Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/750

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WALTON.
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of Gen. Armstrong, conducted a teachers' institute of the graduating class in Hampton. She was co-author with her husband of a series of arithmetics. Her belief in the equal right of woman with man to be rated at her worth and to be credited with her work was intensified by the decision of the publishers, that her name should be withheld as co-author of the arithmetics. From being simply a believer in the right of woman suffrage, she became an earnest advocate for the complete enfranchisement of woman. She was always a zealous advocate of temperance and during a residence in Westfield held the office of president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of that town. Since her removal to West Newton, Mass., where she now resides, she has been most actively interested in promoting woman suffrage, believing that through woman suffrage the cause of temperance and kindred reforms may be best advanced. She is an officer of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, an active member and director in the New England Women's Educational Club of Boston, and has been president of the West Newton Woman's Educational Club since its organization in 1880. Though not a prolific writer, she sometimes contributes to the press. She is an interesting speaker and an occasional lecturer upon literary and philanthropic subjects.


WALTON, Mrs. Sarah Stokes, poet and artist, born in Philadelphia, Pa., 12th February, 1844. SARAH STOKES WALTON. She is the third living child of Charles Crawford Dunn, sr., and Helen Struthers, his wife. Her ancestors on the male side originally were from the south of England. Her father's father, James Lorraine Dunn, a prominent lawyer of central Pennsylvania, was born in 1783, on the old homestead, located on the Chester river, Kent county, Md.. where the family had lived for nearly one-hundred-fifty years prior to his birth. Mr. Dunn was the descendant in direct line from Sir Michael Dunn, an Englishman, who came to this country with the first Lord Calvert. On her mother's side Mrs. Walton is of Scotch descent. Her mother was the daughter of the late John Struthers, of Edinburgh, Scotland, more recently one of Philadelphia's successful business men. From her sixth to her tenth year Sarah attended a private school kept by Miss Sarah lames. In the spring of 1854 her father purchased a farm on the Delaware river, where he built their beautiful home, "Magnolia Hall." Her studies were continued in the Farnum preparatory school, Beverly, N. J. She was exceedingly fond of books, and remained in that school until 1858, when, at the age of fourteen years, her school days were brought to a close, as the duties of her home called on her with a strength that was irresistible. About the close of the Civil War some business affairs of importance required her father's presence in Washington, D. C., for an indefinite time. From "Magnolia Hall" her family moved to Philadelphia, where she remained until October, 1866, when she became the wife of Louis N. Walton, a gentleman of good family, a Philadelphian by birth, but at that time doing business in Lexington, Ky., to which place the newly wedded couple went From that union there are two living children, a daughter and a son. Her husband's business affairs called him to Philadelphia in the course of three years, and there the family remained a short time. From that city she moved to Beverly, N. J., where they settled permanently. From her youth Mrs. Walton has been a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and she is prominent in everything that will advance the interests of the church and its people.


WALWORTH, Mrs. Ellen Hardin, author, educator and poet, born in Jacksonville, Ill., 20th October, 1832. She is the daughter of John J. Hardin, a well-known lawyer, politician and soldier. He was the friend of Lincoln, Logan, Baker, Douglas and other renowned men of that time. He was in the Black Hawk War. He led the first Illinois regiment to the Mexican War, and was killed in the battle of Buena Vista. His strong character and intellectual qualities were transmitted to his oldest child, Mrs. Walworth. In 1851 her mother became the wife of Chancellor Reuben H. Walworth, of New York. When Chancellor Walworth went west to marry the mother, he took with him his gifted young son, Mansfield Tracy, afterwards known as the author of many novels of the romantic school. The son captivated the fancy of Miss Hardin, a courtship followed, and they were married 29th July, 1852, in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., after he had finished his law studies in Cambridge. The young couple continued to reside in the family homestead, in Saratoga Springs, with the father and mother. Sons and daughters were born to them, and to the outside world no lives could seem more fair and smooth; but storms were gathering, which culminated with the disasters of the Civil War. Trouble and tragedy filled the life of Mrs. Walworth for many years, in which she held her children closely around her, carrying forward their education under the greatest difficulties. The older children were sent to college and the younger tines taught at home. In 1871 she established a boarding and day school in the homestead, and, with one interruption only, continued it until 1887. At that time the death of her oldest son and a temporary failure of her own health caused her to close the school. During those years she had been elected a member of the board of education in Saratoga, being one of the very first women for whom the school franchise was exercised. She served for three years, and by her energy and ability introduced many improvements in the public school system of the place.