Representative women of New England/Ophelia S. Newell
A. ELIZABETH NEWELL and OPHELIA S. NEAVELL, twin daughters . of Fisher Ames and Ann Elizabeth (Whipple) Newell, were born June 6, 1841, at the home of their maternal grandfather, Benjamin Whipple, in Charlestown, Mass. A. Elizabeth, the first named of the two sisters, is now the .sole female survivor of her father's family.
Miss Newell's father, Fisher Ames Newell, a sea captain, was son of Thomas and Poll (Phipps) Newell and grandson of Andrew Newell, of Sherborn, Mass., who was born in Charlestown in 1729, son of Andrew Newell, Sr.
Polly, wife of Thomas Newell, was a daughter of Jedediah5 Phipps and great-grand-daughter of John3 Phipps, of Wrentham, nephew and adopted son of Sir William2 Phipps (James1), colonial Governor of Massachusetts.
Benjamin Whipple, above mentioned, was a man of progressive and lilx-ral thouglit, of remarkalile aliility and intelligence. He was prominent in public life, serving several years in the Legislature and in almost every office in the town government, at one time head of the fire department, and many years a popular commander of the Charlestown Light Infantry and hence known as Captain Whipple. He served eighteen years as inspector of the Boston Custom House. He belonged, it is said, to the old Massachusetts family of this name from which sprang General William Whipple, a native of Kittery, Me., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Captain Whipple's wife, Catherine Coats, whom he married in Boston in July, 1801, was an amiable woman and one in whom the poor and needy always found a friend. Miss Newell's mother was the second of the seven children of Benjamin and Catherine Whipple. Fond of books and study from her early childhood, she was sent to the academy in Derry, N.H., then under the charge of the now famous Mary Lyon. She began teaching school at the age of sixteen, and for twelve years was considered one of the best teachers in Charlestown and vicinity. She was always studious and progressive. In all her trials of after years, and they were many, she showed her courage and Christian spirit in the sweetness with which she met them. She was to every one who came within her influence a woman of unusual magnetism, a mother of mothers.
Captain Newell was a man of energy and ability. In 1846, having received a commission from King Kamahamaha III. to build a schooner for business purposes, he sailed around Cape Horn to the Hawaiian Islands, only to return to build another, the king offering him good business and citizenship of the place. This he accepted, and with his family sailed to those far-away islands. This was in the days of rare communication, and the isolation was complete. In 1848 and 1849 the excitement became intense over the gold discoveries in California, and Captain Newell was the first to bring the news, as his vessel several years after was the first to go to Australia with passengers and freight from San Francisco. The Hawaiian Islands, at this time (middle of the nineteenth century) so far away from civilization, presented much that was novel and interesting, besides being the theatre of many exciting events. It was an ideal home for children, but lacking in educational advantages. A school called the Royal School was finally opened, and into it were gathered dark and white chiefs and chiefesses. For playmate and schoolmate Liliuokalani (now the ex-queen) was the favorite of the Newell children.
In 1853 Captain and Mrs. Newell and family left Honolulu and returned to the United States. They made their home in Charlestown for a short time; but, when Captain Newell returned to his profession, the daughters were placed at the West Newton English and Classical School, then in charge of the Rev. Cyrus Pierce and Nathaniel T. Allen. Here they' received the greater part of their education. Here they became interested in the anti-slavery cause and woman suffrage, forming their own opinions and broadening their thoughts.
In 1860, under adverse circumstances, the father having given his life to the ocean, the widowed mother and her daughters came to South Boston. After various struggles the Misses Newell began their work in the schools. In 1862 the subject of this sketch became a teacher in the Lawrence district. Later she was in the Norcross, and afterward was promoted to the position, of first assistant in the Cyrus Alger Primary School.
In January, 1882, Mrs. Newell died, and her death was followed, in February, 1883, by that of the daughter Ophelia. Thus deprived of those whose lives had been hitherto so closely connected with her own. Miss Newell threw her energies more strongly into the cause of woman. She has been a firm believer in her sex and an advocate for woman's advancement in all directions. Miss Newell is a woman of broad Christian spirit and an earnest worker in the Unitarian church. She has been and is an active worker in many lines. She organized the Mattapannock Club of South Boston, which has a representative membership and is a benefit to the district. Miss Newell is a strong suffragist. When Mrs. Julia Ward Howe organized a branch in South Boston, she and her mother and sister were some of the first to respond. Miss Newell was a member of the first Ward and City Committee in the early days of women's voting and among the first to cast her vote.
She was among the first to become interested in the Associated Charities when a branch was formed in South Boston, and as far as able she continues to hold her interest in the work of the organization. She was the first president of the Primary Teachers' Association of Boston, and has been for eight years president of the Lady Teachers' Association of South Boston. This association was formed in 1874, it being the only one where relief in case of sickness is made prominent. She is a member of the Denison and Boston Teachers' Club, president of the Mattapannock Club, corresponding secretary of Hawes Church Women's Alliance, and historian for the Dorchester Heights Chapter, D. R. She is a good presiding officer. She writes with ease and fluency, and has given many lectures.
Miss Newell has always been very patriotic and devoted to the interests of her country. At the breaking out of the Civil War, while waiting for an opportunity to enter the public schools, she gave her time to her country, and was one of the first to enter Liberty Hall, in Boston, when busy hands made light work of much that was needed in those days. Again, years after, during the Spanish-American War, when organizations were formed for assisting the soldiers, she gave the greater part of her vacation to the cause, although greatly in need of a change from her long, continuous labor of teaching.
Miss Newell has made many ocean voyages with her father and mother, having been around Cape Horn four times. Her travels have been extensive, and she has used her opportunities for the benefit of others. Her life to the present has been a strenuous one, with many tragic and strange periods: but the privations and trials have given her place among women who have striven to overcome difficulties, and have made them stepping-stones to a broad and noble life.