Alice E. Heckler Peters

Alice E. Heckler Peters (March 13, 1845 – April 11, 1921) was an American social reformer, educator, writer, and poet. She was involved in several women's religious, reform and social organizations of her era including the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, National American Woman Suffrage Association, and the Woman's Relief Corps. Her poetry was a valuable addition to American literature.

Early life and education Alice E. Heckler was born in Dayton, Ohio, March 13, 1845. Her father, Lewis Heckler (1822–1852), was an enterprising and successful man of business. From the time of his death, life was difficult for Alice. When she was fourteen, the family removed to Columbus, Ohio, and Alice undertook the task of providing financial support to the family. Inexperienced and without previous training, she found few occupations open to girls, but being desperate, she managed to find some work with the use of a sewing machine. In this way, she struggled for four years.

Career On May 21, 1863, at Franklin County, Ohio, she married Oscar G. Peters. Mr. Peters was then chief clerk in the Commissary Department. While her husband was stationed in Cleveland, Mrs. Peters took an active interest in the Sanitary Commission, making garments and scraping lint. by delivering lectures on the subject and also by becoming a member of the National American Woman Suffrage Association executive board. For seven years, she put effort into the work of the Woman's Relief Corps, also serving as its secretary.