On behalf of a New York Correction History Society member, I am making this
inquiry seeking information about Rhoda Denison Bement's involvement with the
Underground Railroad, possibly as a "station manager."

Mrs. Bement lived a while in Seneca Falls, attended the women's rights
convention there and was expelled from her church because she challenged her
minister's disregard for the abolitionist efforts of the women in his
Presbyterian congregation. She later lived in Buffalo, Dunkirk and Rochester.

Rhoda Denison Bement's battle with her pastor and church elders is detailed
in Glenn C. Altschuler's "Revivalism, Social Conscience and Community in the
Burned-Over District."

Her correction history connection comes about because her granddaughter,
Katharine Bement Davis, became New York City's first female commissioner.
Miss Davis was appointed Correction Commissioner, in charge of 500 uniformed
keepers and 5,000 inmates (mostly males), before women had won the right to
vote. The celebrity status conferred on her by that 1914 appointment
propelled her into a leadership role in the suffragist movement. I wrote
about that and her in a biographical mini-history entitled "NYC's Suffragist
Commissioner: Correction's Katharine Bement Davis."

The bio's relevant Rhoda Denison Bement references can be found in its second
chapter ("10 Years to Enter Vassar"). An oblique reference by Miss Davis to
her Abolitionist roots can be found in the tenth chapter ("The Lady Was a
Scrapper"). The book containing those chapters can be accessed from the
bottom of the New York Correction History Society's "Chronicles" page at:
http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/chronicl.html

The person on whose behalf this inquiry is made came recently across a
passing reference to Mrs. Bement's UR participation but the member has been
unable to reaccess that information or find further data to that effect.

All answers sent to me as general secretary of society will be passed along
to the member, along with the respondents' e-mail addresses so the member can
reply to them.

Thank you in advance for whatever help you may be able to provide in the
matter.

Thomas McCarthy
general secretary
New York Correction History
http://www.correctionhistory.org