St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-02-25
Frances Willard Dead.

Miss Frances E. Willard, president Of
the Worlds and National Women chris
tan Temperance union. who has been
suffering from an attack OF influenza with
gastric complications. died shortly after
midnight last Friday morning at the
Hotel Empire New York city.
Miss Willard had been i'll about three
weeks. She had the best medical care
and treatment that could be given but
in spite OF all efforts she grew worse
gradually until her death.
Miss Willard has suffered some years
with profound anemia, and on several
occasions had been given up to die. Last
summer she seemed to take on new
lease of life and gained considerable in
weight and strength so that she went
| through her convention work at Toronto
and Buffalo, which was most arduous
and came out much better thar was ex.
pected, and on her arrival here five
weeks ago, she was much Frustrated and
readily took on la grippe, which az tackled
the stomach, liver and intestines and
later the nervous system.
The funeral service took place in the
Broadway tabernacle, New York, Sun
day afternoon. Yesterday service was
held at Evanston. Ill. The body was
placed in state in Willard hall, at the W.
c. T. U temple in Chicago the greater
part oil Wednesday, and while en- route
to the Western metropolis was in state
for short time in Churchville, N. Y,
Miss Wizards birthplace.
The Broadway tabernacle was crowded,
among the attendants being many
women from neighboring states repre-
senting the state unions. Such names as
Misses Helen Gould, Susan B. Anthony.
Rev. Anna Shaw, and many OF the w. c.
T. US prominent world representatives
were written on the cards attached to the
floral gifts. In pursuance OF cabltgram
sent by Lady Henry Somerset, Miss
Katherine l.. Stevenson the correspond
ing secretary Of the national organiza-
ton at Chicago, a bunch OF white roses
was placed over the heart of the dead
temperance reiormer.
Miss Wizards request that her funeral
service be simple was carried out. Por-
tons of the Scripture which Miss Willard
loved most were read and her favorite
hymns were sung and then the Methodist
Episcopal funeral service was read
Frances Elizabeth Willard, leading
American relormer, born in Churchvlle,
near Rochester. N. Y, Sept. %, 1889,
was graduated at the Northwes ern
female college in 1858, and was professor
OF natural science in that institution in
1862. In 1866 67 she was preceptress
in the Wesleyan seminary, Lima, New
York; professor oil aesthetics in the North
western university, and president OF the
Women's college in 1871; corresponding
secretary OF the National Wohan's
Christian Temperance union from 1879
to 1898. She was one of the founders
of the prohibition party in 1884,; was
editor Of the Chicago Post in 1879, and
later of the Union Signal, the official Or
gan of the National Woman's Christian
Temperance union. In 1889 she was
president OF the Womans Council of tie
United States; received degrees of A. NJ.
from Syracuse university and LII. d. from
Ohio Wesleyan university in 1898.
BY the death of Miss Willard, the pres
ident of the National w. c. T. u. the
first vice president Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens
of Deeriug, Me-, becomes the active head
of the organization. and it is thought
that she will succeed Mss Willard in the
presidency. Mrs. Stevens has been long
prominent in the w. c. T. U. work. She
possesses great executive ability and is a
convincing speaker. She is very popular
in the w. c. 7. u. ranks. and was per.
haps closer to Miss Willard than any
other. She has visited England twice in
connection with the world wide w. c. T.