Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/384

Rh life upon the altar of his country. She brought succor to the sick, and comfort to the dying, and her oldest child was born within sound of the guns, at Natchez. She had a fine judicial mind, and was always appealed to if a knotty question arose in any of the deliberations, and was sure to see the way out. She suffered an apoplectic stroke last year and after lingering, a patient sufferer, passed away in June, 1911, at her home in Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Lizabeth A. Turner, thirteenth national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, casting aside the superstition of ages, accepted the nomination for national president upon a Friday, and was accorded an unusual honor, for her election was unanimous.

Great things were expected of this thirteenth president, for she was from the pioneer state in the work—the "mother of the order"—Massachusetts, and the twelve months which she served, justified the faith which had been put in her.

Mrs. Turner's home was in Boston. When she was not twenty she was left a widow, and the Civil War coming on while her heart was yet sore from bereavement, she gave her love and devotion to her country, and entered into the work of caring for the soldiers and their loved ones at home, with the same zeal which characterized the efforts of her after life. Before she went out of office, Andersonville Prison was given to the Woman's Relief Corps, to be cared for and made into a park. Mrs. Turner was unanimously chosen chairman of the Andersonville Board, and served faithfully, making the hard ground to be fruitful, and the desert of the stockade to blossom as the rose. She served as chairman of the board until her death, which occurred at Andersonville, while there in the discharge of her duty, April 27, 1907. She was beloved by every member of the order not only in Massachusetts, but all over the United States, and by the Grand Army as well. A beautiful monument at Andersonville has been erected by the Woman's Relief Corps as a testimonial to her worth and work.

Mrs. Agnes Hitt, fourteenth national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, was born in Greencastle, Indiana, where her parents had removed from Kentucky several years before the war. They were prominent people, and the best folk of the state were visitors in the home, one of the oldest friends being War Governor Morton.

Mrs. Hitt's father and her only brother enlisted as soon as the call came for volunteers, and the father left an arm on the field before Richmond as a proof of his patriotism. Two years after the war the daughter was married to Major Wilber F. Hitt, who, when only twenty was assistant adjutant general of a brigade, and then for meritorious conduct on the field of battle, was brevetted captain and major. Mrs. Hitt is well known for her deeds of charity, and her work for patriotic teaching in the public schools. She and her soldier husband live in Indianapolis, Indiana.