Born on June 28, 1851, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Eliza Edmunds Hewitt was the daughter of sea Capt. James Stratton Hewitt and his wife Zeruiah Stites Edmunds.[4] She completed her school education at the Girls' Normal School in Philadelphia where she graduated as a valedictorian of her class.[5] She later started teaching at the Northern Home for Friendless Children, but her professional career was cut short by a serious spinal problem, in 1887, caused by a student who struck her across the back with a heavy slate for being disciplined.[6][7] As a result, she was put in a heavy cast for six months.
Though she partially recovered, she remained an invalid for an extended period of her life. During her prolonged convalescence, she studied English literature and started writing poems for the primary department of her church. She soon became a prolific writer of children's verses.[5]
Despite her health problems, she showed interest in Sunday school work. She began teaching the primary class in Sunday schools. She later became Sunday school superintendent at the Northern Home for Friendless Children, and the Calvin Presbyterian Church.[4] She prepared study materials for Sunday schools and regularly contributed for children's periodicals.[8]