Representative women of New England/Sarah E. Talbot

by Mary H. Graves

SARAH ELIZABETH TALBOT, the first president of the Maiden (Mass.) W. C. T. U., of which she is now honorary president for life, was born in Hallowoll, Me., May 1, 1829, the (laughter of Jonas Philip and Annie (Otis) Lee. Her paternal grandfather, Sanmel Lee (Harvard College, 1776), a native of Concord, Mass., was a descendant in the fifth generation of John Lee (or Leigh), who came from England and settled at Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay Colony, in 1636. John Lee is said to have been one of the early patrons of Harvard College. His name is not given in the list of individual donors in Quincy's History of Harvard, but doubtless his contribution helped to make up the sum accredited to the town of Ipswich, of which he was a resident. Joseph^ Lee, son of John,* born in Ipswich in 1643, married Mary Woodis, daughter of Henry Woodis (or Woodhouse), of Concord, Mass., and resided in that town. Joseph,' son of Joseph^ and Mary, married Ruth Goodnow, and was father of Dr. Joseph,* who married Lucy Jones, and grandfather of their son Samuel,*^ above named.

Mrs. Talbot, whose maiden name was Sarah Elizabeth Lee, has kindly furnished for this volume the following biographical sketch, together with a brief notice of the temperance movement in which she has been an earnest and faithful worker.

Samuel Lee, the grandfather of Mrs. Talbot, after graduating at Harvard and studying law, went to the British province of New Brunswick, where he received many honors due a Christian gentleman and scholar, being appointed judge and becoming prominently active in formulating the laws for the new province. He married Sarah Perry, a beautiful and accomplished SARAH E. TALBOT woman, daughter of an officer of the English army, then stationed at HaUfax, N.S. After his death his widow with her six children re- moved to the paternal home in Concord, Mass., where the youngest son, Jonas Philip, the father of Mrs. Talbot, was educated. On becoming of age Jonas P. Lee went to Maine, entering into business in the town of Hallowell. He married Annie, daughter of Oliver Otis, of Leeds, Me. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Otis went from his native place, Scituate, Mass., and purchased land in Maine, cutting down the original forest. He married Elizabeth Stanchfield, and they reared a family of seven children to habits of indus- try and respectability. Always a stanch total abstainer from alcoholic liciuors, in making his preparations for building the first framed house in that section of the country, Mr. Otis was obliged to drive to Boston with horse antl carriage, a journey of several days, to obtain supplies for the raising. Instead of providing New England rum, as was the custom on such occasions, he furnished the best of Java coffee, a rare treat in those days. Total abstinence from all intoxicants was conscientiously exem- plified in his family, resulting in a God-fearing, intelligent commimity to this day.

After their marriage Jonas P. Lee and his wife Annie resided in Hallowell. Their daugh- ter Sarah E. was educated in the excellent schools of that town, remaining there till her marriage, October 14, 1851, to Francis Taft Sargent, a merchant of New York City, and who was directly descended from Governor Winthrop, the first Governor of Massachusetts, and for whom one of their sons was named, being given the family name of Winthrop Otis Sargent. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent made their home in Brooklyn, and united with the Pres- byterian church of that city. Two children were born to them there, and their first great grief came in the death of their beautiful and most interesting daughter at two years of age. On account of the ill health of Mr. Sar- gent, after five years' residence in Brooklyn they removed to Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. Three sons were added to their family in Nassau, and for a time health seemed restored in that salubrious climate; but the seeds of death still lingered, and Mr. Sargent died suddenly, September 20, 1860, of hem- orrhage of the lungs. After his death the widow, with her four little ones, returned to her native land, arriving in New York on the day of the first battle of Bull Run, when our Northern men met for the first time their Southern brothers in mortal combat and were defeated. Mrs. Sargent with her children went immediately to Farmington, Me., where dear kinsfolk welcomed her to the new home. When her two younger sons passed on to the Father in heaven, she went with their precious remains to lay them beside the dearly beloved in Greenwood Cemetery, in Brooklyn, N.Y., expecting her brother, Colonel Samuel Perry Lee, to meet her there. As he could not leave his post of duty with the Army of the Potomac at this most critical period of the war, when the rebels were threatening Wa*shington, with only three miles between the two armies, he requested his sister with her son to visit him. She went inmiediately to Washington, to find it one vast hospital, with one hundred thou- sand sick and wounded soldiers in and around the city, the Capitol itself being crowded. As she was informed by a friend, one of the prin- cipal medical directors of the army, the Patent Office and public buildings, all the churches, and many temporary hospitals were filled with the sick and dying. We had had very few battles, but for many months our army had besieged Richmond, the redel capital, encamp- ing in and near the dreadful Chickahominy swamps, filled with malaria, destroying the health of our soldiers, throwing out of combat thousands more than the most fiercely con- tested battles, as the Southerners well under- stood. While in Washington, Mrs. Sargent witnessed a review of this same Army of the Potomac, with its decimated ranks and worn and faded uniforms, in evidence of their sad experience and in contrast with the multitude of new recruits, full of patriotism and strength, who were being constantly hurried forward to fill the places of those who had fallen in defence of our beloved country.

Her brother. Colonel Samuel Perry Lee, was afterward terribly wounded at Gettysburg, losing his right arm at the shoulder joint, and being otherwise injured. lie would i)robably have died but for the kind and patriotic hos- l)itality of a wealthy eitizen of the town, who threw o])en his house to liim, as the ])oor wouniled man was seen passing on a stretcher. Colonel Lee was then in the care of his cousin, the Rev. R. B. Howard, brother of Majf)r- general Oliver Otis Howard, who coniuiaiided the Fed(>ral army at Gettysburg until the arrival of General Meade. Major-general O. O. Howard lost his right arm in the Ijattle of Fair Oaks, early in the war, but continued in active and distinguished service till the close of the war, a successful (^hristian soldier.

Mrs. Sargent returned to her home in larin- ington with her two remaining sons. On Novemlier 5, 1868, she married the Hon. Peter S. J. Taii)ot, of East Machias, Me., descended from one of the oldest and most respected families of longland, a man of unblemished character, repeatetlly chosen by his fellow- citizens to fill )x)sitions of res])onsibility and honor in his native town and State. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot removetl at once to Massachu- setts, taking uj) their residence in Maiden, where they made their home for thirty-two years. In religion Mrs. Talbot is a Congrega- tionalist. She is a life member of foreign and home missionary societies.

The two sons, Francis Taft and Winthrop Otis Sargent, were graduated at the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology as mechanical and mining engineers respectively. Francis T. Sargent is actively following his profession in New York. Winthroj) Otis Sargent, as mining engineer, was interested in the lead mines of Missouri. He was attacked with hemorrhage of the lungs, and died on September 5, 1901, leaving a son, bearing the name of his father, antl a daughter, liis wife having died two years previously.

When the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Massachusetts was organized as a branch of the W. C. T. II., with Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, president, Mrs. L. B. Barrett,' sec- retary, and an executive committee of seven women, Mrs. Sarah E. Talbot, of Maiden, was one of the number, a charter member of the new organization. Public meetings were held, churches and halls were crowded, temperance enthusiasm increased, and many thovisand inebriates were reformed, organizing them- selves into Reform Chilis. Timid women, foi'getting that they "should be seen and not hearil," came out from their seclusion, went upon the platform, and as by inspiration joined in the rescue of those held in bondage of the intoxicating cup, their hearts (piickened to realize the sorrows of those in des])air. Ruined homes were visited, the wives and mothers bi'ought into the fold of the Woman's Christian Temjicrance I'nion, their children into the Loyal Temi)erance Legion ajid Sunday-schools. Thousands signed the pledge, redeemed for- ever from the curse of alcoholics and narcotics under this wonderful movement, which seemed like a breath of God from heaven moving upon the hearts of the people.

The first National Convention, resulting in the formation of the Woman's Christian Tem- perance Union, was held in Philadelphia, and the second the next year in Baltimore, Mrs. Talbot attending both as a delegate. At this later convention she had the pleasure of vot- ing for I'Vances E. AMllard as president of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which position she honored many years, until her death, leaving it the largest organization of women in the world. At the International Convention of the World's W. C. T. U., held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1903, our present national president, Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens, presiding, stated that delegates were there present from " fifty-nine different nations be- longing to the W'orld's W. C. T. U. Federation, representing every section of the globe, speak- ing in many different languages, (iemonstrating the harmony of the work, notwithstanding the diversity of languages," thus fulfilling the prophecy of our sainted president, Miss Wil- lard, that "the white rilibon would yet en- circle the globe."

Realizing the danger from indiscriminate use of alcohol as a medicine, the W^ C. T. U. early organized a department for "Influencing Physicians not to use 'Alcoholic Medication,'" and appointed Mrs. Talbot its first superintendent for the State. She was also appointed the first superintendent of the State department of " Scientific Temperance Instruction in the Public Schools," having the honor of presenting the W. C. T. U. memorial on this subject before the Legislature of Massachusetts from the speaker's desk in the House of Representatives, with others. The petition was granted, and approved temperance text-books, teaching "the effect of alcohol upon the human system," are now required by law of this State in all public schools and, through the influence of the National W. C. T. U., in every State of our nation. Mrs. Talbot was an active member of the State Executive Committee several years, assisting in the general work. One of the first unions of the State was organized in Maiden, her home, and she was elected its first president, which position she occupied for twenty-five years. It was an active, influential union, among the first to introduce scientific temperance instruction in its public schools of six thousand pupils, promoting a strong temperance sentiment, the citizens always voting a very large majority for no license every year. After her resignation as president, Mrs. Talbot was unanimously elected honorary president for life of the Maklen W. C. T. U. She was also made an honorary member for life of the Massachusetts ^V. C. T. U. These honors .she appreciates most sincerely, having been actively associated with both branches of the organization from their beginning, a period of thirty years. Retired from active service, Mrs. Talbot is now (April, 1904) passing her declining years with her husband at his birthplace and early home, in East Machias, Me., where they are surrounded by dear kinsfolk and friends.