The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-03-01
Ihe Pre.ldent's Report.

The Presidents Report.
To the officers, directors and mem
bers of the Keokuk Benevolent Union:
Your president for the year just
closing, begs leave to Dring you a
message rather than a report, for the
facts and figures of the work which
has been accomplished during the
year will appear in other reports. II
Is my privilege to be reminiscent
and it surely gives us all sense OF
supreme satisfaction that the dream OF
the founders Of this humanitarian Or
ganization has been realized snd that
we have had q part In bringing about
this realization.
This year closes the 26th year Of the
Benevolent Union since its incorpora-
ton under the laws Of the state OF
Iowa. But history takes US back not
only twenty-six years. but thirty-two,
for that long ago the Benevolent I'm
ion was organized in the parlor Of
Mrs. Orion Clemens home with Mrs.
Sylvester Carter as president and the
following assistants: Mrs. J. II. Green,
Miss Mary Jewell. Mrs. H. H. Clark
and Mrs. A. j. McCrary. A commit
tee was appointed to draw up the con
stitution and bylaws and this commit
tee was composed Of Mrs. Geo. B..
Smythe, chairman, Mrs. Orion Glenn
ems, Mrs. Wealthy Baker. Mrs. Gwinn
and Mrs. S. P. Pond. Various names
were suggested, among them being
Home for the friendless," but be-
lieve nothing definite was settled up
on at that time.
Some time In the eighties, Mr.. Aug
ustus Kellog gave to the Union the
building on South Fourth street, which
for number of years was our head
quarters. His kindly bequest and good
example was later followed by Mr..
Chas. +. Birge, who gave to the Ben
evolent Union the spacious home on
South Seventh street, $50 long as 1t
should be used as home for depend
ant old ladies'" Later Mrs. Birge,
realizing that the union was handicap
ped by the former arrangement, gave
to the organization a quit claim deed
TO the property. In 1890 we were
formally launched and Incorporated as
an institution with the name and
title "Keokuk Benevolent Union, with
the principal place OF business at Keo-
kuk, Lee county, Iowa. and the object
to obtain real and personal property
to be used for the benefit and comfort
OF all persons and charitable purposes
as may be decided upon by the Union
The officers and directors for the
first wear follow: p. ]. Carter. presi-
dent: Maria Harrison, Mary M. Love
and A. nj. Steele, vice presidents; s. j.
DoIbear secretary; NJ. A. Clark, treas
urer: Julia B. Kellogg, Fl. b. Riddle.
Mary T. Graves, Wealthy Baker and
Mary I. Sawyer. directors.
In reviewing these names perhaps
You will note that to some Of us this
work Ia a sort OF Inheritance tax"
Five years ago the needs OF the
home were such that thirteen room
addition was added and other needed
improvements made, the problem OF
furnishing these rooms quickly solved
by the generosity OF individuals and
church societies.
We are today free OF debt and have
an institution in which this city may
have a Just pride. The year just clos.
ing has been the most successful In the
history of our organization and wish
personally to thank all officers, all
chairmen and members OF committees.
who have so efficiently aided In car
rying on this work, and In special
way I wish to thank the public for
their financial aid and for the generous,
cordial and friendly spirit which they
have always shown to this organize
ton.
With a hope for the continued use
fuiness and prosperity Of the Keokuk
Benevolent Union. this report is re-
spectfulIy submitted
SUSIE SMYTHE COLLIER,
President.
Summary by Sscrstary.
Tho society Of the Ke0kuk Benevo-
lent Union has reached the end OF
its twenty-sixth year.