The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-12-20
President of Canton Associated Charities
Tells of the Work Accomplished
Memories Of Twenty Years
in Charitable Work.
BY MRS. MARY X. HARTZELL.
President of the Associated Charities of Canton.
written for the News -Democratl


through the city papers for Il meeting
of charitable women, willing to, work
in an organized way for the poor of
our town. Our citizens had been much
annoyed by an unusual amount of
street begging. Many cases of actual
suffering were reported and the conse-
quent indiscriminate giving by our
charitable people, had only tendency
to increase the evil without abating
the nuisance.
Pursuant to the call, about 20 people,
all or nearly all women, met and organ
lied what Is known as the Canton AS
sociation of Charities Tic avowed
purpose Of which was then. and still
is to reduce vagrancy, and pauperism:
to prevent indiscriminate giving; to
secure the community against imposi-
tion and to relieve deserving cases of
destitution. Committees were appoint
ed in every ward in the city, whose
duty it was to investigate cases of.re-
ported suffering, and report at head
quarters, where prompt measures were
taken for such relief as 1t was possible
to give. There being no money in the
treasury, or no fund to draw upon, the
association found some difficulty in
supplying the needs of the many suf-
ferers, but the women WORKED with a
willard Canton is blessed with many
generous citizens
Among the very first 10 take the lead
in this work, we recall Mrs. Cnderhill
the wife of our venerable townsman
Judge J. w. Underhill. who with her
self-sacrifcing disposition to the work.
and gentle, kindly manner TO all under
her leadership, served as an inspira-
ton to generous and hearty effort in
others, SO long as her health permit
ted shc labored with .untiring zeal, be-
queathing us as a benediC ton, the
memory of her sympathetic tender way
of giving relief, her patience and char
ity with vexatious persons, end her
quiet dignity under all circumstances.
Two or three years later the respon-
sibility of president devolved on Mrs.
Ada F. Clark, who brought into the
work not only her competent execu-
tive ability, but an earnestness and
zeal not to be. forgotten. To the wise
management of Mrs. Clark may be ac-
corded much of the success of the as
sociation. These excellent womtn, have
of their good deeds shall live on.
Late President and
Mis- wife Contributed
During these years our association
was obliged to resort to many hard,
unpleasant ways for raising money.
We inaugurated series of entertain
ments, such as concerts, private theat-
ricals, quilting. or sewing bees. and
all this being insufficient, took the last
and most unpleasant of all means. 60
ing out among our friends and beg
ging outright, for money to carry on
the work.
Our friends who have been inter-
ested in the cause will remember that
in the year of 1894 the legislature of
Ohio passed a bill giving into the
hands of the Association OF Charities
the interest accruing from the fund
known as the Hartford Poor fund.
This was a blessing to our poor peo-
pie, for these were the years of our
greatest need; in the winter OF '96 and
'97 we were obliged to again call for
more help, when the Canton Repos-
itory organized what was called "The
Repository Relief Fund" Almost the
first contribution came from friend"
one hundred dollars. This proved to
be from our beloved and lamented
President Mckinley. One or two days
later we received a similar contribu-
ton from Mrs. Mckinley. and like or
less sums from others whose names
we would be pleased to mention, but
that they wished to be known only as
friends" This sum grew and grew,
until we had coal, groceries and cloth
ing sufficient to answer all just de-
mands for that winter. We have not
forgotten this generous help, neither
can we forget the gratitude of some
of the worthy families who blessed us,
as their children were clothed and fit
ted for school. and their desolate
homes made comfortable with CHEEKY
fires.
DusSsg fsse Years
Of tho sshard Times"
These were the years whom work was
scarce, or impossible, and consequent
suffering among that class who relied
upon their daily toll for existence
Many famiIiea ware ida aImOst enfiva1v