Ellen Sergeant Rude

Ellen Sergeant Rude (, Sergeant; pen name, Mrs. B. C. Rude; March 17, 1838 – June 21, 1916) was an American author, poet, and temperance advocate. While involved in the temperance movement, she was affiliated with the International Organisation of Good Templars (IOGT) and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU).

Early life and education Ellen Maria Sergeant was born in Sodus, New York, March 17, 1838.

Career Rude wrote much, both in prose and verse, for publication. Her sketches in the Rural New Yorker and Arthur's Home Magazine first brought her to notice. She won a prize for a temperance story from the Temperance Patriot. The Sunday-school Advocate and Well-Spring published many of her stories for children. She was the first woman chosen to the office of Worthy Chief Templar by the Order of Good Templars of New York state. She made her first public address in the State lodge of Good Templars in Rochester, New York and was immediately placed on the board of managers of that order.

The Women's Crusade was inaugurated at Fredonia, New York , December 15, 1873, and the WCTU was the outgrowth. At the convention called in Syracuse, New York, October 14, 1874, where the state organization was effected, Allegany County was represented by Mrs. Rude of Wellsville, New York, her name appearing as chair of a committee to draft a memorial to President Grant and Governor John Adams Dix. At a temperance convention held in the old academy at Friendship, July 1879, Rude asked all women who were interested to meet her at a stated time in one of the recitation rooms; 25 or 30 responded. After explaining the object and methods of the organization, and urging its benefits as she could so well do, remarks were made by others, and a motion to organize a WCTU prevailed. The first meeting was called in connection with a temperance convention held at Andover, January 28, 1880. 15 names were added to the membership. Articles of constitution were presented by Rude, and adopted. It was known as the Allegany County Woman's Temperance Union. At the first executive committee, Mrs. Rude represented Wellsville. Rude served as president of the Allegany County WCTU in 1880-81. She was made a member of the board of managers of the first State WCTU, established in Syracuse, New York and was one of a committee sent from that convention to appeal to the New York State Legislature in Albany for temperance laws. Some of the choicest poems in the Arbor Day Manual were written by her. She contributed to the Magazine of Poetry as well as writing other poems and short stories.

Selected works By Mrs. B. C. Rude Magnolia Leaves: Poems (Charles Wells Moulton, 1891) (text) Two Legends: A Souvenir of Sodus Bay (Mills bros.' publishing house, 1900) (text)