Woman of the Century/Mrs. Edward H. East

2271511Woman of the Century — Mrs. Edward H. East

EAST, Mrs. Edward H., philanthropist born in Bethesda, Williamson county, Tenn., 15th March, MRS. EDWARD H. EAST. 1849. Her father, Rev. H. C. Horton. was a Virginian, her mother, Elizabeth Elliotte Kennedy, was a South Carolinian. Her grand parents came from England and Ireland and could boast a coat-of-arms on both sides of the house, but strong republican sentiments forbade a display of them. She came of Revolutionary stock. Lieutenant Kennedy fought under Gen. Francis Marion and was rewarded for bravery, having on one occasion, with only himself and one other, put to rout twelve Tories. Her father moved to Mississippi, where her girlhood was spent. She was educated in the Marshall Female Instute, under the management of Pres. Joseph E. Douglas. As a young lady she was popular with old and young When the Mississippi & Tennessee R R. was being built through Mississippi, the work had to stop for want of means when the road had been extended only fifty or sixty miles. A plan was suggested to get the men of the county together to raise a fund. A May Queen feast and a barbecue in the woods were chosen. The dark-eyed, rosy-cheeked little maiden, Tennie Horton, as she was called, only fourteen years old, was chosen queen, and she on that occasion made a railroad speech that brought thousands of dollars out of the pockets of that then wealthy people. She became the wife, when very young, of D. C. Ward, a merchant, who was killed in the war. During the war she was the only protection of her old parents, with the exception of a few faithful servants who remained with them. Her life has been one of great activity. In 1868 she became the wife of Judge East, a distinguished jurist, who sympathizes with and aids her in all her work. She is now and has been for several years in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union work. She is local president of the central union in Nashville, where she has for many years resided, and is also corresponding secretary of the State. She was appointed State chairman of the Southern Woman's Council. She has spent much time and money for the cause of temperance. In every reform movement she takes great interest. When the Prohibition amendment was before the people of Tennessee, she was active in the work to create a sentiment in its favor. A large tent, that had been provided in the city in which to conduct gospel services, she had moved to every part of the city for a month, and procured for each night able Prohibition speeches. She has been a delegate to every national convention since 1887. The poor of the city know her, for she never turns a deaf ear to their appeals nor sends them away empty-handed. She taught a night school for young men and boys for two years. She has written for several periodicals and been correspondent for newspapers. She has now a book ready for the publisher. Being an active, busy woman, she finds but little time to write She is the mother of five children, all living.