Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/515

478 Mrs. Gadsby, historian-general of the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, comes of a long line of distinguished ancestry on both sides, who served in Colonial and Revolutionary periods, all of whom settled in Maryland on original land grants. All of her ancestors were of English descent. Mrs. Gadsby entered the society in 1898 for patriotic services in the Spanish American War and assisted Mrs. Dickens in her work for the soldiers' families of the District of Columbia. She also sent supplies of clothing to General Fitzhugh Lee for the hospital he founded at Havana for the destitute women and children. She was a member of the Mary Washington Chapter from 1898 and served as its historian and did special work for Continental Hall. In May, 1907, she resigned from the Mary Washington Chapter and was transferred to the Emily Nelson Chapter. She was appointed by Mrs. Charles W. Fairbanks, a member of the Continental Hall and other committees and was re-appointed by Mrs. Donald McLean. She is a member of the Jamestown and Pocahontas Societies and a member of the Columbia Historical Society. She served as chairman of the Daughters of the American Revolution Press Committee for the District and has been a writer of historical articles for many years and an enthusiast on historical subjects, devoting her time to her office of historian with interest and zeal.

Mrs. Gannett, the third historian-general of the Daughters of the American Revolution, is a New England woman by birth and education, her early home having been in Saco, Maine. Her grandfather on the maternal side, Samuel Peirson, entered the Revolutionary Army when very young and after a short period of active service became Washington's private secretary. Her great-grandfather was Major Hill, who served through the war and afterwards held many positions of trust and honor. On the paternal side Mrs. Gannett is descended from General Frye, an officer who distinguished himself at the battle of Louisberg, and as a reward for his services received a grant of the township in Maine which has since borne the name of Fryeburg. Mrs. Gannett was married in 1874 to Henry Gannett. Her husband is one of the leading men in the scientific society of Washington. He is a geographer by profession and has been for many years connected with the United States Geological Survey.

Mrs. Gibbons was born in Toledo, Ohio, but removed with her parents to California when a young girl and her subsequent life was entirely passed on this coast. In 1871 she married Dr. Henry Gibbons, Jr. She was a member of the Society of Colonial Dames of America and of the Order of the Descendants of Colonial Governors, and eligible to the Society of Descendants of the Mayflower, but her special interest was in the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was the organizer and regent for two years, of the second