Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/385

352 Mrs. Sarah J. Martin, fifteenth national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, March 21, 1840. After her education was finished and just before the breaking out of the war, she met and loved George W. Martin, and soon the call to arms came and the boy lover enlisted in the 25th Ohio volunteers, and marched to "the front," with his sweetheart's promise as the beacon to guide him. At the battle of Gettysburg he lost his right arm, but that only bound his sweetheart the closer to him, for she saw that she was needed the more. He offered to release her, but she was faithful and true, and they were married October 24, 1865. They settled in Brookfield, Missouri, and here all her married life was spent. She was always interested in the old soldier and in the principles of patriotism. Nothing was too hard for her to do for her country or its defenders. She passed to her reward April 3, 1900.

Mrs. Flo Jamison Miller, sixteenth national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, came to the responsible office, one of the youngest who had ever presided over the National Organization. She was fitted for her duties by several years of service in her department. Zealous to an amazing degree, she saw the needs for a home for soldiers and soldiers' widows, and expended every effort in realizing the ambition of the women of the order, and rested not until their efforts were crowned with success. Mrs. Miller was among the first to carry patriotic teaching into the public schools, and failed not to speak and write upon the subject, in season and out of season. She is the efficient corresponding secretary of the National Council of Women of the United States, and thus is in touch with many thousands of patriotic and progressive women of this, the woman's century. Mrs. Miller is the daughter of Colonel W. H. Jamison, of Grant's old regiment, the 21st Illinois. Her home is in Wilmington, Delaware.

Mrs. Harriet J. Bodge, seventeenth national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, came to the office fully prepared for its duties, and up to the mark in every way. From her earliest recollection she had breathed the air of patriotism, and she had further testified that she was loyal, by marrying one who, when his country called, responded at once, "Here !" She is of Puritan and Revolutionary stock, and her family have shown their patriotism by giving members to every war.

Mrs. Bodge's eldest brother served in the Mexican War, and her youngest in the Civil War. Mrs. Bodge, when Miss Woodward, assisted during the war in work through the Sanitary Commission, and she belonged to a society which antedates the Woman's Relief Corps, the Daughters of the Republic. In 1868 she married George R. Bodge who had served in the Twelfth Connecticut Regiment. Mrs. Bodge was born in Charlton, Massachusetts, but for many years she and Mr. Bodge have made their home in Hartford, Connecticut.