St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-07-21
A Wonderful Life.

Laura Maria Sheldon, daughter O
Solomon and Dorothy (Stevens) Shell
don, was born at St. Johnsbury a cen
fury ago, July 10, 1909, and became II
1888 the wife of Rev. Asher Wright
missionary to the Indians on the Seneca
Reservation, near Buffalo, N. Y, and
died there, after ffty-three years OIL
devoted labors, Jan. p, 1886, in her
18th year. Probably few people now at
st. Johnsbury ever heard of her, but her
life was noble and a useful one. WORTHY
OF commemoration a century after her
birth.
She was a granddaughter of Willard
Stevens of Barnet, to which town her
father moved in 1916, and to Newburv
about 1920, where she united with the
congregational church there under the
charge of Rev. Clark Perry, March 9,
1898, the family returning to Barnet in
1880. AS a girl she was unusually
attractive, and all her life her winsome
personality gave her great influence over
her Indian charges. While living at
Newbury she attended, during several
terms, Young Ladies School" at St.
lohnsbury, taught by Miss Hudah
Strobridge, after which she taught
school in both Barnet and Newbury.
While teaching in the latter town in
1882, she became acquainted with Rev,
Asher Wright, a native of Hanover, N
h., graduate of Dartmouth College
and Andover Seminary, who had become
a missionary to the Indians of western
New York and Pennsylvania.
They were married in Barnet. by Mr.
Perry, an. Fl, 1888, and at once started
tor their new home near Buffalo. the
journey, of fifteen days, being considered
a rapid one at that time.
Their labors during the rest of their
lives included the learning of several In.
dian languages, the opening of schools
among the scattered tribes, the over.
sight of teachers and the conduct of re.
ligious services, some of them held
twenty and thirty miles from the Mis-
SION They were also called upon
through the aid of their influential friends
IN the East, to protect the Indians on
the (ataraugus, Allegheny. Towananda
ana Seneca reservations from the en-
croachment of white men who wanted
their lands and from the wiles of LIQUOR
dealers. They studied medicine and
were at once missionaries and physicians
to the people and Mr.. Wright became
familiar with lndianlaw as he was often
chosen to settle disputes among them.
In their long years of unremitting min.
thew or
ana other parts of the scriptures into the
seneca language as we'll as many HYMNS.
and also prepared small dictionary of
that speech and of the Cherokee also.
very good account OF them is given in
Our Life Among the lroquois," by Mrs.
Caswell, published in 1872, a very inter
esting volume
One incident, growing out of their mis-
sionary labors. is of interest to MANY |
readers. In 1888, she made a visit to |
her old home, bringing with her Young |
Indian girl named Austria Two Guns |
who was brought up in the family of |
Hon. Henry Keyes, at Newbury, remain. |
ing several years. This young girl was
a visitor at different times in the family
OF Rev, Luther Jewett of st. Johnsbury,
and there may be few people there who |
remember her, as well as in NewEury. She
became a teacher and later married Viii |
liam Tallchief, one of her own country.
men. A large volume could be written
about Mrs Wright and her workout
this brief mention will interest many peo-
pie at st. Johnsbury, who may be glad
to know that life which held so much |
good, began in their town.
F. p. w.
Newbury, July 10, 1909.