Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/69

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REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF NEW ENGLAND

that one does not like either to add to or take away from the picture. Miss Sanborn says: "Mrs. Ward possesses a simphcity of manner that comes only with sinc(>rity of purpose, the best breeding, and a hacking of desirable ancestry; an executive ability that is never marred by its too frecjuent accompaniment—a domineering spirit and a desire for control; a straight, clear outlook from eyes that hide no secrets, a hand-grasp that is cordial, without being effusive. One is impressed by the apparent ease with which she accomplishes great tasks. She does not talk of her work, nor take herself too seriously, and is delightfully free from pedantry. What she has done for other women, spiring a scholarly spirit, giving history and literature in condensed and attractive talks, lifting them above the narrow interests, petty jealousies, and the gossipy habit, cannot be told in this brief outline." Of her part in the clubs Miss Sanborn adds: "She is impartial, well poised, never capricious in manner or opinion. She follows the middle path. As hostess, teacher, author, friend, she is always natural, kindly, thinking of others. And so love and appreciation and the truest friendship are given to her by all who are so fortunate as to know her and her work."

To this might be added just one thing more—that Mrs. Ward has the art of drawing from her friends the heartiest and most loyal service. When a piece of work is to be done to which she cannot give time or attention, she knows on whom to call; and those who know and love her feel it a privilege to do her behest, being assured that when they in turn need help she will more than repay their services, or that they have been more than repaid already. It is in such a woman that the Massachusetts clubs have placed their confid(>nce, in her hands The direction of the Federation at present is held.

Her report to the Massachusetts State Federation of the biennial meeting at Los Angeles in June, 1902, is a model of clearness and brevity, and is the best exposition of her spirit under the trying circumstances of the convention. This is its conclusion: "The best gift that can be given to any of us is the privilege of being of some use in the world. . . . The reward is in the work itself, even though we may have to wait years for the tangible results. Let us hope that in this co-operation, with the women of the East and the West, the North and the South, working side by side for the same object, unworthy prejudices and antagonisms may be outgrown and cast aside, so that eventually we shall all stand together for the good of humanity."


MARY SUSAN GOODALE, former president of the Department of Massachusetts, Woman's Relief Corps, is a native of Boston. Descended from early colonial and Revolutionary stock, she inherits patriotism. Her father, Joseph Lorraine Goldthwait, merchant and public- spirited citizen of Boston at the time of the Civil AVar, was a lineal descendant in the eighth generation of Thomas' Goklthwaite, an innnigrant of 1630 or 1631; and through his mother, whose maiden name was Hannah Alden, he traced his ancestry to John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden. The descent from Thomas' Goldthwaite was through his son Sanniel,- who married Elizabeth, daughter of Ezekiel Cheever, the famous master of the Boston Latin School. The line continued through Capt. John’ Goldthwaite, born in Salem in 1678; Major Benjamin born in Boston in 1704; Benjamin^ born in 1743, resided in Maiden and Boston: John", married Sally Morris and resided in Boston; Joseph Gleason', born in 1798, married in 1820, Mrs. Hannah Alden Mansfield, daughter of Solomon Alden (Simeon^ Samuel^ Joseph^-, John') and widow of William Mansheld, to Joseph Lorraine^ above named, who was born in Boston in 1821.

Major lienjamin Goldthwaite is reported to have passed most of his life as a soldier. He was a Captain in the Louisburg expedition of 1745 and Major in that of 1758. His death occurred in 1761 in Milford, Mass. His son Benjamin was one of the volunteers from Lynn who responded to the Lexington alarm. Tradition says he was working in the field when the alarm was given, and threw down his hoe and started at once for Lexington.

Joseph L. Goldthwait during the Civil War