Representative women of New England/Hulda B. Loud
HULDA BARKER LOUD was born September 13, 1844, in East Abington, now Rockland, Mass., being a daughter of Reuben and Betsey (Whiting) Loud. She attended the public schools of that town, and was graduated from the high school in 1862. Becoming a teacher the same year, she continued, with the exception of three years, to teach for twenty-two years, most of the time in East Ahington. She was principal of a grammar school for fifteen years, receiving most of the years the same salary as that paid men holding a similar position. This came as the result of her arguments with the school committee regarding the question of equal rights, the members of the committee being convinced that she had justice on her side. Miss Loud was elected a member of the Rockland School Board in 1887, and .served in that capacity until 1890.
From 1872 to 1776 she was a speaker in the woman suffrage cause, performing able service for this movement by her convincing arguments and earnest manner. In 1884 a new paper was started in Rockland, and an invitation extended to Miss Loud to become its editor. She named the paper The Independent. Five years later she purchased the entire property connected with the paper, including the job printing as well as the publishing business. The paper, which is devoted to social and political reform, continues to be successfully conducted by Miss Loud, who is sole proprietor. In her opening editorial in 1889, after the paper came into her hands, she announced that she had gone into the newspaper business with the .sole purpose to help save the world, and her ways of saving it would appear in future editorials. The Independent is an eight-page paper, and she has averaged a page of editorials each week. As a publisher she has shown excellent business ability, and the articles from her pen are in harmony with the name of her paper. She is a woman who has the courage of her convictions, and fearlessly denounces unjust measures. The Independent represents the highest principles, and is supported by people who have the interests of the public at heart. The fact that she has continued in its management for .so many years proves that her efforts are appreciated.
Miss Loud represented the National Assembly of the Knights of Labor at the Woman's International Congress, held in Washington, D.C., in March, 1888, and addressed the congress upon the subject, "Women in the Knights of Labor." Her addresses have been received with enthusiasm, but home life is more con- genial to her than public life, and she prefers newspaper work to the lecture platform. In 1891 she adopted two grand-nephews, and had a house built for them near her old home. The eldest, Ralph Powers, was fataly injured by falling from his bicycle in 1898. His brother Carl was graduated from the Rockland High School in June, 1903.