Corrie Ten Boom

History

700 Club Classics-- Corrie Ten Boom



Corrie Ten Boom -- Testimony in her own words



Corrie Ten Boom-- The Secret Room



Corrie Ten Boom



One Way Door With Corrie Ten Boom (Part 1)



(Part 2)



(Part 3)



I have posted YouTube videos of Corrie Ten's testimony during World War II when the German Gestapo arrested Corrie and her family.  She and her sister Betsie were sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp where only Corrie survived.  Her testimony is fascinating.  I hope you enjoy listening to her speak about what she endured when she was in a Nazi concentration camp.

Joni Eareckson Tada

Joni Eareckson Tada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



I linked up this post about Joni Eareckson Tada for women's history month because she has proven to be a courageous woman in the midst of the tragedy she experienced at seventeen years of age when she dove into Chesapeake Bay going swimming.  She had misjudged the shallowness of the water and as a result she suffered a fracture between the fourth and fifth cervical levels and became a quadriplegic.  Prior to her swimming accident she had lived life as a normal teenager.  She enjoyed hiking, swimming, tennis, and riding horses.  That all changed on July 30, 1967 when she dove off the diving board into Chesapeake Bay.

Tada was born the youngest of four daughters on October 15, 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland.  She was named "Johnny" after her father in hopes of a boy.  As a result of her accident in 1967, her life was permanently and drastically altered.  She experienced, anger, depression, suicidal thoughts and religious doubts.  In the midst of her life-changing circumstances, she chose to rise above her situation and not become bitter.  She learned to paint with a brush between her teeth and began selling her artwork.  She has even written books.  To date she's writen 40 books, along with several musical albums.  She even starred in an autobiographical film about her life.  Joni wrote of her experiences in a best-selling autobiographical book entitled, Joni, The Unforgettable Story of a Young Woman's Struggle Against Quadriplegia & Depression.  It has been distributed into many languages. 

In 1979 Joni founded the ministry "Joni and Friends" in 1979, an organization in the Christian ministry in the disabled throughout the world.  In 1982 she married her husband Ken Tada. 

I don't know anything of Joni's views concerning the Bible, but she's an inspiration to those that have suffered disabilities.  It would've been easy for her to throw in the towel because of her life-altering disability.  It's difficult to imagine life without the use of your limbs. However, she chose not to remain bitter but use what she has to help those who are in the same shape she's in.  She's been an advocate for those who've suffered disabilities like she has.  I have a lot of respect for her.  We can learn lessons from her situation.  Many times we complain and grumble over the most insignificant things.  We have our limbs and are able to do things with our hands and feet.  Here's a woman that can't walk and enjoy the things of life she once did.  However, she chose to use her life in a positive way and has been a help and encouragement to those that are quadriplegic.  What a testimony she is!

To read more about Joni, click on the above link from Wikipedia. 

Christian Women Will be Featured For Women's History Month

  Corrie Ten Boom

 Susannah Wesley

This month on Women's History Month I'll be featuring Christian women on this blog.  I know at least two Christian women I'll be featuring posts about such as Corrie Ten Boom and Susannah Wesley.  What an inspiration both Christian women were for the cause of Christianity.  Susannah Wesley was the mother of the famous Methodist preacher John Wesley and hymnist Charles Wesley.  There will probably be a few other Christian women I'll be featuring, but I haven't decided whom I'll feature yet.  I may post one on Catherine Marshall, wife of the Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall, who was chaplain of the U.S. Senate twice.  I'll think of others as time goes along.

Ellen McCormack, Anti-Abortion Presidential Candidate, Dies at 84

Ellen McCormack, Anti-Abortion Presidential Candidate, Dies at 84



Yesterday evening when I was driving home I was listening to Erick Erickson, who replaced Herman Cain on the 7-10 p.m. EST slot back in February, speaking about a strong pro-life activist named Ellen McCormack who ran for president as a Democrat in 1976.  I don't believe I knew anything about her until I heard Erickson speak about her death yesterday evening on WBS Radio in Atlanta, Georgia.  After reading a little about her, I felt it would be appropriate to cap off Women's History Month for 2011 honoring a great pro-life activist who ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 1976, to no avail.  However, it was refreshing to hear a pro-life Democrat running for president over 35 years ago.  Today any Democrat that receives the nomination for president today must support the abortion agenda.  Democrats today are supported by pro-abortion groups such as Planned Parenthood and liberal women's activist groups such as Feminist Majority and NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League).  The information about Ellen McCormack comes from New York Times (March 29, 2011).

Ellen McCormack, a self-described housewife and grandmother who ran for president as an anti-abortion candidate in 1976 and 1980, did well enough to become the first woman to qualify as a candidate for federal financing and Secret Service protection.  She died Sunday in Avon, Connecticut from congestive heart failure.  She was 84.

She initially ran for the presidency to help focus national attention on abortion after the 1973 Supreme Court decision granting women the right to the horrid procedure.  Her television commercials, partially paid for with federal campaign money, attacked abortion as the equivalent of murder.  In a 2007 column on the Web site Eagle Forum, Phyllis Schlafly, long a national leader in the fight against abortion, said Mrs. McCormack had played "a major role in the pro-life movement."  "Her leadership," Mrs. Schlafly added, "enabled the then-young pro-life movement to flex its muscles and demonstrate political courage, determination and perseverance."  In 1976, Mrs. McCormack, who ran as a Democrat and campaigned almost solely on the abortion issue, raised a total of $525,580 in contributions of $250 or less from 20 states.  As a result, that made her eligible for $247,220.37 in federal matching money for the primaries.  The money went mainly for anti-abortion television commercials.  Mrs. McCormack won 238,000 votes in 18 Democratic primaries, and 22 delegate votes at the Democratic National Convention.

Her success prompted criticism that she had misused amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 that mandated matching money for presidential candidates.  Critics said the amendments, adopted in 1974, were never meant to finance single-issue campaigns.  Congress responded in March 1976 by requiring a candidate for a presidential nomination to receive more than 10 percent of the vote in two consecutive primaries to qualify for matching money.  Mrs. McCormack responded in 1980 by running as the presidential candidate of the Right to Life Party, qualifying for the ballot in Kentucky, New Jersey and New York and winning more than 32,000 votes.  This time, she didn't apply nor was she eligible for matching funds. 

Eleanor Rose Cullen (Ellen) was born in Manhattan on September 15, 1926.  In her early 20's she married Francis McCormack, who became a deputy inspector in the New York Police Department.  He died in 1993.  The couple lived in Merrick, on Long Island, where Mrs. McCormack, a Roman Catholic, focused on the abortion issue when the procedure was legalized in the state of New York in 1970.  In an interview with The New York Times in 1976, she stated she saw slides of unborn children at the time and "was convinced it was a human life being taken."  Her political involvement began with her book discussion group and progressed to membership in the Pro-Life Action Committee. 

She never did become a household name.  Newsweek reported that not even her next-door neighbor knew she was running for president.  She had never held office in a local PTA.  "We thought our legislators would take care of it," she said of the abortion issue in an interview with The Times in 1978.  "But they didn't.  We found very early that it's in politics that the big decisions are made.  So we decided to run our own candidates."  Mrs. McCormack did take positions on other issues as she traveled the nation.  She favored Soviet-American detente, opposed busing to integrate schools and said neither Israel nor Egypt should be sold American arms. 

She also made a strong pitch for her view of traditional values.  "The feminists have convinced politicians they represent all women," she told The Times in 1976.  "But I am a woman, too.  I differ with some of their beliefs.  I believe in child care for the poor, but I don't favor child care for the middle class.  I think we are teaching working mothers it is more prestigious to work than to be home with their children. 

In 1976, Mrs. McCormack emphasized that she was fighting for bus drivers and janitors and continued to run her household despite her hectic campaign schedule.  Her husband underscored the point in an interview with Newsweek, saying, "We need more ordinary people like my wife running for president."

Harriet Ackland

Women of the American Revolution - Harriet Ackland




















Harriet Ackland

(AmericanRevolution.org) Lady Harriet was the wife of Major Ackland, an officer in Burgoyne's army.  She accompanied him to Canada in 1776 and in the disastrous campaign the following year, from Canada to Saratoga.  Beautiful and admired as she was, and accustomed to all the refinements and luxuries incident to rank and fortune, her delicate frame ill calculated to sustain the various hardships she had undergone, she yet shrank not from her husband's perils and privations in transversing the dreary wilderness.  When he lay ill at Chambly, at a miserable hut, she was very assisduous in giving him attention, even in the midst of fatigue and discomfort.  When he was wounded at Hubbarton, she hastened from Montreal, where she had been first persuaded to remain, and crossed Lake Champlain, resolved to leave him no more. 

On the advance of the army to Fort Edward, the tent in which Lady Ackland had lodged took fire, the light being pushed over by a pet Newfoundland dog, and she and her husband made their escape with the utmost difficulty.  No hazards dissuaded Lady Ackland from her purpose.  Not only did she take great care of her husband, but she won admiration of the army by her amiable deportment; continually making little presents to the officers belonging to his corps, whenever she had anything among her stores worth acceptance; and receiving in return every kind attention which could mitigate the hardships she daily had to encounter. 

In the decisive action on the seventh of October, Lady Ackland was again in the tumult of battle.  During the heat of the conflict, tortured by anxiety, she took refuge among the wounded and dying.  Her husband, commanding the grenadiers, was in the most exposed part of the battle, and she awaited his fate in awful suspense.  The Baroness Riedesel, and the wives of two other field officers, were her companions in apprehension.  One of the officers was brought in wounded, and the death of the other was announced.  In the midst of the heart-rending scenes that followed, intelligence came that the British army was defeated, and that Major Ackland was desperately wounded and a prisoner. 

To learn the rest of the story, click on the above link at Women of the American Revolution--Harriet Ackland. 

"Faith and Fame" Dottie Rambo

Part 1



Part 2



Part 4



Part 5



Dottie Rambo "I Will Lift You There"



Dottie Rambo "I Must Tell Jesus" (w/the Imperials 1965)



Dottie Rambo "Pass Me Not"



Dottie Rambo "The Artist"



Dottie Rambo was a legendary songwriter in the 20th century.  She wrote at least 2500 songs throughout her lifetime.  She was born on March 2, 1934 in Madisonville, Kentucky.  She was born with the name Joyce Reba Lutrell.  Her parents were Vernon and Elizabeth Lutrell.  She was nicknamed "Little Dottie" but she was very tiny when she was young.  She first discovered her gift when she wrote her very first song at the age of eight years at the creek. The words to that song came bubbling forth within her.   She told her mother about the song she wrote and her mother asked her did she copy that out of a songbook.  Dottie told her mother that she didn't copy the song.  Her mother replied, "You'll pay a dear price for this gift."  Those words rang true over the years because Dottie did pay a dear price for her gift.  She learned to play the guitar by listening to the Grand Ole Opry on radio.  She learned to sing country by listening to the Grand Ole Opry.  When she was 12 years old she was saved.  As a result, she decided to sing only gospel; no longer country.  Her father was very displeased over that.  He wasn't a Christian at that time so he gave her an ultimatum: Either she sing country music and stay at home or sing gospel and leave home.  She chose the latter.  So at the age of 12 she boarded a bus and started singing in churches across the country. 

To make a long story short Dottie Rambo received a huge break in the 1960's when then Governor Jimmie Davis of Louisiana went to a concert in which the Happy Goodmans were singing one of Dottie's songs entitled, "There's Nothing That My God Can't Do."  Gov. Davis asked who wrote the song and the Goodman's replied, Dottie Rambo, who at that time was either living in Madisonville or Dawson Springs, Kentucky.  Governor Davis arranged for Buck, Dottie, and Reba to fly to Louisiana.  Governor Davis paid Dottie three thousand dollars to publish her songs, which was more money than the Rambos had ever seen in their lives.  At that time Buck was working at a grocery and Dottie was working at a hosiery mill to earn a living.  Around 1964, the Rambo's signed a deal with Warner Brothers on a two-record deal.  They didn't stay with Warner Brothers very long because Warner Brothers didn't know what to do with Christian music and they wanted the Rambos to sing folk or some other kind of other music, which Dottie wouldn't consent to.  Later, the Rambos signed with Benson to record their albums. 

Buck, Dottie, and Reba all sang in the group called the Singing Rambos (later the Rambos) starting around 1964.  Prior to Reba's joining the group at the age of 12, it was called the Gospel Echoes when former singers Judy Russell and Shirley Bivins sang with the group.  The Rambos performed all over the country together for several years until Reba was 23 years old.  They performed at the National Quartet Convention, Vietnam, and in other countries around the world.  In 1968 Dottie recorded her first black spirituals album entitled, "It's the Soul of Me."  She recorded the album with a group of black singers. 

I've just given you the introduction of Dottie Rambo's life with the brief summary above.  I have posted a five-part "Faith and Fame" series of the life of Dottie Rambo.  It will go into detail about the life, the musical and songwriting career of Dottie Rambo.  You'll learn more about Dottie by listening to all five parts of the YouTube clips. 

Dottie Rambo died on May 11, 2008 when the bus she was traveling on slid off an embankment in Missouri.  She was headed to a church in Texas for Mother's Day to sing with Naomi Sego and Lulu Roman. 

Rebecca Biddle

Women of the American Revolution:  Rebecca Biddle



(American Revolution.org) The husband of Rebecca Biddle, Colonel Clement Biddle, was among the first of those to take an active part on the breaking out of the Revolutionary War, resolved to sacrifice everything in the cause.  Both he and his wife were members of the Society of Friends, and as a consequence of his taking up arms he was "read out of the meeting" by that peace loving community; while Mrs. Biddle, as ardent a patriot expressing her approval of the war and encouraging her husband in his course--was subject to similar discipline.

Rebecca Biddle gave up the comforts of home to join the army with her husband, and was with the camp during the greater part of the war.  She formed a last friendship with Mrs. Greene and Mrs. Knox, who were also in the army.  When the American army was encamped near the Brandywine, Mrs. Biddle was informed by an aid of Washington that a large British foraging party was within distance of a few miles; that orders had been issued for a party to start before day for the purpose of cutting off their retreat, and that, as an engagement might be expected, the women were ordered to leave the camp.  Mrs. Biddle, who didn't include herself in the order, told General Washington, when an opportunity of addressing him occurred, that as the officers would return hungry and fatigued from the expedition, she would, if allowed to stay, make provision for their refreshments.  He assured her she might remain in safety, but that she should hold herself in readiness to remove at a moment's warning, promising, in the event of any disaster, to send her timely information.  She immediately dispatched her servant through the neighborhood to collect provisions; and all the food cooked in the camp that day was procured by her. 

The enemy, informed by spies of a movement against them, made a hasty retreat.  At a late hour the fatiguing troops returned after a fatiguing march.  Mrs. Biddle had the pleasure of giving the dinner she had provided to at least one hundred officers, each remarking as they entered, "Madam, we hear that you feed the army to-day", which she did till not a crust remained.  Among her guests on that occassion was the gallant LaFayette, who on his last visit paid his respects to her in Philadelphia.  Mrs. Biddle was a gracious hostess who played her role in feeding the troops during the American Revolutionary War.  She had a special attachment to General Washington and his family.  It continued throughout her life.  During their residence in Philadelphia, she and Colonel Biddle were always honored guests at the Washington's table.  She survived her husband several years after he had passed away. She lived around seventy years.  She loved to dwell on the signal display of the hand of Providence in the contest with the mother country.  Whenever allusion was made to the Revolutionary War, it was a source of new delight to her children to hear her "fight her battles o'er again."

Susannah Elliott

Women of the American Revolution - Susannah Elliott

Click on the above link "Women of the American Revolution" to learn about Susannah Elliott.  She was a native of South Carolina and the daughter of Benjamin Smith.  Left young and orphan and a heiress, Susannah was reared by her aunt Rebecca Motte, with whom she lived until she married.  It was said that Susannah Elliot was "one of the most busy among the Revolution women, and always active among the soldiers. She was the wife of Colonel Bernard Elliot.  It was known that her husband raised and maintained a regiment at his own expense.  Among the papers in the possession of the family is a letter from General Greene to Mrs. Elliot, expressive of high respect and regard, offering her a safe escort through the camp, and to any part of the country to which she might desire to travel. 

Mrs. Elliot employed herself constantly in useful domestic occupations; and was remarkable for industry and economy of time.  She superintended the manufacture of the wool and the cotton worn by her slaves, to whom she was the most kind and indulgent; and made salt on her plantation during the war.  Some of the stockings knit by her are still extant, which still have the date, 1776, knit in the threads. 

Abigail Adams

Women of the American Revolution - Abigail Adams



Abigail Smith Adams was born on November 11, 1744 in Weymouth to Elizabeth Quincy Smith and Rev. Williams Smith, pastor of Weymouth's First Church.  Like most girls of her time, Abigail didn't receive a formal education, but took time to study her father's library, studying the Bible, history, philosophy, essays, and poetry.  Abigail's mother and grandmother Quincy taught her social graces, as well as homemaking and handiwork skills.  Such a background helped make her a keen political observer, prolific writer, and influential First Lady. 

On October 25, 1764, Abigail married John Adams, a Harvard graduate pursuing a law career.  Their marriage was one of mind and heart, producing three sons and two daughters.  Their marriage lasted for more than half a century.  They first lived on a farm in Braintree and later in Boston.  Long separations kept them apart, when John traveled as a circuit lawyer, and later when John served as a delegate to the Continental Congress, envoy abroad, and elected officer.  Abigail alone struggled with wartime shortages, lack of income, and difficult living conditions.  She had to run the household, farm, and the education of her children.  Abigail would write letters to John.  Many of her letters were published.  Her grandson, Charles Francis Adams, published most of the letters that she wrote from 1741 to 1776. 

Abigail also had a notable influence on her husband's career.  She went with him on journeys in Europe.  She would give him advice and would give him advice at times by writing to him when she was not with him.

Abigail Adams died on October 28, 1818.  She is buried next to her husband in the United First Parish Church.  She is remembered for many things.  She is known as the Second Lady of the United States due to John Adams being the second president of the United States.  She was also the mother of the sixth president of the United States, John Quincy Adams.  She also helped people think about "women's rights" and "women's roles" in society.  She believed women weren't treated as well as men were.  There's more to the story of Abigail Adams on the link above.

Mercy Otis Warren

Mercy Otis Warren
(The Massachusetts Historical Society) Mercy Otis Warren was born in Barnstable, Massachusetts, where she lived until 1754, where she married James Warren and moved to Plymouth, Massachusetts.  She was born into a family of boys.  She became a Patriot writer.  She wrote plays, poems, and other writings which supported the cause for American independence.  It was there in Massachusetts that Mercy Otis Warren found herself at the center of a lively Patriot family.  Both her husband and her brother James Otis took active parts in Massachusetts politics, and the Warren home became a common meeting place for revolutionaries.  She also participated in the Patriot cause, beginning with the 1772 publication of her play "The Adulateur", the first in a long line of similar propagandistic pieces published anonymously.  She developed friendships with Abigail and John Adams at this time and corresponded with both throughout her life.  Warren continued to write and publish after the war, issuing a volume of poetry under her name in 1790 and in 1805 publishing her three-volume "History of the Rise, Progress and Termination of the American Revolution." 

When she was a small girl, Mercy learned to express her ideas through reading, writing, and discussing politics.  She met her husband through the Harvard Commencement.  She married him in November 1754 and lived in the Warren family estate at Eel River, Plymouth, Massachusetts.  They both bore three sons.  She did not like the fact that women didn't have the right to participate in politics.  She believed women would have more rights if the colonies were independent from Great Britain.  She also believed women should've had the right to vote as well.  She believed strongly in independence, liberty, and the power of the written word.  She died on October 19, 1814, at Winslow House in Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

(Traitors, Seamstresses and Generals: Voices of the American Revolution).  This was another website source used in this blog post.

Deborah Sampson

Deborah Sampson



(Distinguished Women of Past and Present) Deborah Sampson was the first known American woman to impersonate a man in order to join the army and take part in combat.  She was born in Plympton, Massachusetts, on December 17, 1760 as the oldest of three daughters and three sons of Jonathon and Deborah Sampson.  Her family descended from one of the original colonists, Priscilla Mullins Alden, who was later immortalized in Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish." 

Deborah spent her youth in poverty.  Her father abandoned the family and went off to sea.  Her mother was of poor health and could not support the children, so she sent them off to live with various neighbors and relatives.  At the ages of eight to ten, Sampson became an indentured servant in the household of Jeremiah Thomas in Middleborough.  For ten years she helped with the housework and worked in the field.  Hard labor developed her physical strength.  In winter, when there wasn't as much farm work to be done, she was able to attend school.  She learned enough so that after her servitude ended in 1779, she was hired as a teacher in a Middleborough public school. 

On May 20, 1782, when Sampson was twenty-one, she enlisted in the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army at Bellingham as a man named Robert Shurtleff (also listed as Shirtliff or Shirtlieff).  On May 23rd, she was mustered into service at Worcester.  Since she was 5 foot 7 inches tall, she looked tall for a woman and had bound her breasts tightly to approximate a male physique.  Other soldiers teased her about not having to shave, but they assumed this "boy" was too young to grow facial hair.  She performed her duties as well as any other man.

Back home, rumors circulated about her activities and she was excommunicated from the First Baptist Church of Middleborough, Massachusetts, because of a strong suspicion that she was "dressing in man's clothes and enlisting as a Soldier in the Army."  At the time of her excommunication, her regiment had already left Massachusetts. 

Sampson was sent with her regiment to West Point, New York, where she apparently was wounded in the leg in a battle near Tarrytown.  She tended her own wounds so that her gender wouldn't be discovered.  As a result, her leg never healed properly.  When she was later hospitalized for fever in Philadelphia, the physician attending her discovered that she was a woman and made discreet arrangements that ended her military career.  Sampson was honorably discharged from the army at West Point on October 25, 1783 by General Henry Knox.

Deborah Sampson returned home, married a farmer named Benjamin Gannett, and had three children.  She also taught at a nearby school.  About nine years following her discharge from the army, she was awarded a pension from the state of Massachusetts in the amount of thirty-four pounds in a lump payment.  After Paul Revere sent a letter to Congress on her behalf in 1804, she started receiving a U.S. pension in the amount of four dollars per month.  In 1802, Sampson traveled throughout New England and New York giving lectures on her experiences in the military.  She wore the military uniform while presenting her lectures.  Deborah Sampson Gannett died April 29, 1827 in Sharon, Massachusetts at the age of 66.

Women's History Month

Today is the beginning of Women's History Month.  It will endure throughout the month of March.  What are the origins of Women's History Month?  According to History.com, Women's History Month grew out of a weeklong celebration of women's contributions to culture, history, and society organized by the school district of Sonoma, California in 1978.  Presentations were given at dozens of schools, hundreds of students participated in a "Real Woman" essay contest and a parade was held in downtown Santa Rosa. 

A few years later the idea of celebrating women's history had caught on within communities, school districts and organizations across the country.  In 1980 President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8th as National Women's History Week.  The U.S. Congress followed suit the next year and passed a resolution establishing a national celebration.  Six years later in 1987 the National Women's History Project successfully petitioned Congress to expand the celebration the entire month of March.  The rest is history.

Women have made great contributions throughout the history of America.  There are many that have raised families and created a wholesome family atmosphere.  There have been women that have made great contributions to the work force as nurses, teachers, business women, etc.  Women have proven they have the ability to excel in a career just as a man can.  However, today's society tells women that they must go out into the work force to compete with men and enjoy a satisfying career.  Women are made to feel that their contributions in a corporation or in Congress are more valuable than the most important job they have on earth, which is to raise a family.  I do recognize there are women who have no choice to work outside the home given circumstances beyond their control such as the death of a husband, sickness of their husband, etc.  I feel for those that must work outside the home due to family circumstances.  However, the greatest contribution a woman can make is to fulfill the Biblical role of wife and mother.  Nothing's more valuable than that.  God designed for the husband to be the head of the women.  The husband is also to provide for his own household.  The wife is to love her husband and bare children and raise them for the glory of God.  That's God's will for married women (Titus 2:3-5).  Those mothers that stay home and raise their children are performing the most valuable service any woman could perform.  There's not a greater contribution that a mother can make than to raise her family for the glory of God. 

Last year Glenn Beck aired the "Founders' Friday" series for several weeks on Fox News.  One of the programs he aired last June was about "Women Founders of the American Revolution."  He had David Barton as his guest and they were speaking about the women that played a valuable role in America's War for Independence.  There were women that played a vital role in supporting the war effort.  Some of the women that supported the war effort were Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams and future First Lady, Mercy Otis Warren, and Molly Pitcher, to name a few.  This month I'll be featuring posts on some of the women who played a valuable role in the American Revolution.  There are some interesting facts concerning each of these women in the role they played in supporting the war effort.  I believe you will find it very informative and interesting. 

Edith Bennett

Ms. Edith Lillian Bennett is quite a legend in Owensboro--at least in my way of thinking. The Livermore born native has been employed at Owensboro's 1490 AM WOMI Radio station since November 1950. She's involved herself in all kinds of community events over the years she's lived in and has been associated with Owensboro. She's performed for Owensboro's Annual Chorus Society since 1954 and has been a past member of the Daviess County Historical Society. She likes local history, state history, genealogical history, U.S. history, scrapbooking, taking photographs and all kinds of music. On Sunday mornings from 5:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. she hosts two radio programs. The first one, Radio Church Chapel, begins at 5: 00 a.m. and lasts until 8:00 a.m. At 8:00 a.m. she hosts the program entitled, "Down Memory Lane" where she plays a lot of the oldies music such as jazz, orchestra, Guy Lombardo hits, and seasonal music (depending upon the upcoming holiday at the time).

Edith Bennett was born at Livermore, Kentucky on June 21, 1931 to Dorsey Bennett and a "Ms. Lucy?" Bennett. Her half brother was Wendell Rone, who used to pastor several churches across the McLean-Daviess County area. He's written some books on local church history. He was also president of the Daviess-McLean County Baptist Association. He was also the first pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Owensboro in 1959. Ms. Bennett attended school in Livermore and once she graduated she attended the Owensboro Junior Business College. In November 1950, Hugh O. Potter, then station manager at WOMI, hired her to work the Sunday morning shift. She started out on Sunday mornings working the 5:00 - 9:00 a.m. shift, according to the WOMI timeline on the station's website. She used to make studio recordings for the Faith Family Quartet who used to live in the Beech Grove Area. She later became the secretary, the receptionist, and continuity writer at WOMI. In April 1972 she was given her own Sunday morning program. In 1973, she was promoted to Traffic and Office Manager. I don't know the year but I believe it was around 1995 when she became semi-retired from the station. Today she hosts both of the Sunday morning programs for WOMI out of her own home, which has been but a couple of years ago. She also continues hosting WOMI's Christmas program on Christmas Eve beginning at 3:00 p.m. and for the large part of Christmas Day. She's hosted WOMI's Christmas program for a number of years. She features all kinds of Christmas music such as Christmas carols, orchestra music, music from the collection of various albums she has, etc. Carl Davis, her friend and one-time news director on WOMI, is with her on Christmas Day and he features music from Owensboro's Music Symphony. This past Christmas he shared a Christmas album that the once retail store, W.T. Grants, used to record.

On the "Radio Church Chapel", Ms. Bennett plays a wide range of gospel music on her program. It features music and the spoken word. "Down Memory Lane" hosts all kinds of different music from yesteryear. Depending upon the season or holiday, Ms. Bennett will air programs to fit the time of the year. During WOMI's anniversary month in February for example, she'll play old clips from some of the early years on WOMI from such people as Hugh and Cliffordean Potter. She also will air segments describing both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln given February is their birth month. She'll also air segments on some famous black people in American history as well. During Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July, she'll devote both her pgorams commemorating America's heritage during these particular holidays. She'll play patriotic music and remember the sacrifices many war veterans have made over the course of history. In 1987 in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution, Ms. Bennett celebrated the Constitution on her radio programs featuring segments of U.S. history and the delegates to the Philadelphia Convention. She loves Christmas. Beginning with Sunday following Thanksgiving until the New Year's she'll air all kinds of Christmas music on her programs and she'll discuss what the meaning of Christmas is. She's also aired some old segments that Cliffordean Potter made on Christmas during the Stork Program. (Ms. Potter used to host a stork program interviewing the parents of newborns several decades ago). I've thoroughly enjoyed some of her holiday and seasonal programs. Sometimes on "Down Memory Lane" when there's five Sundays in a month she'll host "Fifth Sunday Singing" featuring gospel quartets.

Ms. Bennett also has written some books about local history such as Lest We Forget mentioning about the history of Livermore, Kentucky. She's also authored other books such as Owensboro's Soundest Citizen (WOMI), Hunt-Hebron Highlights 25 Years Later: All in the Family, Spider Webs, A Steamer Trunk, And Slavery (Co-authored by Lenora Lindley).

Ms. Edith Bennett is also a member of the Kentucky Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was the past president of it in 1989. She is a descendant to a former Revolutionary War soldier, whom I believe the last name was Hunt. In order to be a member of DARS, you must trace your lineage to a Revolutionary War soldier. She's been singing in the Owensbor's Annual Choral Society's presentation of "The Messiah" since 1954 and still performs to this day at Third Baptist Church. She has a long collection of albums ranging from gospel, to patriotic music, all the way to musical hits of the '30's and '40's. There was a picture in the Owensboro's Messenger-Inquirer which displayed a shelf full of albums in her home. She's had to convert some of her albums into CD's whenever she produces a program on the radio. She's the Financial Secretary at Third Baptist Church, a position she's held since August 1981. She's also a member there and heavily involved in the activities of the church.

Around 1960, she went with her father on a trip to Ontario, Canada. While she was in Canada, she had some car trouble and she asked them was there any historic places to visit in Canada. They told her about the Josiah Henson museum in Canada. They saw she had a Kentucky license plate. They told her Josiah Henson was once a slave in the Daviess County area. When she arrived back in Owensboro, she told Dr. Potter and the staff of WOMI about what she learned while in Canada. They dismissed that notion at that time. However, several years later Mr. Potter and Dr. David Orrahood went out on a history junket and found out what Ms. Bennett was told was correct. They had interviewed Ms. Sue Hawes of Yelvington, who was the great-granddaughter of Amos Riley, a former slave owner, who owned Josiah Henson for a time. She told Potter and the museum curator in Ontario of what she knew. Eventually everything she was told was eventually substantiated. When Hugh O. Potter wrote a book about the history of Owensboro, he included the story which stated that Josiah Henson lived in Daviess County.

I've never met Ms. Bennett, but I've listened to her Sunday morning radio programs extensively for the last few years. I also have listened to her annual Christmas programs as well. When you listen to someone on radio for a long time, you learn several things about them. You basically give a piece of your life away to the public when you broadcast on radio. You become an open book. I've spoken to some people in Owensboro that know her personally. They say she's a great Christian lady that's very kind and compassionate. I've never heard a derogatory word about her. From listening to her, she seems to be a very happy and content lady. That's something considering she's never been married. But she's learned where true joy and peace come from. It comes from God. My hat's off to Ms. Bennett and all the work she's involved herself with. She's a very remarkable lady!

Fanny Crosby

Frances Jane Crosby (March 24, 1820 - February 12, 1915), usually known as Fanny Crosby was an American lyricist and best known for her Christian hymns. She was one of the most prolific hymnists in history, writing over 8,000 hymns despite her blindness since infancy. She was also known for her public speaking. During her lifetime, she was the best known woman in the United States. The vast majority of American hymnals contain her work. She is known for one of her most famous hymns "Blessed Assurance". Other hymns she is known for are "Jesus is Tenderly Calling You Home", "Near the Cross", and "My Savior First of All", to name a few. Crosby used nearly ten different pseudonyms during her career because some publishers were hesitant to have so many hymns by one author.

She was born in Southeast, Putnam County, New York to poor parents whose names were John and Mercy Crosby. At six weeks old, she caught a cold and developed inflammation of the eyes. The family physician wasn't available and a quack who came in his place recommended mustard plasters as treatment. The botched procedure blinded her. Her father died when she was one year old. She was raised by her mother and grandmother. She was grounded in the Bible memorizing long passages of scripture. She became an active member of John Street Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City. At age 15 she enrolled at the New York Institute for the Blind (New York Institute for Special Education). She remained there for seven years. At the institute she learned to play the piano and the guitar. She also learned how to sing as well. In 1843, she joined a group of lobbyists in Washington, D.C. arguing for the support of education for the blind. From 1847-58 she joined the faculty at the York School, teaching English and history. She also became acquainted with future president Grover Cleveland and became lifelong friends with him there. He was also an instructor at the institute.

She married Alexander Van Alstyne, a blind musician and fellow teacher. They had one daughter, Francis, who died as an infant. Alexander died on July 19, 1902. Crosby was noted for writing poetry by the time she was eight years old. Her first published work was "A Blind Girl and Other Poems" (1844). Other poems that she wrote were "Monterey and Other Poems" (1853) and "A Wreath of Columbia's Flowers" (1858). She also wrote some popular songs set to music by George F. Root. Some of the famous songs she wrote were, "Hazel Dell", "There's Music in the Air", and "Rosalie, the Prairie Flower". She had success with secular verse writing and earned nearly $3000 in royalties for "Rosalie, the Prairie Flower."

At the ege of eight, Fanny Crosby started writing poetry. Here's one of her poems:

O What happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see;
I am resolved in this world
Contented I will be

How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't

Crosby was not bitter by her blindness. She viewed it as God having predestined her to be blind and even remarked that she wouldn't have been able to write the hymns praising God if she were distracted by the things of beauty. She even remarked that that the first face she wants to see is the face of her savior.

It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.

"When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior."

She composed her hymns and poems entirely in her mind and then dictated them to someone else. She had composed as many as twelve hymns in her mind before dictating them all out. There were many musicians and publishers that dictated her songs. Her first hymn in 1863 was by William Bradbury, a respected musician and publisher. The hymn she wrote was "There's a Cry From Macedonia." Other musicians and publishers were Hubert P. Main, Robert Lowry, W.H. Doane, Ira D. Sankey, and Philip P. Bliss, to name a few. She went under dozens of pen names.

She was also well known in America at the time and she met with presidents, generals, and other dignataries. At President Ulysses S. Grant's funeral in 1885, she sang the hymn "Safe in the Arms of Jesus". She was conducted in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1975. She died in 1920. She is buried at the Mountain Grove Cemetery, at Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Ora Nall

Ora T. Nall was my U.S. history teacher when I was a junior at Apollo High School. I had her for college preparatory U.S. history during the 1988-89 academic year. She was a great teacher. She taught college preparatory U.S. history, one advanced placement U.S. history class, she taught a current issues class, and senior U.S. government class. The A.P. history class was for juniors that were in the honors track level. She was a very serious and dedicated history teacher. She didn't just teach history in class and then once class was over with, she was done with history for the day. History was a part of her life. She and her husband, Don Nall taught U.S. history except Don Nall taught history at Daviess County High School and Mrs. Ora Nall taught history at Apollo. She taught at Apollo from 1975-96. She retired in 1996 due to lung cancer. She died in August 1996. I had the privilege of attending her graveside funeral. I remember a statement that then principal Dale Stewart said when eulogizing her. He said that she was dedicated to her teaching profession. That was absolutely true. She strived to be as knowledgeable as she could be about history so she could impart the necessary information to her classes. She would attend a number of development workshops over the years and she would visit a host of countries. In the 1983-84 Apollo High School yearbook, it showed a picture of her at the Great Wall of China. She went to China one summer and she posed for some pictures in that yearbook. She also learned how to eat with chopsticks when she was in China. I had once asked her of any countries she hadn't seen and she told me they were Austrialia and New Zealand.

Her class was upstairs at Apollo. In her classroom she would have a couple of chalkboards, a podium on her desk, and several pictures on her wall. One of the pictures on her wall was from then U.S. Senator Wendell Ford (D-KY) and former 2nd district Congressman William Natcher (D-KY). She was acqauinted with Kentucky's lawmakers. She also had posted several satirical political cartoonson her bulletin board. She one day made a comment about our lack of noticing them on the wall and said we were "numbskulls". She was the first person whom I heard mention that word. Each day on her chalkboard she would have written "Goal of the day" for various periods. I was in her 3rd period class. She would many times begin the goal with "consider". One time on the board it said "Consider labor unions". We would know what we would be doing each class day by reading what was on the board. The class consisted of lectures and tests. Sometimes we would watch a video about some historical event in America. One time we all went to the auditorium and we sang the national anthem. She would do that with all her U.S. history classes. We also were required to quote the preamble to the Constitution as well.

On the first day of class she would explain to us what the class would consist of. She wore a button for two days that said, "I'm easy to please, just do it my way." She was letting us know if we will listen and follow directions, we'll be okay. We learned it wasn't a class for horseplay or frivolous chatter. She would have a list of classroom rules on the board and they would start with "Thou shalt" or "Thou shalt not". One rule stated, "Thou shalt be on time for class." Another one stated, "Thou shalt bring necessary items to class." Another one stated, "Thou shalt not chew gum or eat candy in class." She was a stickler about that. There would be a number of times a student would be chewing gum while she was lecturing. She sometimes would tell them to head to the trashcan and spit the gum out. Other times she would carry the waste paper basket to the student's desk and they had to spit it out. When she saw your mouth moving, she knew you had gum in it. She didn't like students chewing gum in class. She would call out the class roll on a daily basis and we would have to either say "here" or "present." During that school year we had two student teachers that shared in teaching to the students, so we didn't have Mrs. Nall lecturing to us everyday.

For the first semester and a few weeks of the second semester, we didn't use a textbook. We had to take copious notes in class. Starting with the 1987-88 school year, the U.S. history textbooks were redesigned differently. In the Daviess County Public School system, students in the 8th grade and students in the 11th grade took U.S. history. Starting with the 1987-88 school year, the school system decided to teach the first half of U.S. history to 8th graders and the second half to 11th graders. 8th graders would study history from Columbus until the Civil War. The 11th grade class was supposed to study history from Reconstruction to present time. Mrs. Nall didn't issue us the original textbooks which covered all of U.S. history from the beginning of time to present. She decided to give us a refresher of early U.S. history for a semester. We would have to take copious notes. The second semester we received our history textbooks when we started studying the period of Reconstruction. Our tests would consist of essay, multiple choice, and fill-in-the blank. You had to study your material thoroughly. In the second semester, she gave primarily scantron tests. Scantron tests were multiple choice or true or false and they were graded by a scanner. She also gave us essay assignments to write as well. She was a huge believer in students expressing themselves both orally and through written exams. We had a few essays to write in her class. Her A.P. class wrote more essays than we did. They also had a booklet which she referred to as "baby" they had to keep and bring with them to class. It had various selections of reading lessons in it.

She was also different in her approach to grading tests. On a scale from 1-100 she would give you points for every correct answer. For example, suppose you had a ten question test. Every question that you answered correctly you would receive 10 points. Every incorrect answer she gave you 0 points. She didn't grade the way most teachers grade and subtract points for every wrong answer. If you had it wrong, you didn't receive any points for it. Then she would add up the points and that would be your score. If you had seven answers correct, then she would multiply 10 x 7 and your final score would be 70%, which was a D. She said it was backwards deducting points for every wrong answer. Why assume you have a score of 100 until you calculate all the correct answers? She had a point there. Another thing that was different about her was if you misspelled a word or used improper English, you would receive reduced points for that answer. Many students thought that was silly, but she was emphasizing it's important to experess oneself both orally and in written form in every class. She said the proper usage of English should be emphasized in every subject area; not just English class. In my senior yearbook there was a little caption of Mrs. Nall and she stated her philosophy in regards to education. I'm going to quote it for you." "I believe that all people need to be able to express their ideas in an acceptable manner. This includes both verbal and written expression. I further believe that school has as its goal the overall education of its students. Each class is responsible for this general goal rather than just being responsible for teaching a particular subject. As a result, I believe that all classes should encourage acceptable verbal and written expression." I believe she was exactly on the mark.

Mrs. Nall was very dedicated in her teaching profession. She was also dedicated in the Owensboro community as well. I remember one year she performed in Owensboro's annual "Messiah" performance at Third Baptist Church. I've seen her once at a bluegrass festival in Owensboro. She would attend state teacher's conventions and any seminar that was history related. She taught school from 1968-96, which was almost 30 years. She started teaching what was then Daviess County Jr. High (now Daviess County Middle School) and then later at Apollo. I learned a lot from her and I believe in her approach that in education a student should be able to express oneself both orally and in written expression.

Becky Abner

I am not the type of person that uses this blog to discuss personal issues or discuss things relating to my personal life. I don't even mention very much about some people that I know of personally in my own life. I don't feel comfortable doing such given that this blogsite receives a number of hits from different places, according to the flagcounter gadget. However, I believe it would behoove me to take time and honor a young lady that I had the opportunity to become personally acquainted with last year. I don't know her that well personally, but I do consider her a friend. Also, I believe she's worthy of honor when it comes to celebrating women's history. In the first blogpost of this month, I had mentioned there are women that are worth honoring and celebrating. Women's History month was designed to celebrate women that have made inroads into the executive world. Those that celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of women are mostly above career women. There's no question there's a number of women that have proven themselves capable in many career fields. Women are just as capable of men in accomplishing a number of tasks. I believe when it comes to intellectual ability, women are on equal par with men. Women aren't stupid. There are women that don't even hold a public job that are inspirational. It's sad that feminists fail to recognize the accomplishments that women make that aren't even employed in the workforce. Women that don't work a public job are sometimes stereotyped as women that are "barefoot and pregnant". I can honestly there are many women that don't work a public that don't fit the stereotype of barefoot and pregnant. We've had women for ages that were heavily involved in community work, their churches, and other types of endeavors. If it weren't for some of the Godly, dedicated, and faithful women, where would our world be today? Where would America be today? The work force isn't the only place where women can make a difference. Women have made significant contributions on the domestic front that are ignored by society. If it weren't for the love and labor of great Christian women in the home, our homes would be in a wreck.

This month I want to use this opportunity to honor one of a few women I believe are worthy to be honored during women's history month. I want to take this time to recognize my blog friend, Becky Abner. She has her own blogsite and she's one of my followers. Her blogsite links up to mine. She is definitely a blessing. She doesn't hold a public job, but she spends her time laboring, engaging in new projects, and is very adventuresome. She is from Crossville, Tennessee. Shes' 28 years old and she's very dedicated and faithful to her local church, her own immediate family, and the community of Crossville. Becky involves herself in numerous activities. She's involved with the local Republican party in Crossville, Tennessee. She helps with their website. At her local church she teaches Sunday school and plays the piano. She has a burden for those in her community and elsewhere that don't know the Lord.

Last summer I had the opportunity to meet her personally when one of her friends got married at the church I attend. She and I were both in the wedding. When she came to Kentucky to participate in the wedding, she, her mother, father, and brother went to tour some places in Kentucky such as Mammoth Cave, Daniel Boone National Forest, and the Creation Museum. I had the privilege to attend the Creation Museum with them. She's a very nice and kind person. She always tries to be a blessing in helping other people. Last year when it rained the roof on their trailer was leaking so she went on top of the roof to help her brother put shingles on the roof. She'll lend a hand to whatever task is needed help with. She says she will at least try something once anyway. She doesn't mind learning new things. She loves children as well. She helps her mother babysit some little children during the week. She also has two nieces that she spends time with as well.

Becky loves to learn as well. She loves to read but she also loves adventure. She likes traveling and touring different sites. She's visited some different Civil War sites in Georgia and Tennessee. Last year she had the opportunity to go on a missionary trip to Philadelphia with a church in Georgia. She had a great time at Philadelphia. It placed a burden on her heart for the people in her own community. She and her family also went to Virginia to visit Jamestown and some other historic places. She also loves to go camping as well. She likes playing and popping popcorn at the campfire.

Becky also likes crafts and is artistic. Becky likes to play uptempo songs on the piano and plays the piano at a nursing home in her community. She enjoys bluegrass gospel music. Every year she attends the Faith Baptist Campmeeting in Resaca, Georgia. She helps out in the kitchen whenever she's down there. She's very gifted and very intellectual. She was homeschooled all her life. Her mother was a pioneer in the homeschooling movement where they lived. She always was diligent in homeschool to show that homeschooled students aren't second-rate people. She graduated at a local community college with a degree in science and mathematics. She had a desire to major in those subjects so she could use them if she ever had the opportunity to homeschool someday. She even tutors some students. She had a burden to start her own private school last year and she was seeking the Lord's will on starting one. I don't know what her plans are in regards to that. She is a strong fan of Charlotte Mason, who was an English homeschooler. She wanted to incorporate Charlotte Mason's methods into teaching. She would definitely be a great teacher.

When I read about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 I think of Becky because she possesses some of her traits. Even though Becky isn't married, she has the potential to be a Proverbs 31 woman as long as she stays in the Lord's will. Even though I don't know Becky that well, I do believe she has a desire to be a Proverbs 31 woman. She is faithful to the Lord and to her local church. She can do almost anything she sets her mind to doing. I appreciate people that are full of adventure and have a desire to be active and busy. She lives a well-balanced Christian life. She's not one of those people that knows the Bible and nothing else. She's educated on a host of subjects. She tries to stay abreast of the news and of everything that takes place in our society. She loves to put her hand to the plow. She'll even tell you that if she's not careful she'll overcommit or overextend herself. I'm proud to say Becky is worthy to be honored for Women's History Month. You can't place a price on a woman that tries to live by the Bible and tries to live a Godly life.