A Woman's Life-Work — Labors and Experiences   By: Laura S. Haviland

LABORS AND EXPERIENCES

OF

LAURA S. HAVILAND.

DEDICATION

to

My two sons, and four daughters, and families;

also to the

Home and Foreign Missionary Society,

are these pages dedicated.

The Author

PREFACE.

In presenting the following pages to the public, without the trace of an excellent scholar or eloquent orator, I fully realize my inability to compete with writers of the nineteenth century. With this incompetency in view, I have hesitated and delayed until three score and thirteen years are closing over me. Yet as I am still spared to toil on a little longer in the great field so white to harvest, praying the Lord of the harvest to arm and send forth more laborers, because they are too few, I ask an indulgent public to allow my deep and abiding sympathies for the oppressed and sorrowing of every nation, class, or color, to plead my excuse for sending forth simple, unvarnished facts and experiences, hoping they may increase an aspiration for the active doing, instead of saying what ought to be done, with excusing self for want of ability, when it is to be found in Him who is saying, "My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is perfect in weakness."

LAURA S. HAVILAND.

OCTOBER, 1881.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

EARLY LIFE.

Parentage Early Impressions Childhood Skepticism Religious Experience The Great Leveler Marriage Removal to Michigan The Semi Christian The Despairing Backslider Restored Proscription Withdrawal from the Society of Friends Founded "Raisin Institute,"

CHAPTER II.

BEREAVEMENTS.

Dream Bereavements Early Widowhood Trials Dreamy Victory by Faith A Fugitive Slave Escapes Marriage of two Older Children,

CHAPTER III.

ANTI SLAVERY EXPERIENCES.

Baptist Deacon Convicted of the Sin of Slavery by his Slave Willis Hamilton's Escape with his Slave wife, Elsie, to Canada Removal to Michigan Whereabouts Discovered by Elsie's Master Deeply Laid Scheme to Capture the Hamilton Family Threats of Violence Second Attempt and Defeat Death of the two Slave holders,

CHAPTER IV.

AN OHIO SCHOOL TEACHER.

A Traveling Agent Slave Claimant John White Threats Visit to Jane White Interview with William Allen Escape of Slaves In Suspense Death of First born Comforting Dream John White a Prisoner His Release and Subsequent History,

CHAPTER V.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.

Two Slave Families Escape Story of George and James A Mother and Daughter Leave a Boat bound for the Lower Market Sarah and two Young Men join our Party Seven are Conducted to Canada Raisin Institute Suspended for an Academic Year Return to Cincinnati Maria Threats of her Master The Escape of two Young Men

CHAPTER VI.

FUGITIVE SLAVES ASSISTED.

Clara and Three Children Rescued Jack Betrayed and Returned to Bondage A Little Nurse Girl taken from her Owners in Cincinnati How Zack was Saved Calvin Fairbanks Visited in Prison Fugitive Slaves Forwarded

CHAPTER VII.

CHRISTIAN AND EDUCATIONAL WORK.

Visiting and Nursing the Sick Nine Slaves Arrive from Kentucky Richard Dillingham Dies in Tennessee Penitentiary Seven Slaves Conducted to Freedom Teach Six Months in Toledo

CHAPTER VIII.

FUGITIVES IN CANADA.

Mission Among the Fugitives in Canada Religious Revival Organization of a Christian Union Church Efforts of Missourians to Retake the Fugitive Slave, William Anderson, from Canada The Kentucky Slave owner Whipped in the Old Barracks in Windsor in his Effort to Decoy Three Young Men back to Slavery Reopening School

CHAPTER IX.

RESCUE OF SLAVES.

Escape of a Slave Family of Six A Slave Man Travels for a White Man and Succeeds Trip to Arkansas The Story of George Wilson The Slave daughter under Mortgage Released by her Mother Mintie Berry Purchases her Husband John Brown Hanged The War Opens and takes Seventeen Students of Raisin Institute First Trip to the Front with Supplies