HELEN M. (GERRELLS) STODDARD
FORMER HAMILTON WOMAN IS
FAMOUS
_____
Hamilton County has the honor of claiming Mrs. Helen M.
Stoddard of Indian Gap as one of its former citizens. She is now living in
California but she lived the greater part of her life in Hamilton County.
Helen M. Stoddard is the daughter of Hawley Gerrels of
Indian Gap, one time post master. She became nationally known through her
work of the Temperance cause.
She taught the village school in Indian Gap and after
she took over the duties of the post office. The desk that she used in
transacting the business of "Uncle Sam" is now in the W. C. T.
U. Headquarters and is used in dispatching thousands of pieces of
temperance literature over the state and nation. After teaching in
Comanche college and Fort Worth University for several years she resigned
to accept the office of the state president of the Woman’s Christian
Temperance Union. Realizing the unlimited needs of the responsibility
placed upon her, Mrs. Stoddard began at once an intensive study of the
foundation principles of this great temperance movement. She was soon so
well informed in every detail, from the educational, evangelistic,
scientific, and legal standpoint that she quickly became a recognized
leader; traveling about the state, lecturing in the cause of temperance.
Her work was so outstanding that Mrs. Frances E. Willard, the
international leader in temperance work, sent her to Mexico. She remained
there for several years doing organization work for temperance. She was
ably assisted in this work by the Mexican government officials and private
citizens who were interested in the work of the W. T. C. U. Her field of
activities covered 20 cities of that southern republic. Her work also took
her abroad several times. At one world convention in London she
represented the great state of Texas in this movement and was a speaker in
one of the largest halls in that age old city.
Perhaps the work that lay nearest to her heart was the
development of the College of Industrial Arts at Denton. She was one of
the guiding spirits in its establishment. She was appointed by Gov. Sayers
to serve on the commission board to locate the school and later serve on
the board of regents. Besides her temperance and educational work, Mrs.
Stoddard was a member of the Woman’s Texas Press Association and was
often on the program. She ranked high as a parliamentarian and was very
popular as a presiding officer.
The later part of her years are being spent very quietly
in California but she will long be remembered in Indian Gap and Hamilton
county. A tall shaft on the top of one of the Gap mountains was built to
commemorate her father, Hawley Gerrels. The old Gerrell home is still
standing. It is built of native stone and is on the right hand side of the
road just before one enters Indian Gap from Hamilton.
The Hamilton County News, Vol. IV, Number
11--Section Three
Historical and Trading Expansion Issue
W. F. Billingslea, Editor-Publisher
Subscription Price ONE YEAR ..$1.00
June 29, 1934