Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/614

Rh Thessalonica of the time of Saint Paul. Here, associated with Dr. House and Messrs. Baird and Haskell and their families, she carried on a noble work in that city, which included many conversions among the sailors from the British fleet, anchored for a time in Salonica Harbor. Miss Stone had heroically endured the heat of a Salonican summer, with the exception of one trip to Samokov, and had been to Bansko for a three weeks' training- school with her Bible women, when on returning thence, with an unusually large company of workers, she was seized by brigands. Her captivity and final release on payment of a large ransom, to which we have already referred, are matters familiar to the reading public. Since her return home, some part of her time has been given to lecturing on missionary subjects, including her own personal experience in the missionary field. She is at present living quietly in Chelsea, Mass., devoting all her time to her aged mother.

IZABETH A. TURNER, Past National President of the Woman's Relief Corps and chairman of the board of directors of the Ander.sonville Prison property, is known throughout the country as a leader in patriotic work. Her paternal grandfather, John Thompson, was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and later was in the army stationed at Valley Forge. Her parents were Charles and Betsey Thompson, of Windsor, Conn., and until her marriage she was known as Lizabeth A. Thompson. She was educated in the public schools of her native town, now Windsor Hills. In 1857 she was married to F. F. L. Turner, of Georgia. Mr. Turner died three years later, and was laid to rest in the old cemetery at Portland, Me.

At the breaking out of the Civil War Mrs. Turner was a resident of Boston. She packed the first box of supplies forwarded from that city to the soldiers at the front, and in 1863 she was a constant visitor to the hospital in Pemberton Square, where the wounded sent from the battle-fields of the South received the kindest care.

On the 17th of March, 1880, Mrs. Turner was admitted to membership in Major-General H. G. Berry Relief Corps, of Malden, and was initiated by Mrs. E. Florence Barker, with whom she was subsequently associated as one of the pioneers of the National Woman's Relief Corps. Mrs. Turner held various offices in the corps at Malden, and was its President two years. At the annual convention of the Department of Massachusetts, W. R. C, in 1883, she was elected to the office of Conductor. She was Junior Vice-President in 1884 and 1885 and Senior ' ice-President in 1886-87. In 1888 she declined to accept the honor of Department President, but consented to serve as chairman of the Executive Board. In 1892, after three years in this office, she was appointed Counsellor by Mrs. Mary G. Deane, Department President.

Mrs. Turner has addressed numerous posts, corps, conventions, and other patriotic gatherings in all parts of the State. She is' especially popular as an installing officer and as a member of committees where executive ability is required.

In 1883, when the National Woman's Relief Corps was organized at the National Encampment of the Grand Army in Denver, Col., Mrs. Turner, who rendered invaluable service in securing the adoption of the Massachusetts work and ritual, was elected National Treasurer. She was re-elected seven years in succession, during which time she managed the finances with great ability. She was elected chairman of the National Executive Board in 1889 and National Senior Vice-President in 1890, when the convention was held in Tremont Temple, Boston.

She was treasurer of the Executive Committee of Arrangements for this convention and chairman of the Committee on Accommodations.

In 1891 Mrs. Turner was invited to be a candidate for the office of National President, but declined. She consented, however, in 1895, and was unanimously elected that year at the convention in Louisville, Ky. She established headquarters at 29 Temple Place, Boston. The work of her administration met with universal approval. In the address which she presented to the annual convention at St. Paul, Minn., over which she presided in 1896, referring to patriotic teaching, she said: "This is one of