Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/443

408 Mrs. Trout was born and educated in Maquoketa, Iowa. Discerning early that certain qualities of voice made her especially fitted for platform speaking, she specialized in that form of study. Her father drilled her, and often said to her, "When you talk, say something." Instead of entering the profession for which she had been prepared, she married George W. Trout, and a few years later they moved to Chicago. Not long afterwards, Mrs. Trout became interested in the Mormon question, writing a story entitled "The Mormon Wife," which received great commendation. Mrs. Trout was at one time president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the National Club; member of the West End Women's Club; president of the Women's Auxiliary of the Oak Park Club; member of the Nineteenth Century Club of Oak Park; member of the Chicago Women's Club for ten years, and member of the Chicago Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Is president of the largest Equal Suffrage League in Illinois. She is one of the well-known speakers on the subject of equal suffrage in the Middle West, being thoroughly informed on her subject. Filled with the enthusiasm of it, she presents her theme in a masterly shape.

Mrs. Nettie Ransford was born November 6, 1838, in Little Falls, New York. In 1808 she was General Grand Matron of the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star. This order is an organization of the wives and daughters of Masons and affiliates in their charitable work. Her parents were from Scotland. After graduating in 1857 she settled in Nebraska and taught school in Omaha and Fort Calhoun, here, in 1858, she married William T. Ransford, and in 1862 they moved to Laporte, Indiana. She was one of the first women who joined the Order of the Eastern Star, soon after that order was organized in 1872. She was elected Worthy Matron in 1874 and re-elected several times. In 1879 she was elected Grand Matron, being re-elected to this office several times. She was elected Most Worthy General Grand Matron in the sessions of the General Grand Chapter held in Indianapolis in 1879, and was the first General Grand Matron to serve under the changed constitution. Her duties are such that she has traveled throughout the entire General Grand Jurisdiction and has distinguished herself in ways which can only be appreciated and understood by members of this order.

Eliza Harris Lawton Barker, daughter of Moses Turner Lawton and Elizabeth Tillinghast Lawton, was married on October 9, 1873, to Hon. Richard Jackson Barker, a distinguished ex-union officer. Mrs. Barker is a direct descendant of Admiral George Lawton of the Royal Navy, belonging to one of the oldest families of Rhode Island, which was established by George and Thomas Lawton at Portsmouth.

Mrs. Barker completed her education at Vassar College, and probably is the