Woman of the Century/Anna Matilda Larrabee

LARRABEE, Mrs. Anna Matilda, social leader, born in Ledyard, Conn., 13th August, 1842. She was the oldest child of Gustavus Adolphus Appelman and Prudence Anna Appclman. Her father's family is of German lineage. Her grand-father, John Frederick Appclman, was the son of a Lutheran minister stationed in Wolgast, near the city of Stettin. ANNA MATILDA LARRABEE. He arrived in the United States in 1805, and shortly afterwards took up his residence in Mystic, Conn., engaging in the fishing business and ship-rigging. His son, Gustavus, early followed the sea, and was, while still a very young man, placed in command of a whaler, upon which he made a number of long and very successful voyages. Mrs. Appelman, the mother of Mrs. Larrabee, was the daughter of Erastus and Nancy Williams, of Ledyard, Conn. Mr. Williams was in succession judge of New London county and member of both houses of the Legislature in his native State. Captain Appelman. tired of a sailor's life, in 1854 abandoned the sea and removed with his family to the West to engage in farming. He settled on a farm near the village of Clermont, Iowa. The educational facilities which the new community offered to the children were rather meager, but home tuition supplemented the curriculum of the village school. At the age of fourteen years, Anna was sent East to enter the academy in Mystic, Conn. She remained in that institution two years, pursuing her studies with unusual vigor. After her return to Clermont, she was placed in charge of the village school, which had an enrollment of over seventy pupils, but the young teacher proved equal to her task. On t2th September, 1861, she became the wife of William Larrabee. Their family numbers three sons and four daughters. Mrs. Larrabee is the constant companion of her husband, sharing his reading at the fireside and accompanying him in his travels and political campaigns. There can be no doubt that to her fascinating manners, pleasant address and nice perception is due much of Governor Larabee's popularity and political success. Her home, which, since her marriage, has been continually in Clermont, is a temple of hospitality. While Mrs. Larrabee is averse to frivolous pleasures, she possesses all the graces of a true hostess and leader in refined society. She forms positive opinions upon all questions agitating the public mind, but is always a lenient critic and a merciful judge. Though not a member of any religious denomination, she is deeply religious in her nature. She is interested in Sunday-school and temperance work, yet her innate love for humanity expends itself chiefly in those words of kindness ana deeds of charity which shun public applause, and find their reward solely in an approving conscience.