Esther Lord McNeill

Esther Lord McNeill
B&W portrait photo of a woman with her white hair in an up-do, wearing a dark blouse, with puffy sleeves and white fringe at the collar, as well as brooch at the neckline and a necklace.
Born
Esther Lord

July 23, 1812
Carlisle, New York, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 1907
Fredonia, New York, U.S.
Other names"Mother McNeill"
Occupations
  • temperance movement leader
  • foster parent
  • travel writer
Known forWomen's Crusade
Notable workCo-founder, Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Spouse
James McNeill
​
​
(m. 1832; died 1870)​
RelativesEdward Clemens Lord (brother)

Esther Lord McNeill (also known as "Mother McNeill"; 1812–1907) was a leader in the temperance movement of the United States, associated with the Washingtonian movement, Women's Crusade, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). She was one of the band of crusaders whose work in Fredonia, New York, in 1873 was the foundation of the WCTU.[1] McNeill was also a foster parent and travel writer.[2][3]

Early life

Esther Lord was born at Carlisle, New York, July 23, 1812.[2] Her father, Sylavanus Lord (1762-1822),was a Connecticut Yankee, her mother, Elizabeth Blanchard (1775-1858),[4] a native of Massachusetts. When Esther was ten years of age, her father died, leaving ten children.[5]

Career

In 1832, she married James McNeill, a wainwright,[3] and together they enlisted in the Washingtonian movement.[2] About a month after her marriage, she became a Christian, a devout Presbyterian, and began a life's work of caring for homeless children. In 1868, the couple moved to Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York. Her brother, Edward Clemens Lord, was a Baptist missionary in China, unable to care for his five children, and Mrs. McNeills agreed to do so. In addition, they came with eight[5] or ten[3] foster children to be put to school. Two years later, Mr. McNeill, a member of the State Temperance Society, died, and in this same year, one of the girls that Mrs. McNeill cared for also died.[5]

In 1873, she entered the list of Women Crusaders, and became a member of the WCTU, organized December 22, 1873, in Fredonia. This union continued to be the leading union in Chautauqua County, holding weekly meetings, and loyal always to county, state, and national organizations. Mrs. McNeil was the first Chautauqua County president, and until 1894, the WCTU president in Fredonia.[5][3] Thereafter, until her death, she was its honorary president.[2]

McNeill was a delegate to the first New York State WCTU, in Syracuse, New York, on October 14, 1874, when the New York State organization was formed,[2] preceding by a month the convention held in Cleveland at the Second Presbyterian Church, November 18–20. She attended all the national conventions up to 1905,[6] when compelled by failing strength, she retired from active service. By her fellow workers and intimates she was affectionately called "Mother McNeill".[2]

Later life

Sometime after 1882, McNeill travelled to Japan and China and sent letters the U.S. that were published in The Fredonia Censor.[3]

McNeill's health had been failing because of advanced age for some time, but she was clear-thinking until a few days before her death, when she became semi-unconscious.[1] She died April 20, 1907, at Fredonia.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Founder of the W.C.T.U. Passes Away". The Buffalo Times. 22 April 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 24 January 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Cherrington, Ernest Hurst (1928). "McNEILL, ESTHER (LORD).". Standard encyclopedia of the alcohol problem. Vol IV. Kansas-Newton. Westerville, Ohio: American Issue Publishing Co. pp. 1640–41. Retrieved 24 January 2024 – via Internet Archive. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Fighting the Demon Drink in Fredonia: The Women's Temperance Crusade – WNY Heritage". www.wnyheritage.org. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Esther Lord Female 1813 – 20 April 1907". www.familysearch.org. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Graham, Frances W.; Gardenier, Georgeanna M. Remington (1894). "MRS. ESTHER MCNEIL.". Two Decades: A History of the First Twenty Years' Work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the State of New York : 1874–1894. Press of R.J. Oliphant. p. 14. Retrieved 24 January 2024 – via Internet Archive. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Late "Mother McNeill"". The Buffalo News. 23 April 1907. p. 4. Retrieved 24 January 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.