The National tribune., 1896-08-20
THE NAToNA1 TR1BINE: WAsNGTo D. G. THURSDAY AUGUST

Home The National Pension and Relief Com.
mittee had, In the course Of their operations,
discovered the necessity Of such an Institution,
and issued call for propositions for building
site; but without the prompt and active CO.
operation OF Puma L. Cowles, In coming for
ward with . proposition from the citizens OF
Geneva and Madison. O.. to donate the build
ings of an abandoned educational institution,
the project would have been long time near
ing completion. If, indeed, anything would ever
have come OF 1t.
Great opportunities bring forth great women.
will soon be an added maxim to the hoarded
wisdom of the ages Puma L. Cowles deserves
the credit of being designated the great woman
of the National Relief Corps Home project.
Puma l.. Cowles is of New England parent
age Her grandfather served through the
Revolution. and her father, William H. jacques.
was an ect;:s worker for the abolition oil
slavery. Her father and mother removed from
Connecticut to Chautauqua County, N =.
where she was born Oct. 26. 1889. In 1917
the family settled in Geneva. o.
The daughter was sent to Oberlin College,
where she received her education. and in 1868
WAS married to Edwin r. Cowles. brave
soldier of the l05th Ohio, who rendered heroic
service during the war, survived serious
wounds At Atlanta, and is now one OF the
leading church aud business men of Geneva
Puma l.. Cowles's Relief Corps work began
when Bowers Corps, 141, was instituted at
Geneva, in 1883. of which she was the first
President. serving three years, and helping TO
build up one of the largest and most useful
Corps in Ohio. She was Chairman OF the Conn.,
mittee that Carried through the project OF Sc
curing and presenting the site OF the Nationai
Woman's Relief Corps Home. which she did
at seventh National Convention, held at Mil
waukee. 1889. In 1890 the Home was dedicated.
When the State of Ohio appropriated $o,oOO
f. L...l ". tI,n M
of the National Home, Mrs. Cowles was APP
pointed by the Governor a member OF the
Construction Board. This cottage was COM
pleted in 1892.
Eighth National Convention, W.R.C., elected
Puma l.. Cowles member of the Home BOARD
for four years, and at the end of that period
she was reelected for the fve-years term. BE.
fore the appointment Of Superintendent OF
the Home, in addition to her labors as secre-
tary, she received and accounted Tor all oona-
tions and supplies.
1t was through her fundamentally that the
funds for monument were collected in MEM
DRY Of an Army Nurse who rests In Kentucky
graveyard, which monument was placed there
by Union soldiers acting through her advice:
Secretary Cowles has given up her entire
time to her desk and Relief Corps Home super
vision. Her correspondence with Departments
and applicants for admission is very voumin-
GUS. one auuIIS DIS anu DOOkS, duu icPoiuo ="
the Chairman of the Board. One OF her pfeas-
ATTEST duties is to mail remittances to needy
Army Nurses outside the Home.
ILLINOIS PRESIDENT.
Department President Mary E. McCauley, Of
Illinois is HoosIer by birth, born In Peru.
Ind, 1852. She was the youngest child OF Ira
and Isabelle Mendenhall, pioneers of Miami
County, prominent in the Abolition movement
and stanch adherents of Methodsm. On both
sides of the house her grandsires were Revolu-
tonary soldiers.
Her education was received at the Methodist
College at Fort Wayne. In 1863 she removed
with her parents to Illinois, and In 1870 was
married to Richard NJ. McCanley. member OF
an influential family Of Richland County, now
prominent lawyer, active in civic and public
affairs.