The Historical Journal OF THE MORE FAMILY Founded 1892 by David Fellows More Issued by the John More Association BOARD OF EDITORS EDWARD FITCH, Editor-in-Chief TAYLOR MORE CAROLINE E. MORE JOHN GOULD PALEN Vol. 3, No. 9 NOVEMBER, 1939 Whole No. 48 1940 REUNION COUSINS: Again this is to remind you, (1) that 1940 will mark the 50 th year of the existence of our fam­ ily organization—the John More Association; (2) that our Eleventh Eeunion will take place in the last week of August, 1940; (3) that you should not forget this date or event; (4) that you should plan and arrange to be present—with as many of your family as possible; (5) that there is no other family organization in the United States of America with such a unique history as that of the J. M. A. This is also to ask you for suggestions, (1) as to the appropriate method of celebrating this rare and important event; (2) as to talent in the family to be utilized in making the Ee­ union worthy and a grand success. Please consider the foregoing as not only a reminder, but also an appeal from the officers of our Association. Yours for 1940, TAYLOR MOEE, President, EDWARD FITCH, Secretary, 2 Eector Street, Clinton, N. Y. New York, N. Y. 232 THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL Vol. 3, No. 9 Helen Miller Gould Shepard 1868-1938 When, on December 21, 1938, the news Shortly after the outbreak of the Span­ of the death of Helen Miller Gould Shep­ ish-American war, six years after her ard was published throughout the land, it father's death, Helen Gould immediately brought sorrow to so many who had been sent a large contribution to the Govern­ helped by her, to institutions that had ment to help in the "freeing of Cuba." been liberally supported by her great When, later, she visited the hospitals in gifts, to soldiers and sailors who loved which the soldiers lay wounded and suf­ her for what she was and what she had fering, she was so deeply moved that she done for them, to railroad men who re­ assumed the responsibility of leading the membered her interest in their welfare, to Women's War Relief Association, in which Christian organizations whose fields were she worked indefatigably. In one instance, broadened by her, and to countless groups when supplies were held up, she contrib­ interested in the welfare of our country. uted a large sum of her own in cash to The loss to the John More Association be used immediately. is irreparable, for Helen Gould Shepard Previous to this, in 1895, this remark­ was an ideal among the living, valued by able and extraordinary young woman was every member for her friendliness, her well on her way to the title of the great­ kindliness and her helpfulness. From the est woman philanthropist of her day. She first Reunion, Mrs. Shepard's great in­ had known, previous to her father's pass­ terest, her ever liberal support and her ing, that he had hoped to endow a large encouragement, did much to make the or­ part of New York University. It was ganization the thriving one it is today. typical, therefore, that she should not only carry out the wishes of her beloved father, It was a rare day in June, the day of but that she should even go farther. the twentieth, in 1868, when Helen Mil­ ler Gould was born on West 38th Street, Accordingly, she contributed vast sums New York City. Her father was Jay for the erection of the library, for books, Gould, builder of railroads, and her for the School of Applied Science, for the mother, Helen Day Miller, who was Medical College and for the Hall of Fame, brought up according to the staid con­ where none is so deserving of a place of ventions of old New York. honor as Helen Gould Shepard. A short time later, her father bought As one of the trustees of the estate, she the house at 579 Fifth Avenue, that has travelled over many hundreds of miles of been given many times, erroneously, as railroads each year, to inspect them, to the place of her birth. In this house talk with agents and managers, and to much of her life was spent, and with it check up on conditions. It was during were linked many of her happiest mem­ these travels that she saw the need of ories. Here and at Lyndhurst, the beauti­ places where railroad men might find rec­ ful estate at Tarry town, she lived her reational and spiritual uplift during their happy childhood days, loved and sheltered. layovers between trips. Helen Gould's formal education was re­ On many of these and other travels, ceived at the Comstock School, the Gard­ Miss Anna Palen accompanied Miss Gould. ner Institute and Miss Jandon's school; On invitation, she writes the following in­ but she never ceased to be a student. teresting account: Upon the death of her father, she studied law, in order to be better able to handle "In thinking of the years in which I the vast sums intrusted to her. Later in was more closely associated with my her life she studied Russian, so that she cousin, those years after her father's could combat the atheistic literature ap­ death and before my father died, so many pearing in Russian periodicals that were memories come crowding in that it is like flooding the country. Her business acu­ disentangling colors of a kaleidoscope to men was lauded by the financiers of her select salient features. generation. "So much of her extensive philanthropy Only twenty-four at the time of her and interest in outstanding enterprises is father's death, scarcely out of her "teens," known that I like to think of her more she found herself in possession of several intimate work to which she gave so much millions of dollars, a huge estate, and a of her thought and strength. large house in one of the most valuable lo­ "She utilized a fine old stone house on cations of America's largest city. It might her Hudson River property, Lyndhurst, as easily have turned her head. She might a home for crippled boys, and for years either have squandered it or invested it to supported a group there where they had become the wealthiest woman in the coun­ good physical care and expert instruction. try. She did neither. To a little group of girls, children of em- November, 1939 OF THE MORE FAMILY 233 Helen Miller Gould Shepard ployees, she gave personal instruction in terial she insisted upon copying, necessi­ sewing until, as she invited more and tating the use of the typewriter, for which more to join the class, she had a large she trained herself. graded sewing school with trained teach­ ers, meeting in her bowling alley once a "This work, and also the wish to fulfill week. A lovely party on the lawn ended her father's pledge to the Roxbury church, each year's class work. resulted in her choice of this village for a summer home. Devotion to her father "Devotion to her father and loyalty to also prompted her interest in his railroad his memory prompted her to collect ma­ plans. She lent a ready ear to the or­ terial about his early life. For over two ganization that suggested establishing years, she carried on extensive correspond­ pleasant places and quarters for train ence, coming into touch with nearly every­ crews at their layover places. Many de­ one living who had known her father as lightful trips were made, the object being a boy and young man. Most of this ma­ to dedicate such buildings. Also more 234 THE HISTORICAL JOURNAL Vol. 3, No. 9 trips were taken to dedicate Y. M. C A. "All of this personal work brought her buildings at Army posts and Navy sta­ into contact with people of a class who, tions. On such occasions Miss Gould al­ she had supposed, were antagonistic to ways seemed to enjoy meeting the men people of wealth. Such unaffected kindli­ more than being honor guest at the more ness and friendship amazed her and broke formal receptions tendered by officers and down much of her shyness and reserve, their wives, city officials and women's enabling her to show her true democratic clubs. spirit." "Other pleasant trips were made to All this time the name of Helen Gould colleges to be honor guest at commence­ spelled news. ment time, when the classes of which she was honorary member were graduating. One who, during the last twenty years Berea she visited in its early days and of Mrs. Shepard's life, was intimately as­ lent her assistance to its president in com­ sociated with her in her work, gives these bating the influence of Mormon mission­ additional glimpses of her spirit and at­ aries among the mountain people. titude : "During the hot summer of the Span­ "The Lyndhurst Sewing School for girls ish-American war, instead of being com­ and the Cooking School for boys and girls fortable at lovely Lyndhurst, she went were two of the many well worth-while each day to the city and worked in the of­ interests for young people and they were fice of the War Relief Society. Her home, very popular with the children of the vil­ in the meantime, was used as headquar­ lages in and around Tarrytown, N. Y. ters of a local Red Cross, her living rooms The Sewing School began with a small filled with sewing machines and bolts of class taught by Miss Gould and the pu­ cloth, replacing books on the library ta­ pils were the children of the employees at bles.