Page:The part taken by women in American history.djvu/501

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464
Part Taken by Women in American History


Maryland. The first patent issued to John Nelson was for several thousand acres of land and bears the date of 1725. Mrs. Ritchie was commissioned by the first president-general of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. Caroline Scott Harrison, regent of the Frederick Chapter. Entering upon the work of its organization with enthusiasm, her efforts were crowned with success. In 1894 she was elected vice-president-general of the society, and in 1895 regent for the state of Maryland. She was a member of the State Committee on Women's Work for the Columbian Exposition of 1893, and did good service in that cause. She was a member of the Academy of Political and Social Science and an active member of the Frederick Historical Society, to whose annals she contributed several papers. She is one of the founders and one of the board of management of the Key Monument Association. She was commissioned by Governor Brown a member of the Maryland Committee for the Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, and was also appointed a member of the Colonial Relic Committee. In her character Mrs. Ritchie manifests the traits to be expected from her inheritance. Courageous, gracious and courtly, she represents the typical Maryland woman. She is distinguished for her patriotic spirit and her zeal has resulted in the establishment of a most prosperous chapter in Frederick. Mrs. Ritchie resides in the old colonial mansion built by her uncle, Honorable John Nelson, the eminent jurist.

MRS. R. OGDEN DOREMUS.

Mrs. R. Ogden Doremus was appointed regent of the New York City Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, January 1, 1892, by the Committee of Safety, and this election was unanimously confirmed by the chapter at its next meeting on May 19, 1892. She was also made corresponding secretary and has been performing the duties of both offices until the present time. Mrs. Doremus, the daughter of Captain Hubbard Skidmore and Caroline Avery Skidmore, was born in the city of New York and educated under the care of the celebrated Madam Mears. She was married in New York to Dr. R. Ogden Doremus, the distinguished professor of chemistry, October 1, 1850. The ceremony took place in the South Dutch Church, corner of Fifth Avenue and Twenty-first Street, the oldest church organization in the city of New York. The original edifice was built by the Dutch within the fortification walls at the Battery. Mrs. Doremus' maternal grandfather, Thaddeus Avery, of Mount Pleasant, Westchester County, New York, was born October 19, 1749, and died November 16, 1836. He was captain of cavalry during the Revolution and at one time paymaster of the Westchester troops. Mrs. Doremus is richly endowed by nature with a graceful and commanding figure, beautiful features, and a brilliancy of complexion rarely seen. Her tact in securing representative audiences, premiums on boxes at the Charity Ball, for the benefit of the Nursery and Child's Hospital (which the revered mother of her husband was instrumental in founding) inaugurated entertainments which continue to be successful to the present time. Never have the receipts been so large as when under her management. Tn Paris, during the Empire, her receptions were the favorite resorts of our distinguished American colony, and of French scientists and army officers. Here among other celebrities. Mile. Christine Nielsson sang while yet a pupil. Mrs. Doremus' table at the fair