Life and writings of Amelia Bloomer

BY D. C. BLOOMER, LL. D. WITH PORTRAITS
BOSTON ARENA PUBLISHING COMPANY Copley Square 1895
Republished 1976 Scholarly Press, Inc., 22929 Industrial Drive East St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48080
Copyrighted, 1895, BY D. C. BLOOMER.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Bloomer, Dexter C   1820-1900. Life and writings of Amelia Bloomer. Reprint of the ed. published by Arena Pub. Co., Boston. 1. Bloomer, Amelia Jenks, 1818-1894. 2. Women’s rights—United States. I. Title. HQ1413.B6B6  1975b  301.41’2’0924  72-78650 ISBN 0-403-01994-X
TO MY WIFE.
As Mrs. Bloomer was one of the pioneers in what is sometimes called the “Woman’s Movement,” it seems right that a record of her work should be placed in durable form. Such a record I have endeavored to set forth in the following pages. While giving a brief narrative of her life, I have also included, as being most satisfactory, quite extended extracts from her writings; and one of her lectures is printed in full. I will add for the information of the curious that a complete bound copy in one volume of the Lily, as printed and issued by Mrs. Bloomer for six years, is deposited in the State Library, in Albany, N. Y., and is probably the only copy of that work in existence.
D. C. Bloomer.
September, 1895.
LIFE AND WRITINGS OF AMELIA BLOOMER.
The early life of the subject of this Memoir was devoid of any striking incidents. Her parents were natives of the little State founded by Roger Williams, where both were born, passed their early years, and were married some time in the year 1806. Her father, Ananias Jenks, was a clothier by trade, and was a man of a great deal of force of character. The maiden name of her mother was Lucy Webb. She was a devoted Christian woman, and had enjoyed to the fullest extent the training of a New-England Puritan family of the last century. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church, and she aimed to bring up her children in its somewhat strict teachings. With her and her family the holy Sabbath commenced with the going down of the sun on Saturday evening, and ended with the setting of the sun on the following day. This was an old Puritan notion, and was very convenient for the boys and girls who wished to form acquaintances and spend pleasant hours together on the evening of the first day of the week. Ananias Jenks, the father of Amelia Jenks, removed to the state of New York with his wife in the early days of their married life, residing successively in the counties of Onondaga, Cortlandt, Wayne, and Seneca. To Ananias and Lucy Jenks several children were born, at least four daughters and two sons. One of the latter died in early childhood; but the other, Augustus, was spared until about his thirtieth year. He married, removed to the state of Michigan, where five children were born in his family, enlisted as a volunteer in one of the Michigan regiments in the Civil War, and lost his life at the great battle of Gettysburg. The four daughters were Adaline, Elvira, Amanda, and Amelia; Amelia being the youngest of the family, with perhaps the exception of Augustus, who may have been younger. All the children married: Adaline left children surviving her; Amanda, one only, a daughter; while none were born to either Elvira or Amelia.