MRS. ELLA ALEXANDER BOOLE.

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(FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT)

Ella, eldest daughter of Colonel Isaac N. and Rebecca Alban Alexander, was born at Van Wert, Ohio. Although but a school-girl then, she was one of the original Ohio crusaders, and the temperance zeal kindled at that time with her has never grown cold.

In 1874 she was graduated from the high school of her native place as valedictorian of the class. Four years later she completed her college course at the University of Wooster, Ohio, with a class of thirty-one, only three of whom were young women. This time she was salutatorian. During the university course she captured the prize in an oratorical contest, being the only lady among nine contestants. This was an earnest of the honor conferred upon her in 1888, when she was invited to deliver the oration before the alumni association of her alma mater, the first time in the history of the university that this honor had been conferred upon a woman.

After graduating from college and refusing many flattering positions, she became a teacher of Latin, Greek, and higher mathematics in the high school of Van Wert, and in 1881 the degree of Master of Arts was awarded her. As an educator she began her public work at teachers' institutes.

In 1883 she was married to Rev. Wm. H. Boole, D.D., pastor of the South Second street Methodist Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., and found a wide and congenial field of usefulness in this new relation as a pastor's wife.

Mrs. Boole was elected corresponding secretary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of New York State at the Cortland convention, in 1885, a position she filled with marked ability for six years. In 1891 she was elected to the office of first vice-president, a position she still retains. Mrs. Boole was chairman of the committee which prepared the handbook, which has been invaluable to the workers of the state.

Since 1888 Dr. and Mrs. Boole have devoted their time wholly to temperance and evangelistic work. No name is more familiar among temperance speakers than Mrs. Boole's, and no voice has been heard in this state more frequently or with greater acceptance than hers. Her lectures are a happy mingling of humor, pathos, and logic. They give no uncertain sound for total abstinence and prohibition, and never fail to interest.

This sketch would hardly be complete without mention of Albenia Alexander, now eight years old, only daughter of Mrs. Boole. "Benie" was presented to the state convention at Binghamton, and to the national convention at Nashville a few weeks later, as "the youngest white-ribboner of us all."

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