Harriette Newell Woods Baker
| Harriette Newell Woods Baker | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | Harriette Newell Woods August 19, 1815 Andover, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 26, 1893 (aged 77) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Andover, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | Abbot Female Seminary |
| Genre | novels, religious literature |
| Notable works | Tim, the Scissors Grinder |
| Spouse | Abijah Richardson Baker (m. 1835–1876) his death |
| Children | 5 |
|
|
|
| Signature |  |
Harriette Newell Woods Baker (pen names, Mrs. Madeline Leslie and Aunt Hattie; August 19, 1815 – April 26, 1893) was an American author of books for children, and editor.
Baker's career as an author began when she was about 30 years old. She devoted herself successfully to novels; but after about 15 years, she wrote popular religious literature. Her most famous book, Tim, the Scissors Grinder sold half a million copies, and was translated into several languages. Baker published under the pen-name "Mrs. Madeline Leslie," about 200 moral and religious tales. She wrote under her own name or initials, and under that of "Aunt Hattie." She wrote chiefly for the young. She was still writing in 1893 when she died.
Harriette Newell Woods, daughter of Leonard Woods and Abigail Wheeler, was born on August 19, 1815 in Andover Massachusetts. She was one of the many children who were named after Harriet Newell, one of the first American missionaries. She was baptized on December 10, 1815 in Theological Seminary Church, which is now Philips Academy in Andover. Her father was Dr. Leonard Woods, the founder of Andover Theological Seminary and a friend of the polymath poet Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. She was called "Hatty" during her younger years. According to an account from her father, she nearly died of typhoid fever when she was about two years old.
She had a nervous temperament and a lively imagination; and talents for composition. She also had a habit of walking in her sleep which had followed her from infancy. When she was a child, she had a guest in her house, Mr William Schauffler. He was a German Jew who was sent to her father's care for his theological education. He remained in Andover for several years and most of the tmie in the Woods' house. Harriette saw that Mr Schauffler had a grey overcoat that was too small for him that he was shivering in the cold. This incident inspired her to form a sewing society with her Sunday School classmate, Elizabeth Stuart, and earn money to buy a cloak for Mr Schauffler.
After the sewing society, she and Elizabeth formed a literary society, which they named "The Fireside" with them being the only members. They met on alternate Wednesdays on which occasions they read a composition, a simple story, and discussed their styles with each other. This was before she published her work for the first time when she was 11 years old. She enclosed her short story to Deacon Nathaniel Willis with a note authorizing him to print it in his newspaper, The Youth’s Companion if he wished. She then received a dollar for a short story to The Youth’s Companion and The Puritan, the Congregational paper of that time. She provided other contributions, from time to time, without informing the editor of her age.
...
Wikipedia