Laura M. Hawley Thurston
Laura M. Hawley Thurston (pen name, Viola; December 20, 1812 – July 21, 1842) was an American poet and educator. A prolific writer, most of her works were originally published in the Louisville Journal,[1] and in William D. Gallagher's Hesperian. Among Indiana's early poets, she was a contemporary of Amanda L. Ruter Dufour,[2] while among Kentucky poets, she was a friend of Amelia B. Welby.[3]
Early years and education
Laura M. Hawley was born in Norfolk, Connecticut, December 20, 1812.[4] She was the daughter of Earl P. Hawley, and Irene (Frisbie) Hawley.[5][6][7]
Her parents being in moderate circumstances, her early advantages for education were such only as were afforded by the common district school. When she became older, however, she found means to enter John P. Brace's “Female Seminary,” in Hartford, where she continued her studies with unusual diligence and success, and secured the marked esteem of the principal and teachers.[6]
Career
After leaving Brace's Seminary, she was for a few years engaged as a teacher in New Milford, Connecticut and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and subsequently became an assistant in Brace's Seminary. Here she remained until 1837, when, upon Brace's recommendation, she left Connecticut to take charge of the Academy at New Albany, Indiana.[8][6]
In 1839, she married Franklin Thurston, a merchant of New Albany, at which time she resigned her position as school principal.[1][6] She was at this time a frequent contributor to the western papers and periodicals, usually over the signature of “Viola,” and soon won for herself the reputation of being one of the best female writers in the west. But in the midst of her growing fame, she died in New Albany on July 21, 1842.[8]
References
- Griswold 1859, p. 227.
- Nicholson 1916, p. 252.
- Collins & Collins 1998, p. 570.
- Frisbee 1926, p. 188.
- Eldridge 1900, p. 483.
- Everest 1873, p. 403.
- Thurston 1880, p. 344.
- Eldridge 1900, p. 484.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Collins, Lewis; Collins, Richard H. (October 1998). History of Kentucky. Genealogical Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8063-4564-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link) - This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Eldridge, Joseph (1900). History of Norfolk, Litchfield County, Connecticut (Public domain ed.). Massachusetts Publishing Company. p. 483.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Everest, Charles William (1873). The Poets of Connecticut: With Biographical Sketches (Public domain ed.). A. S. Barnes. p. 403.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Griswold, Rufus Wilmot (1859). The Female Poets of America: By Rufus Wilmont Griswold (Public domain ed.). Ardent Media. GGKEY:5L03N2GB1RC.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Nicholson, Meredith (1916). The Hoosiers (Public domain ed.). Macmillan. p. 252.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Thurston, Brown (1880). Thurston Genealogies (Public domain ed.). B. Thurston, and Hoyt, Fogg & Donham. p. 344.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
Bibliography
- Frisbee, Edward Selah (1926). The Frisbee-Frisbie genealogy: Edward Frisbye of Branford, Connicticut, and his descendants, with appendix containing brief lineages of Fiskes, Haskells, Mabies and Parkes, and bibliography. The Tuttle Company.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)