Famous Horses in History – Mister Ed by Donna Schlachter with Giveaway

Mister Ed television show promo

** All images of Mister Ed and cast are courtesy of Wikipedia


With television still in its early stages, imagine the excitement of a show about a horse that could talk. But was choosy about who it chose to speak with. Yes, readers, that horse is—or was—Mister Ed, and the show aired in syndication from six months in 1961, until CBS realized it was a good investment with plenty of young viewers. While this primary audience had little to no spending influence, their parents did, and so Studebaker-Packard sponsored the program, targeting its advertisements to the drivers in the audience.

Many claim the show’s title character is based on a character in a short story by Walter R. Brooks, originally published in the 1930s and1940s. Mr. Brooks was best known for his series about Freddy the Pig which also featured talking animals that interact with humans.

Most television series debut on a major network then are sold in syndication when the viewing audience falls short, so that Mister Ed came to television in the opposite way is a rarity.

Francis the Talking Mule had already regaled viewers in the 1950s, so while Mister Ed was a relatively new concept, he wasn’t unique. Francis also only talked to one person, creating a variety of frustrations and laugh opportunities, including plenty of gags.

George Burns, comedian, singer, and dancer, financed the pilot for Mister Ed, and the first episode was filmed at his studio in Hollywood, costing around $70,000 (worth about $780,000 today). Jack Benny, a friend of Burns, was involved in the background.

Similar to the Francis series, Alan Young played the part of the klutzy architect, Wilbur Post, while Bamboo Harvester, a palomino gelding, played Ed. Ed was cast as reluctant to speak to anybody other than Wilbur, which created many hilarious situations. Ed was also mysteriously well-read and well-educated, was a bit of a rascal, and his human-like behavior astounded those who knew him.

While most everybody loved Ed, Wilbur had at least one character who didn’t—his father-in-law. Apparently, his klutziness and half-hearted attempts to be friendly always backfired around the older man.

Wilbur didn’t know why Ed could talk, and his vocal abilities were never explained. In the first episode, when Wilbur tells Ed he doesn’t understand, Ed speaks the show’s only remark on the topic: “Don’t try. It’s bigger than both of us.”

Interesting facts: 

• Bamboo Harvester didn’t film the first pilot—a chestnut gelding did. But he proved too unruly, and was replaced, with a new pilot being filmed.

• Allan Rocky Lane did the voice-over for Ed.

• Sheldon Allman provided Ed’s singing voice.

• Ed’s stablemate, a quarter horse named Pumpkin, served as stunt double, later appearing in Green Acres

• Initially, Ed’s trainer used a piece of nylon thread in Ed’s mouth to get Ed to move his lips. But eventually, Ed learned to move his lips when the trainer touched his hoof.

• The story about peanut butter in Ed’s mouth to make him move his lips was concocted by Alan Young as a way to keep the truth a secret to increase interest and to not disappoint the kids.

Mister Ed retired in 1966 when the show was canceled, and spent the rest of his life with his trainer, Lou Hilton. He passed away in 1970 at the age of 21. Details of his death are unclear, and several stories have made the rounds including accidental overdose of a drug that was used to manage arthritis pain, and natural causes. He was cremated, and his remains were spread on the Hilton Ranch in an undisclosed spot, although other stories have cropped up over the years about various burial sites.

Readers: Leave a comment about the Mister Ed Show, and we will randomly draw for a winner of an ebook copy of Hollow Hearts. Please cleverly disguise your email address so the online 'bots don't get you. For example, donna AT livebytheword DOT com

 

 

About Hollow Hearts:

Can a widow and a loner discover a new beginning in the midst of tragedy, or are they bound to remain alone forever?

About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.



Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Ed

https://saddleupcolorado.net/blog/secrets-behind-mr-ed-not-just-the-horse-talkin-

Famous Horses in History…Sergeant Reckless – by Donna Schlachter

PFC Reckless, Fort Pendelton, c. 1959

Few military heroes are remembered with as much affection as Sergeant Reckless, a small chestnut mare whose courage during the Korean War earned her a place among the legends of the United States Marine Corps. More than a pack horse, Reckless became a trusted comrade, a decorated veteran, and an enduring symbol of loyalty and bravery.

Born in South Korea and originally named “Ah Chim Hai,” meaning “Flame of the Morning,” the young mare was intended for racing. However, the Korean War changed her destiny. In October 1952, Lieutenant Eric Pedersen of the Fifth Marine Regiment purchased the horse for $250. The money enabled her young owner, Kim Huk Moon, to buy a prosthetic leg for his sister, who had lost her limb after stepping on a landmine. Renamed “Reckless,” after the platoon’s recoilless rifles, the mare quickly became part of the Marine family.

Reckless with recoil-less rifle she was named after

 

 

Reckless was trained to carry ammunition through the rugged hills of Korea. She learned routes after only a few trips and often delivered supplies without a handler. She even learned to seek cover when incoming shells came near. The Marines discovered she had unusual tastes, happily consuming scrambled eggs, beer, Coca-Cola, and almost anything left unattended. On at least one instance, she ate $30 worth of poker chips.

Reckless under fire

 

Her finest hour came during the Battle of Outpost Vegas in March 1953. Under heavy enemy fire, Reckless made 51 trips in a single day, transporting almost five tons of ammunition and covering over thirty-five miles. Along the way, she also carried wounded Marines to safety. Wounded twice by shrapnel, she never stopped working. For her extraordinary service, she received battlefield promotions and numerous honors, including two Purple Hearts, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Korean Service Medal, and several unit citations. Eventually, she became Staff Sergeant Reckless, the first horse in Marine Corps history to hold that rank.

Reckless in retirement

 

Following the war, an outpouring of public support helped bring Reckless to the United States. She spent the rest of her life at Camp Pendleton in California, where she became a beloved celebrity. Visitors flocked to see the famous mare, and she gave birth to four foals. After years of faithful service, Reckless died in 1968 at the age of 20, and was buried with full military honors, one of only a handful of horses in American history to receive such distinction.

Reckless with her original trainer

 

Yet her story did not end there. Books, documentaries, and statues have preserved her memory. A bronze statue stands at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and another honors her at Camp Pendleton. In later years, she received additional recognition, including the prestigious Dickin Medal, often called the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

Sergeant Reckless proved that heroism comes in unexpected forms. Though small in stature, she carried not only ammunition and wounded soldiers but also the admiration of generations who continue to celebrate her remarkable courage and devotion.



Leave a comment to answer this question: what do you think was the most interesting factoid about Reckless?

About Donna:
Donna lives in Denver with husband Patrick, three housemates, and two cats who rule the roost. As a hybrid author, she writes squeaky clean historical suspense and contemporary suspense. She has been traditionally and indie published more than 60 times in novellas, full-length novels, devotional books, and books on the writing craft. Donna also ghostwrites, edits, and judges in writing contests. She is also a Certified Book Coach, helping authors move their book projects forward. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both. In her spare time, she paints like a whirling Banshee Bob Ross-style in oil on canvas, minus the Afro.

Website: www.DonnaSchlachter.com

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*all images from Wikipedia

Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Reckless

Famous Horses in History…Copenhagen with Giveaway by Donna Schlachter

By John Steell. From Wikipedia.

Copenhagen was the Duke of Wellington’s war horse, which he rode at the Battle of Waterloo for 17 hours straight. Bred by General Grosvenor, his sire, Meteor, placed second in the 1786 Epsom Derby, then went on to win his next 21 races. He retired to stud at the ripe old age of eight, and Copenhagen was born 17 years later in 1808. His dam, Lady Catherine, had mixed parentage, and in Copenhagen’s honor, is the only “half-bred” mare listed in the General Stud Book.

Depending on the source, the details of Copenhagen’s birth differ. General Grosvenor allegedly took Lady Catherine, in foal with Copenhagen, to Denmark as his mount during the siege of that city. Copenhagen was either foaled after the second battle and named in honor of the British victory, or, if you listen to other sources, Lady Catherine was returned to England before his birth where he was foaled at Eton Hall in 1808. The General Stud Book does not record that he was born overseas.

Regardless of his murky beginnings, there is no doubt that a magnificent horse was born.

By Matthew Cotes Wyatt. From Wikipedia.

 

 

 

He was tall, standing at about 15 hands high (60 inches at the top of his shoulders), Paintings and reports of the day say he was muscular with a compact frame. Never raced as a two-year-old, he raced until he was four years old for General Grosvenor, retiring in May 1812. Modestly successful, he won two races during his short career.

In his three-year-old season, 1811, he came in third. A few days later, he won a match race and was then beaten by the filly in another match race. A match race pits two horses against each other, with winner taking the entire pot. This type of race is often used to settle which horse is best. Over the next few months of racing, he won several match races, lost some, took third in a Gold Cup Race, third in a County Purse race, and second or third in other miscellaneous appearances.

In 1812, as a four-year-old, Copenhagen started three times, finishing third in two and fourth in one. Not seeing much opportunity to take the big cups, General Grosvenor retired him in May.

General Grosvenor sold him as a saddle horse to Charles Stewart, and Copenhagen was sent to Lisbon in 1813 with a stable of other horses. When Stewart left Spain, Colonel Charles Wood purchased him for the Duke of Wellington for 200 or 250 guineas (about $1,000 USD in 1820, which would be worth around $25,000 USD today). 

 

By Thomas Lawrence. From Wikipedia

 

 

When the Duke of Wellington purchased him in 1813 as a five-year-old, his papers described him as “a dark chestnut with two white heels…hollow-backed, powerful…with bad shoulders.” He loved his corn, but preferred eating while lying down. The Duke said, “There may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom (stamina) and endurance, I never saw his fellow (equal).” His Arabian blood was often cited as the reason for these enduring qualities.

The Duke of Wellington and Copenhagen. From The War Horse Memorial

 

The Duke of Wellington rode Copenhagen into several battles and on a number of treacherous journeys, including his ride to Wavre. But perhaps he is most famous for riding him for 17 hours continuously during the Battle of Waterloo. Both emerged from the fray uninjured. Legend says that when the Duke dismounted, he patted his horse on the flank. Copenhagen kicked at the Duke’s head, which the Duke avoided. Copenhagen loved the chaos of battle, but when not on duty, he was cantankerous, giving many grooms and exercise boys nightmares. 

The Duke of Wellington, from The War Horse Memorial

 

 

While his war days were now over, the Duke continued to ride Copenhagen in parades and other events. Hair from his mane and tail was collected and braided into bracelets. When the Duke of Wellington became Prime Minister in 1828, he rode Copenhagen up Downing Street to Number 10 to take up his new residency.

Copenhagen in retirement, by Samuel Spode

 

 

Following his formal retirement, Copenhagen enjoyed when visitors noticed him, and particularly when they offered his apples and sweets such as sponge cakes, Bath buns (a bready bun with raisins and frosting), and chocolate creams. All of these sweets must have mellowed him, because friends and children rode him regularly. He died on February 12, 1836, at the age of 28. He was buried the next day with full military honors, and the Duke flew into a rage when he noticed one of the hoofs was missing, apparently taken as a souvenir. As with most details surrounding this horse, several stories emerged, including that a farmer bought the hoof and returned it to the Duke. Another version said that a servant confessed many years later to taking the hoof, not expecting that the Duke cared one way or the other. However, the Duke exhumed the body a few months after burial to remove the remaining three hooves to keep as souvenirs and to prevent grave-diggers from profiting from his loss; however, “his three remaining hoofs had rotted away.”

Copenhagen's headstone. From Wikipedia.

 

Copenhagen was buried without a headstone to keep grave-diggers and souvenir hunters at bay. A request from the United Services Museum to display his skeleton alongside that of Napolean’s horse Marengo was denied. Seven years after Copenhagen’s death, the Duke’s housekeeper planted a Turkey Oak that today shades the grave in recognition of her 20th year of service to the Duke.

After the Duke’s death, his son created an epitaph and placed a grave marker beside the tree.


Giveaway: Leave a comment to enter a drawing for an ebook copy of Hollenberg Hearts.

About Hollenberg Hearts: A mail order bride. A crippled stationmaster. No way out for either of them—except with each other. Can they surrender their hearts and find true love? Check it out: https://www.amazon.com/Hollenberg-Hearts-Pony-Express-Book-ebook/dp/B098VZ38XY and the rest of the Series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B098WRMTM3

About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.


Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

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Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_(horse)

https://www.artbycrane.com/horse_history_articles_tales/copenhagen_duke_of_wellington.html

https://www.thewarhorsememorial.org/100-hero-horses/100-hero-horses/hero-horse13

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2000-05-38-1

Famous Horses in History – Comanche by Donna Schlachter with Giveaway

Comanche, 1872 (Courtesy Wikipedia)

In our second installment of Famous Horses in History, we are going to take a look at another war horse, Comanche. While his exact date of birth isn’t known, he was bought by the US Army in 1868 in St. Louis, Missouri, and sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was thought to be part mustang and part Morgan, giving him good lineage for living on the plains as well as having stamina and personality. Captain Myles Keough liked the versatile size of the gelding, and purchased him to use as his personal mount, to be ridden only in battle. He usually rode Paddy on marches, while Comanche followed with the other extra horses. Apparently, Keough wanted to keep Comanche fresh for the fighting. 

Captain Myles Keough

 

Comanche was wounded several times prior to Little Big Horn, and each time, the horse continued through the battles and was treated after the fighting ended. One such report was that in 1868, he was wounded in the hindquarters by an arrow, but carried Keough in the fight. He was then named “Comanche” to honor his bravery and toughness. Comanche healed quickly, and Keough was proud of his fearless horse who was never afraid to enter a battle, even though he’d had many injuries.

On June 25, 1876, General George Custer led the 7th Calvary into battle at the Little Big Horn, and Captain Keough rode Commanche into what is now known as Custer’s Last Stand. Every soldier in the battle died, as did most of the horses, and Comanche was one of perhaps 100 Army horses that survived. There is even a report that a yellow bulldog made it through the battle. Most of these mounts were taken by the natives, although their fate is unknown, as the Army horses were more accustomed to a diet of rich grasses, hay, and grain, and tended not to fare well on the native diet of whatever forage they could find.

Severely wounded, Comanche was discovered two days after the end of the fighting, standing beside his owner’s body. He was shipped to Fort Lincoln to recover from his wounds.

Following that, he received the honorary title of Second Commanding Officer and was retired. This time, however, his healing took longer due to the extensive number of wounds. Part of the official order said, “his kind treatment and comfort shall be a matter of special pride and solicitude on the part of every member of the Seventh Calvary to the end of his life…Wounded and scarred as he is, his very existence speaks in terms more eloquent than words, of the desperate struggle against overwhelming numbers…he will never be ridden…nor will he be put to any kind of work.” In accordance with the order, he was never ridden again. He led official parades, with a pair of Calvary riding boots reversed in the stirrups to honor his fallen owner and fellow soldiers.

A reporter from the Bismack Tribune was so inspired by the order that he visited Fort Lincoln to interview the horse, writing that he asked the usual question, and the subject acknowledged with “a toss of his head, a stamp of his foot, and a flourish of his tail.”

However, his official keeper, John Rivers of Company 1, added more details, including that the horse had been found in 1876 following the fatal battle by Sergeant DeLacey, severely wounded. He had serious wounds, including four bullets, three of which were extracted following the battle, and the fourth in April 1877. His keeper didn’t consider him an extraordinary specimen, but acknowledged he was noble looking.

Comanche stayed at Fort Lincoln until June 1879, then the Seventh Regiment moved him to Fort Riley, Kansas in 1887, where he became something of a pet. He enjoyed the run of the post grounds and acquired a taste for beer due to all the toasts made to his bravery in battle.

On November 7, 1891, at the estimated age of 29, Comanche passed away from colic.

Comanche on display at Kansas University (courtesy of The Wayback Machine)

 

A well-known Kansas taxidermist was commissioned to preserve his body, which was exhibited at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893, before being moved to the Kansas University where he is currently on display. He is one of only four horses to be given a military funeral with full honors.

 

Leave a comment and I will draw randomly for an ebook “Christmas Under the Stars”, which also features horses. Please include your cleverly disguised email address (so the ‘bots don’t get you). For example: donna AT livebytheword DOT com

About Christmas Under the Stars:

November 1858, Utah Territory: Edie Meredith strives to keep her temper and her tongue under control as she heads west with her brother to California. Raised in an itinerant preacher family, she promises she will never marry a man of the cloth. Tom Aiken, drover of the wagon train, longs to answer his true calling: to preach, and while he realizes not every woman would choose a preacher for a husband, he hopes to soon find his help-meet. Suspicious ‘accidents’ plague their journey. Is someone trying to keep them from reaching their destination? Or will misunderstanding and circumstances keep them apart?

About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.

Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

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Resources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comanche_(horse)

University of Kansas Natural History Museum

https://web.archive.org/web/20101028094838/http://custerlives.com/custer4.htm

Literature Appel, David (1951). Comanche: Story of America's Most Heroic Horse. World Publishing Company. ASIN B0007HG0SW.

Movies Tonka (1958), also released as A Horse Named Comanche, a Walt Disney film starring Sal Mineo, based on David Appel's book
Comanche (2000), a film written and directed by Burt Kennedy, starring Kris Kristofferson and Wilford Brimley

On This Day in… 1842…Anna Elizabeth Dickinson by Donna Schlachter

Anna Dickinson, c. 1855-1865 -- Wikipedia

 

 

 

Anna Elizabeth Dickinson was born on this date in 1842 in Philadelphia. Her parents were Quakers and abolitionists, John and Mary Edmundson Dickinson. Her ancestors emigrated from England, settling with other Quakers near Evanston, Maryland in the 1660s. She was the youngest of three brothers and another sister. Their family went through difficult times and much poverty following her father’s death when she was two years old. Her mother opened a school in their home and rented rooms to boarders to support her family.

Anna was an avid student, hardworking, and whatever money she earned, she used to purchase books. When she was 14, she converted to the Methodist Church, remaining active throughout her life. It was in this same year that her first essay about slavery was published in The Liberator.

When she was 15, she worked as a copyist, replicating legal documents, letters, and more. At 17, she became a teacher in Pennsylvania, and at 19, she became a clerk at the US Mint, one of its first female employees. However, when she spoke out against General George McClellan in a public meeting, she was fired from the mint.

While today we consider the Quakers a conservative denomination, they encouraged women to speak in public at a time when such behavior was frowned upon by most Americans. Anna toured the country, speaking for the Sanitary Commission on such topics as abolition, reconstruction, women’s rights, and temperance.

Her first major speech, a two-hour discussion on women’s rights, occurred in 1861 in Philadelphia. Her mentor, Lucretia Mott, arranged a lecture tour sponsored by the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, and Anna’s speeches are credited with helping the Emancipation movement.

During the Civil War, Anna visited hospitals and camps, speaking to the soldiers. During the 1863 US Senate elections and with the Civil War deepening all around her, Anna campaigned for several Republican candidates, speaking eloquently and powerfully in support of that party’s anti-slavery platform and for preservation of the union of the country. She spoke to coal miners in Pennsylvania, convincing many of her abolitionist views.

At a lecture in New York City, she held her 5,000 attendees captive for two hours, and earned a standing ovation for her impassioned speech in 1864 in the US House of Representatives, where President Lincoln was in attendance. She was the first woman to appear before Congress.

Interpines Mansion, where her mother lived, supported by Anna -- Wikipedia

 

Following the Civil War, Anna continued speaking, earning the equivalent of half a million dollars a year and giving most of it to charity, friends, and relatives. It was during this time that she expanded her repertoire of topics to now include African-American rights, venereal diseases, and polygamy. And while she continued to support women’s rights, she did not speak about the suffrage movement.

Mark Twain wrote of her in a letter in 1867: “She talks fast, uses no notes what ever, never hesitates for a word…and has the most perfect confidence in herself.”

Fine praise, indeed, from a similarly famous orator himself.

Anna, c. 1870 -- Wikipedia

 

Unfortunately for Anna, times changed but she didn’t. Audiences were less prone to listen to a lengthy lecture, preferring to be entertained. By 1875, she struggled to support herself through her speaking, and following one performance where she waved a bloody shirt on stage to make her point, bookings dried up and former supporters questioned her sanity.

In 1876, in an attempt to revive her career, she accepted the invitation by Ralph Meeker to visit Colorado, where she promptly climbed Pikes Peak and other mountains, often using mules or horses. She joined an expedition to survey Longs Peak, but when the Boulder County News reported her scandalous donning of trousers, her popularity dropped. However, she was the first white woman on record to climb Gray’s Peak, Lincoln Peak, and Elbert Peak; the second to summit Pike’s Peak.

Boston Music Hall -- Wikipedia

 

As her speaking career declined, she decided to try writing, and in 1868 published the novel, What Answer? that tackled the current opposition to interracial marriage. In 1876, she penned A Paying investment: a Plea for Education that promoted technical training for workers, better treatment of prisoners, assistance for the poor, and education for all children. And, in 1879, she wrote A Ragged Register of People, Places, and Opinions. She wrote several plays, even acting in several, but her performance wasn’t received with favor in New York.

Anna, c. 1901 -- Wikipedia

 

Anna’s final years were no easier than her early growing up had been. At one point, she exhibited signs of paranoia, and her sister had her committed to an insane asylum. After several years, Anna won her freedom and her court case alleging her illegal kidnapping, then she lived with a married couple for more than forty years.

She died in 1932 following a stroke, and is buried at State Hill Cemetery in Goshen, New York.

However, she left a legacy of boldly speaking out against societal wrongs, no matter how unpopular that made her. During the second world war, a Liberty ship was named after her, SS Anna Dickinson. 


 

About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.

www.DonnaSchlachter.com

Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

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Resources:

https://www.joankoster.com/anna-elizabeth-dickinson-americas-shining-star/

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/anna-elizabeth-dickinson.97123/

On This Day in 1839…Frances Willard by Donna Schlachter

Frances Willard as a young woman -- Wikipedia

This month, our highlighted person from history is Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard. Born on this day in 1839, she carried a heavy legacy in her names. Her sister, Elizabeth Caroline, had died the previous year, and her parents bestowed not one but two middle names on the wee girl. She was also named after British novelist Frances (Fanny) Burney, as well as the American poet, Frances Osgood.

Frances Willard had an older brother, Oliver, and a younger sister, Mary. Their father was a farmer, naturalist, and legislator, and her mother was a schoolteacher, meaning that the family was never wealthy, although they weren’t considered destitute, either.

When Frances was two, her family moved to Oberlin, Ohio, so her father could study for the ministry, but by the time she was around seven, her father’s health had taken a turn for the worse. They moved that same year to Janesville, Wisconsin, where they joined the Methodist church, and Frances and her sister attended school. Their final move came when Frances was 19, when they moved to Evanston, Illinois. Her father, his health now recovered, became a banker, finally assuring the family’s stability, both in terms of location and finances.

After graduating from the North Western Female College, Frances held various teaching positions, following in her mother’s footsteps. At the age of 32, she was promoted to president of the brand new Evanston College for Ladies, and when that school became the Women’s College of Northwestern University two years later, she was named the first Dean of Women. However, she left this position the following year after breaking off her engagement with the university’s president.

That same year, she discovered her true calling in the women’s temperance movement, participating in the founding convention where she was elected secretary. In 1876, she became head of their Publications Department, and focused her energies on publishing and building the readership of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) weekly newspaper.

Frances ran for president of the national WCTU and won in 1879, holding that post until her death in 1898. Her tireless efforts for the temperance cause included a 50-day speaking tour in 1874. She traveled an average of 30,000 miles a year and presented an average of 400 lectures for the next 10 years.

As president for the WCTU, Frances also lobbied for women’s suffrage. She believed that empowering women with the right to vote would allow women to fulfill their potential as the companions and counselors of men, rather than simply an incumbrance or a toy.

Frances learning to ride a bike -- from Wikipedia

 

She also became interested in the effect of the international drug trade on homes and families, and took roles in the National Council of Women, serving as president from 1888 to 1890. At the same time, she expanded her role in the World WCTU, again serving as president.

Frances, 1890-1898 -- from Wikipedia

 

Frances passed away at the age of 59 after contracting influenza while preparing to sail for England and France. However, she has not been forgotten.

Frances Willard's and her mother's grave -- from Wikipedia

 

Some of her achievements and legacies: 

•  Supported kindergarten education
•  Supported federally-funded training for teachers
•  Instrumental in the passage of the 18th and 19th Amendments
•  First woman included in Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol
•  Commemorated on a US Postage stamp
•  Inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame
•  Her home has become the headquarters for the WCTU as well as a museum, and is listed on the National Historic Landmark registry
•  A number of schools in the US have been named after her, as well as a street in Chico, California, and a hospital in Chicago
•  Willard Hall at Oklahoma State University, first built as a women’s dormitory, now serves as the home of the College of Education

Frances Willard statue

US Postage stamp 1940 -- National Postal Museum 

About Donna: 

 

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.



www.DonnaSchlachter.com

Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

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Resources:

https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/women-on-stamps-part-2-education-enriching-lives/frances-elizabeth-willard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Willard

On This Day… in 1826 – Walter Cecil Macfarren by Donna Schlachter

The only known portrait of Walter Cecil Macfarren (Wikipedia)

When we think of great musical composers in history, likely names such as Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach jump instantly to mind. And while it is unlikely that the name of our featured guest would spark any connection with these legendary greats, he does hold a special place in the hallowed halls of musical composition.

Walter Cecil Macfarren was born August 28, 1826 in London, the youngest son of dramatist George Macfarren, and the less-famous brother of musician George Alexander Macfarren. At the age of four he showed some musical promise, and by age ten he was serving as a choir-boy at Westminster Abbey. He sang at the coronation of Queen Victoria when he was 12, in 1838.

However, soon after, his voice changed as he entered puberty, and he briefly considered becoming an artist, even taking painting lessons. When that didn’t suit him, he worked as a salesman for pianos in Brighton.

Not finding that to his liking either, he entered the Royal Academy of Music in 1842, studying piano and composition. On his graduation, he remained on staff at the Academy, first as a sub-professor of the pianoforte, and eventually as a full professor. Macfarren served for 57 years, lecturing six times a year and teaching piano.

In 1852, at the age of 26, he married Julia Fanner, the daughter of an artist. The story goes that “her mind gave way” in 1878, which implies she suffered from some form of mental illness. She died in their 50th year of marriage. The couple had no children.

In 1862, he was appointed musical critic to The Queen newspaper, and later he edited Popular Classics and Mozart’s complete piano works and Beethoven’s sonatas.

During this time, his classical education inspired his composition of many small but solid piano pieces, always pleasing to the ear and stylistic, reminiscent of Mendelssohn. He also conducted concerts at the Academy, and served as treasurer of the Royal Philharmonic Society for three years, before turning his attention back to composition. In 1881, he wrote a concert piece for piano and orchestra, proving his ability and skill at writing for more than one instrument at a time. As if he wasn’t busy enough, he also released his Scale and Arpeggio Manual in 1862.

On his 70th birthday, Macfarren founded two prizes for pianoforte playing at the Academy. He retired in 1904 from all other work apart from remaining as a contributor to The Queen, and he published his autobiography in 1905, Memories. He lived his remaining days in Osnaburgh Terrace, London, usually spending his vacations at Brighton. He died later that year and is buried in St. Pancras and Islington Cemetery in East Finchley, London.



About Donna:

A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.

www.DonnaSchlachter.com

Newsletter: https://www.thepurposefullwriter.com/newslettersignup Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive 2 free ebooks simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DonnaschlachterAuthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Donna-Schlachter/author/B01180A2EE

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/donna-schlachter

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=donna+schlachter

The Purpose-Full Writer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

Need a writing coach? www.ThePurposeFullWriter.com



Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Cecil_Macfarren

https://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Walter_Cecil_Macfarren Includes a list of his works

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1912_supplement/Macfarren,_Walter_Cecil Includes more about his earlier life