Woman of the Century/Josephine Pollard

POLLARD, Miss Josephine, poet and author, born in New York, N. Y., 17th October, 1814, and died there 15th August, 1892. Her father was a native of New Braintree, Mass. While he was a child, the family removed to Cazenovia, N. Y. On reaching his majority he went to New York City to make his fortune, and succeeded in a few years, by his own efforts, in becoming one of the leading architects in the metropolis. Miss Pollard's mother was of good old Puritan stock, well educated, and a woman of noble impulses. At an early age Josephine gave evidence of poetic talent, and, while a pupil in Springier Institute, she wrote a poem descriptive of Cole's pictures, the "Voyage of Life." which were then on public exhibition. JOSEPHINE POLLARD. That was her first published poem. In school, composition day was her delight, and her efforts were nearly always in rhyme She wrote many verses and songs, that have been widely sung. In person she was never strong, the frail body often hindering her in her good work. Many of her poems appeared in the Harper periodicals and in the New York "Ledger." She was a frequent contributor to those periodicals. She wrote many stories, among them the "Gypsy Books " Her later works were written in words of one syllable, "Our Hero, Gen. Grant," "Life of Christopher Columbus," "The Bible for Young People" and "The Wonderful Story of Jesus." When the Sorosis Club was organized, she was one of its charter members. Owing to her continued ill health, she felt constrained to withdraw She remained in warm sympathy with the club and was always interested in its welfare.