reached the age of fourteen, and subsequently for several years pursued a regular course of study under the instruction of her father, who was then a confirmed invalid. She began to teach in Milfonl when she was eighteen years of age, and continued in this work until June, 1876. The school committee in their report for that year referred to her as follows: "We have few changes to report. One of them is the resignation of Miss Lelia F. Bassett. For years she taught the primary school in the upper room of the old Town House. Under her care it grew to be a model .school, excelling in good order and in rapid advance of the pupils in study. She possessed superior gifts as a teacher, and in her resignation the town has met a loss not easy to repair. But what is our loss is another's gain. As Mrs. Rockwood she carries with her the good wishes of hundreds of parents who had learned to es- teem her as the kind and judicious teacher of their children."

Samuel Rockwood, to whom Miss Bassett was married July 2, 1876, was a native of Milford, Mass., being a son of Deacon Peter and Sabra (Parnell) Rockwood. He died in Milford, April 6, 1S97.

Mrs. Rockwood joined the Pine Street Baptist Church on July 3, 1864. She has been a teacher in the Sunday-school continuously to the present time. She is active and helpful in all branches of the work of the church. She servetl for several years as president of the Woman's Circle, and also as president of the Woman's Missionary Society. Chosen clerk of the church on July 3, 1885, she has performed her duties in that capacity so satisfactorily that she continues in the office, her faithfulness and ability being recognized by all the members. During all the years she has held this position she has ofhcially re])resente(l the church at conventions, councils, and other meetings. She is one of the original members and has been a director in the Woman's Auxiliary to the Young Men's Christian Association, which was organized in 1888. She worked untiringly for its success for fourteen years, serving as treasurer eleven years. Other duties compelled her to resign from official work in this association,