Organizations
NATIVE DAUGHTERS
OF THE GOLDEN WEST
EL PAJARO PARLOR, NO. 35, NDGW
This parlor was instituted June 29, 1889, the officers being installed by the District Deputy, Miss Kate Dennis, now Mrs. Harry Cooper, of Santa Cruz. The first officers were as follows: Past President, Miss Bertha Lewis; President, Miss Ida Chalmers; First Vice President, Miss Dengler; Second Vice President, Miss Jennie Burland, now Mrs. Fred Linscott; Third Vice President, Miss Frankie Kidder; Recording Secretary, Mrs. J. H. Chapin; Financial Secretary, Miss Mamie Curn; Treasurer, Mrs. Estelle Hopkins; Marshal, Miss Theresa Woodward, now Mrs. Dr. Stickle; First Trustee, Miss Esther Malcolm; Second Trustee, Miss Helen Burbank; Third Trustee, Miss Hattie Cox; Inside Sentinel, Miss Alice Trafton, now Mrs. A. Evens; Outside Sentinel, Miss Elen Foran.
Besides these officers there are the following charter members: Eva Leland, M. Brown, Josie Alexander, Grace Barney, Addie Hudson, Sarah Cox, Annie Cox, Maggie Cox, Ella Steigelman, Frankie Sanborn, Leila Folger, Libbie Clow, Christine Struve, Teddie Clow, Bella Cassin, Bettie White, Ella Trafton, Aggie Chapin, Mary Phillips, Kate Siegman, Annie and Maggie Mitchell, Amy Chipman, Josie Roach, Emma Smith, Jennie Smith, Annie De Back, Mary and Carrie Thurwatcher, and Mesdames Robert Yocham, J. J. Malcolm, F. Johnson, Flora Billings, D. E. Long, Nellie Burbank, M. Lewis, and Kate Burbank.
The young ladies who comprise the group representing the Watsonville Parlor of N.D.G.W., and the engravings which help to illustrate and contribute to the embellishment of this work, are mentioned in the following brief sketches: --
Miss Ida Chalmers is a native of Watsonville and the first President and prime mover in the organization. She has been an ardent and enthusiastic worker in the Parlor, and has contributed much toward its upbuilding and growth.
Miss Bertha Lewis, also a charter member and Past President of Pajaro Parlor, was born at Oroville, and is an efficient worker in the organization and regular attendant at the meetings, and for the past three terms has held the position of Treasurer.
Mrs. J. H. Chapin is the wife of a Native Son, one of the sterling young men of Watsonville. She was born in San Francisco, is a charter member, First Recording Secretary, and has been President and Marshal of this Parlor.
Miss Esther Malcolm was born at Corralitos, in Santa Cruz County. She is also a charter member of the Parlor and has held the position of Trustee of the organization for two terms. She is at present Recording Secretary of the Parlor. Miss Malcolm follows the vocation of schoolteacher, and is a clever and capable young lady.
Miss Hattie Cox was born at Pajaro, Monterey County. She is one of the first who enrolled her name in the Parlor, and is at the present time Trustee.
Miss Josie Roach was born in Watsonville. She was Recording Secretary for four consecutive terms, and is now President of the Parlor and a most faithful worker.
Mrs. Frank Johnson is a native of Washington, Nevada County. She has held the office of Financial Secretary and is now the First Vice President of the Parlor.
Mrs. J. J. Malcolm was born in Santa Cruz, and is the daughter of an old pioneer. She has held the office of Marshal for two consecutive terms, and has probably done more for the financial assistance of the Parlor than any other sister. She has been instrumental in getting up entertainments and raising money to liquidate debts of the organization, etc.
Mrs. Flora Billings was born in Watsonville, and since the organization has been the organist of the Parlor.
Miss Eva Leland is a native of Watsonville, and the present Financial Secretary of the Parlor.
Miss Christine Struve is a native of Watsonville, where her parents still reside. She is a schoolteacher, and is away from home most of the time.
Sarah Cox was born in Pajaro, Monterey County. She is a charter member and has held the position of Outside Sentinel and President.
Mrs. Mary Steuart was born in Stockton. She has held the office of Outside Sentinel and is now Third Vice President. She is the manager of the Western Union Telegraph Office in Watsonville.
Mrs. Cora Harvey was born in Pajaro, Monterey County, and has held the office of Inside Sentinel for the past two terms. She is the wife of Ed. Harvey, the S.P.R.R. agent of Watsonville.
Miss May Martin was born in Watsonville and is a new member of the Parlor.
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Following are brief sketches of the Native Daughters of Santa Cruz Parlor, whose portraits adorn another page: --
Mrs. Matilda Ann Longley, wife of Otis A. Longley, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adna A. Hecox, was born in Soquel, Santa Cruz County, and received her education here. She was one of the earlier Presidents of Santa Cruz Parlor. Mrs. Longley and her daughter, Miss Daisy, belong to the same Parlor. It is a rare thing in the order, as yet, to find mother and daughter both native daughters, but as years go on these instances will multiply. Mr. Hecox, her father, now deceased, was a member of the Santa Cruz County Pioneers.
Miss Ann T. Porter, President of the Santa Cruz Parlor, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. F. Porter, and was born in Soquel, Santa Cruz County. She received her education in this county. She has been an ardent and efficient member of the Parlor from the first, having filled nearly all the chairs. She is a prominent and much-admired society girl and is a teacher in our public schools.
Miss Stella A. H. Finkeldey, Past President of Santa Cruz Parlor, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Werner Finkeldey. Miss Findeldey is a native of Santa Cruz, and received her education here, graduating from the high school. Since then she has taught in the county and city schools, and is much sought after for her social qualities and musical ability. She is one of the workers in the Parlor. Her father is a member of the city council.
Mrs. Mary E. Patten Severio, wife of John Severio, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Patten, is First Vice President of Santa Cruz Parlor. She was born in Sonoma County, and finished her education at Napa. Mrs. Severio has been from the beginning an active member of the order, and her promotion in the different offices has been steady. She has one little native son, Gerald, whom she is teaching to love the Golden West.
Miss Bessie Gertrude Haslam, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Haslam, is a native daughter of Santa Cruz and Third Vice President of the Parlor. She is a graduate of Santa Cruz High School and also of the State Normal, at San Jose. She has taught in Santa Clara County and is at present a teacher in the Santa Cruz schools. As a member of our young society she holds a prominent place and is beloved for her genial and pleasant disposition. She has held several other offices besides her present one.
Mrs. Katherine W. Cooper, wife of Harry Cooper and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. O. Wakeman, is a native daughter of San Francisco. She received her education at the Clark Institute, San Francisco. She has always been an enthusiastic and efficient member of Santa Cruz Parlor, has served one term as D.D.G.P. of the district, and is at present Recording Secretary of Santa Cruz Parlor, an office to which she has been elected three times. She has three little “natives,” two sons and a daughter, growing up to be good Californians.
Miss Alice Sarah Culverwell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Culverwell, was born in San Francisco, but has spent her childhood and youth in Santa Cruz, where she received her education and graduated from the high school. Since that time she has been a successful teacher in the county and city schools and wins everywhere the affection of those around her for her amiable and upright qualities. Miss Culverwell is counted as one of the reliable workers in the Parlor, and holds the responsible office of Financial Secretary.
Miss Mary Eunice Morgan was born in Santa Clara, and is the daughter of a former prominent citizen of that place, James H. Morgan, and of his wife, who survives him. Miss Morgan received her education in Santa Clara County and graduated from the State Normal School, at San Jose. She has been for several years an efficient teacher in the Santa Cruz schools and prominent in young people’s work in the Congregational Church. She is an enthusiastic member of Santa Cruz Parlor and was its first Recording Secretary.
Miss May Baldwin is the daughter of L. K. Baldwin, a pioneer and a leading banker of this city. She was born in Marin County but has spent most of her girlhood in this city. She is a graduate of Snell Seminary, in Oakland. Miss Baldwin has recently passed out of the Past President’s chair and was a most efficient officer. Her work and influence in the Parlor are strong and always for good, while her qualities as a daughter and as an earnest church worker win respect as well as affection.
Miss Mabel Martin, daughter of Ed Martin, clerk and recorder of Santa Cruz County, was born in Watsonville, in this county, and received her education in our schools. She is the only daughter in a family of native sons and has been an able and most efficient member of the order. In her church, her home, and in society, her gentle demeanor, modest manners, and fidelity to duty win friends to her on every side. Miss Martin has filled the office of Financial Secretary in Santa Cruz Parlor.
Miss Mae B. Wilkin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Wilkin, was born in Carlisle, Nevada County, but has spent the years of her girlhood in Santa Cruz, where she has received her education. She is a graduate of Chestnutwood’s Business College in which she afterward taught for some time, and now holds a responsible position as bookkeeper in a business house. Miss Wilkin’s work in the Parlor has been very efficient and has been recognized in a most complimentary way by both the local and Grand Parlors. She is now Grand Vice President of the order, after having been Grand Trustee two terms. She is also Marshal of the Santa Cruz Parlor, and has held several other officers. Her frank and genial manner and her honest way of speaking out her convictions win the admiration and friendship of her associates.
Mrs. M. Augusta Lindsay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Joyce and wife of Carl Lindsay, district attorney, was born in Santa Cruz County and spent the greater part of her school days in Salinas, Monterey County. Mrs. Lindsay is a Trustee of Santa Cruz Parlor, and, notwithstanding her devotion to her home and family, finds time to discharge the duties of her position in a worthy manner. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay have a native son and a native daughter, who, in the years to come, will assist in the perpetuation of the kindred orders.
Miss Daisy Lorena Longley, the native daughter of a native daughter, was born in Santa Cruz and lives here with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otis A. Longley. Her education has been received here, and, since her graduation from Chestnutwood’s Business College, she has held several responsible business positions here and elsewhere. In Santa Cruz Parlor she has filled the offices of Financial Secretary and Outside Sentinel, and is much beloved by her associates in fraternal and church work and in society.
Mrs. Minne Laird Parker, wife of Will C. Parker, a Native Son and a prosperous business man, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Laird. She was born in Marin County and is a graduate of the Petaluma High School. Mrs. Parker is a charter member of Santa Cruz Parlor, and is one of its Past Presidents. She is esteemed one of its active members, and, although she does not often leave her pretty home for society, is always heartily greeted when she does.
Santa Cruz Parlor has been blessed in the good health of her daughters, as a rule, and only twice has the Great Recording Secretary placed the word “absent” against the name of a member. The first of these was Lillie Rose Chittenden, a charter member of the Parlor and one beloved by her associates for a gentle and amiable disposition. She filled the chair of Second Vice President, and had been installed to that of First Vice President when she was smitten down with an illness which lasted more than a year, during which time she found how strong in the order were the bonds of fraternal affection, which encircled her gently in her long illness, and were with her even in the valley of the shadow of death. Miss Chittenden was born in Stockton and was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Chittenden. She died in 1890.
History of Santa Cruz County, California – E. S. Harrison – San Francisco – Pacific Press Pub. Co., 1892 – pp 285-288
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.