JULIA C. R. DORR.
Mrs. Julia Caroline Ripley Dorr was born at Charleston, South Carolina, February 13th, 1825. Before she was two years old, her mother died, and her father shortly after removed to New York city, where he was engaged in mercantile business until 1830, about which time he relinquished his business there, and removed to the state of Vermont. She was married, February 22d, 1847, to Seneca M. Dorr, Esq., of Chatham Four Corners, Columbia county, New York, at which place she has continued to reside ever since.
She is the only child of William S. Ripley, and Zulma Caroline Thomas. Mr. Ripley is a native of Middlebury, Vermont, and has been extensively engaged as commission merchant, both in Charleston and New York. Miss Thomas was the daughter of Jean Jacques Thomas and Susanna De Lacy. They were natives of France, and resided, after their marriage, in the island of St. Domingo, from which place they fled to Charleston, South Carolina, at the time of the insurrection of the slaves in that island.
Mrs. Dorr commenced writing at an early age, and has written much, both in poetry and prose. Her publications, however, did not commence until 1848. Since that time, a large number of her poems has appeared in the different magazines and annuals. Her first attempt at prose, the story of “Isabel Leslie,” had the singular success of gaining one of the hundred dollar prizes proposed by Sartain.
This success, brilliant certainly for a first attempt, has given a new direction, as well as a new impetus to her talents, and she already takes a higher position as a prose writer, than that previously won as a poet. The extract which follows is from “Hillside Cottage” a beautiful story published in one of the annuals for the present year.
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