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Part of the American
History & Genealogy Project |
Women in Government Departments

The women who have occupied the
positions of experts in the various departments of the United
States Government have made for woman remarkable records. Many
of these women come from the finest families of our country.
Many of their ancestors were identified with the early society
and important history of America. The first woman employed by
the United States Government was Miss Jennie Douglas. During the
war General Spinner persuaded the secretary of the Treasury,
Salmon P. Chase, to employ women in that department to cut and
trim the treasury notes, and Miss Douglas was the first woman to
be employed on this work. Among those who entered the work in
that early day was Mrs. Helen L. McLean Kimball. Mrs. Kimball is
dean of the government women, as she enjoys the record of the
longest service of all the women workers under the United States
Government. She is the widow of a Civil War officer who was
killed in the field, and shortly after his death she took up her
duties in the Treasury. Mrs. Kimball is considered one of the
most valued employees of this department, and is a most popular,
intellectual woman, who has endeared herself to all her
associates. For more than twenty years Mrs. Kimball was chief of
the Treasury library, which she helped to build up and make
valuable. Later she became a file clerk in the office of the
comptroller of the currency. Following- dose upon the record of
Mrs. Kimball is that of Miss Sarah F. Hoey, who has counted
money for over forty-four years, and during this long period
handled billions of dollars which found their way to the
redemption department of the United States Treasury, Mrs. W. A.
Leonard is frequently spoken of as the most remarkable woman in
the United States Government. She was appointed in 1864, and her
work as chief counterfeit detector in the treasurer's office is
well known. She has been called "The Female Sherlock Holmes."
Mrs. Leonard has just retired from the service after over forty
years' work.
There are many others who deserve
mention, but these are the most prominent in their length of
service.

Mrs. Brewster
Mrs. Brewster, the wife of Attorney-General Brewster who was a
member of the Cabinet of President Arthur, met her husband while
he was obtaining evidence for a case he was prosecuting as
district attorney, in the Treasury department, where she was
employed for many years before her marriage. She fulfilled her
part as the wife of a Cabinet official with dignity and grace,
adding much to the popularity and esteem of her distinguished
husband and the social life of Washington at the time of his
service as a Cabinet minister. Mrs. Brewster was the daughter of
Robert J. Walker, who was secretary of the Treasury under
Buchanan.
Mrs. Mary Fuller
Mrs. Mary Fuller, sister of Mrs. Vinnie Ream Hoxie the
well-known sculptress, has been chief librarian in the library
of the Department of the Interior for over thirty-five years.
Miss Mabel Hatch
Miss Mabel Hatch, who was for many years in the Patent office as
clerk to the commissioner, was one of the highest salaried women
in the government at one time. Miss Hatch has made a remarkable
record for a woman in that, with but a few days' exception, she
has never lost a day from her office.
Miss Caroline C. Kirkland
Miss Caroline C. Kirkland, who reached four-score years in 1908,
has been employed in the Patent office for over a quarter of a
century.
Miss Frances R. Lybrand
Miss Frances R. Lybrand, of Ohio, has a record of nearly thirty
years in the Patent office as an expert examiner in the civil
engineering division.
Miss Emma A. McCully
Miss Emma A. McCully is employed in the internal revenue
service. Miss McCully's grandfather was Captain Nathaniel
Haraden, who served on the "Constitution" Old Ironsides, in the
war with Tripoli, and in recognition of his service, was
appointed lieutenant in the navy, and afterward made commandant
of the United States Navy, and assigned to duty in the navy yard
at Washington. Miss McCully's most valued possession is his
commission signed by James Madison. Her grandmother was an
intimate friend of Dolly Madison, and Miss McCully's family were
identified with the foremost of America's early social and
official life.
Miss Stoner
Miss Stoner, niece of General Spinner, was among the first women
appointed in the Treasury department by Secretary Chase, when
women were given these positions, to take the place of the men
called into service at the outbreak of the War.
The Misses Taney
The Misses Taney, daughters of Chief Justice Taney, were among
the capable women who served for many years in the departments
of the government.
Lizzie E. D. Thayer
Miss Lizzie E. D. Thayer was born October 5, 1857, in Ware,
Massachusetts. She occupied an unusual position for a woman,
that of train dispatcher. Since 1878 she has been employed in
the various offices of New England as a telegraph operator. In
1889 she entered the service of the New London Northern
Railroad, and on the resignation of the train dispatcher, whose
assistant she had been for a year, she was appointed to the
office, and filled the position satisfactorily.
Miss Amelia Tyler
Miss Amelia Tyler has been in the service of the United States
Government for over thirty-five years. She is a special patent
examiner and passes expert judgment on patents for tilling the
soil and other agricultural purposes and appliances.
Mrs. Angeline D. Ware
Mrs. Angeline D. Ware held a very responsible position also in
the Patent office for more than a quarter of a century. Mrs.
Ware is a woman of great refinement and gentle birth. In her
young womanhood she moved in the first circles of Ohio society.
Her brother was Governor Dennison, the "war" governor of Ohio,
and a member of Lincoln's Cabinet Her husband was one of the
first lawyers of Ohio, and after his death it became necessary
that Mrs. Ware should support herself, which she has done with
cheerfulness and credit to herself and satisfaction to the
government for many years.
Women of
America

Source: The Part Taken by Women in
American History, By Mrs. John A. Logan, Published by The Perry-Nalle
Publishing Company, Wilmington, Delaware, 1912.
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