Ada Henry Van Pelt

Ada Henry Van Pelt (1838 – August 7, 1923) was a temperance and suffrage activist, editor, lecturer, and, later in life, an inventor. She held several patents, including one for an electric water purifier, patented when she was 74 years old.[1]

Van Pelt, circa 1903

Early life

Ada Henry was born in 1838, in Princeton, Kentucky, daughter of Major C. B. Henry, a banker. She had a sister Anna and a brother, Col. A. P. Henry, who commanded the 15th Kentucky Cavalry during the Civil War.[2][3]

Career

Mrs. Van Pelt was editor and main writer of the temperance weekly Pacific Ensign for six years, ending in 1897.[4] During her time at the weekly, she served a term as president of the Pacific Coast Woman's Press Association.[5] She went on a lecture tour in 1898, speaking about California and her work with the American Red Cross during the Spanish–American War, with illustrations.[6][7][8]

Mrs. Van Pelt also wrote two plays which were produced in the San Francisco area, "The Cross Roads School," a "roaring burlesque,"[9] and "The Quaker Sentinel," a Civil War drama.[10][11]

Van Pelt held several patents, including for an improved permutation lock,[12] and another for "An Apparatus for Utilizing Momentum" in 1911.[13][14] She became an honorary member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1912.[15]

Personal life

Ada Henry married Captain Charles E. Van Pelt in 1864, while he was serving in the 48th Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Mounted Infantry. The couple moved to Nebraska after the Civil War. Mrs. Van Pelt moved to California in 1889.[10] Ada Henry Van Pelt was one of the founders of the public library in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was a member of the Ebell Club in Los Angeles.[14]

Ada Henry Van Pelt died in 1923, age 84.[16]

References
  1. A. H. Van Pelt, Electric Water Purifier and Filter, U. S. Patent No. 1020001, patented March 12, 1912.
  2. Finding Aid, 15th Kentucky Cavalry Records, University of Kentucky.
  3. "War Time Tales Told Afresh" Los Angeles Times (December 31, 1911): II2.
  4. "Mrs. Pelt Has Resigned" San Francisco Call 81(47)(January 16, 1897): 14.
  5. "Kate Field's Last Wish; The Woman's Press Association Takes Action" Hawaiian Gazette (August 28, 1896): 1. via Newspapers.com
  6. "Van Pelt Entertainment" The Tennessean (October 16, 1898): 10. via Newspapers.com
  7. "Mrs. Ada Van Pelt Returns" San Francisco Chronicle (January 21, 1899): 10. via Newspapers.com
  8. "Performance Has Been Postponed" Oakland Tribune (December 14, 1900): 4. via Newspapers.com
  9. "The Cross-Roads School: A Roaring Burlesque to be Given on the 22nd Instant" Sacramento Daily Union 93(56)(April 18, 1897): 3.
  10. "Society Woman as an Inventor" Courier-Journal (November 8, 1908): 5. via Newspapers.com
  11. "Mrs. Van Pelt's Play to be Produced" Oakland Tribune (December 11, 1900): 6. Newspapers.com
  12. A. H. Van Pelt, Permutation Lock, U. S. Patent No. 420841, patented February 4, 1890.
  13. A. H. Van Pelt, Apparatus for Utilizing Momentum, U. S. Patent No. 1002610, patented September 5, 1911.
  14. "Mrs. Van Pelt an Inventor" Nebraska State Journal (October 25, 1908): 22. via Newspapers.com
  15. "L. A. Woman Member of Academy of Sciences" Los Angeles Herald 66(December 17, 1912): 17.
  16. "Last Rites for Mrs. Van Pelt at Ebell Club" Los Angeles Times (August 8, 1923): II20.
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