HELEN M. (GERRELLS) STODDARD 
FORMER HAMILTON WOMAN IS FAMOUS

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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