Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/389

356. Mrs. Jennie Iowa Berry, twenty-seventh national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, came to the executive's chair as one of the younger members of the order, but one who was born among patriotic surroundings, and whose earliest inspirations were those of loyalty to the old flag and our great country, for her father was a soldier, and her mother one of the patriots who kept the home embers aglow, while the breadwinner was fighting for his flag. As she grew, the spirit of her patriotic ancestors possessed her, and when womanhood crowned her, she united her fortunes with the organization which was pledged to care for the nation's defenders and to teach the children to emulate their example. Gifted with fluent speech, she was always ready when called upon to speak a word for the flag she loved, and for its defenders.

She had been honored by her own corps and department, and came to the highest office within the gift of the order, fully prepared to carry on the work which had been given her to do. "Advance" seemed to be the watchword, and truly did the order respond to their chieftain's voice. Mrs. Berry and her husband lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Mrs. Belle C. Harris, twenty-eighth national president of the Woman's Relief Corps, had long been a worker in the order in the Sunflower State, and was well known in the national, when she was elected to fill the highest office within their gift. Nature endowed her with a voice of rare sweetness, and many times at convention, has she been heard in song, to the delight of all, and merited the sobriquet which her friends have bestowed upon her of "The sweet singer of Kansas." But not alone for this is she known. There are other things which appeal to the highest and best, and these she has in a rare degree — firmness, justice, executive ability, charity for all and loyalty to country, flag and friends. Mrs. Harris was born in Pennsylvania, and she married Charles Harris, who was a soldier from Iowa, and past commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, of Kansas. She is rounding out her silver anniversary as a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and right nobly has she come up to every requirement in that time. At the Convention in Rochester, New York, over which she will this year preside, she will read a report which will go on record as one of the best which has ever been given, for everywhere in the order there are signs of new life and vigor, and the auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Republic is being crowned with the greatest honor and success, a membership almost 166,000 strong, a full treasury, with no liabilities, and having spent in relief since their organization more than three and a half millions of dollars, for the Civil War veterans and their dependent ones.

Mrs. Hannah R. Cope Plimpton, Woman's Relief Corps worker, was born in Hanover, Ohio, June 30, 1841. She is in a direct line of descent from Oliver