Marriage

Charles Fowler circa 1870s.jpg

Charles Henry Folwer, circa 1870s.

October 16, 1861

They have all acted rightly & wisely & kindly-as far as intention goes. They have shown their love & interest-I think- only kindness as to them. I have not been inconsistent, either. Always, from the first, I have said I would do as Charlie pleased when he knew the facts. This was his due-I promised to marry him, & I will. But I did not think or dream from what was said on Monday that he would ever think of me in the old ways, again. Therefore I wrote [?] as I did.-I feel I am not worthy such a deep, noble heart as Charlie's;-such devotion & forbearance. But my life shall try to be very thoughtful, prayerful, gentle;-very regardful of him, very helpful too-if it can be so. I don-'t know that there is any thing more.

In 1861, Frances Willard became engaged to Charles Henry Fowler in Evanston, Illinois.  Willard first met Fowler through her brother Oliver, who attended Garrett Biblical Institute with Fowler.  The couple remained committed to Methodism and education, with both achieving titles as leading religious and educational figures in the community.

This journal entry highlights Willard’s happiness with the engagement.  Despite her contentment, Willard also indicated her reservations with the proposed marriage, stating, “I feel I am not worthy such a deep, noble heart as Charlie’s.”  Ultimately, Frances Willard and Charles Henry Fowler never married, and Willard remained unwed for the rest of her life.  

The connections between the two, however, continued as both were employed at Northwestern University in their early careers. Willard became the first dean of the women’s college at the university, until her resignation in 1874 over disagreements with the Northwestern’s president; Charles Henry Fowler.

January 6, 1868

If I shall ever marry-which, may God grant! I will make an arrangement with my husband, that I will be responsible for all the wifely duties of a house-keeping sort & if I have them done, in a good style, how I have them done, is my affair. I shall employ, & pay, a first-rate proxy! I'll do my kind of work, & earn money to pay my proxy in my homelike home.

Although Frances Willard remained unmarried throughout her life, her early conceptions of marriage indicated her willingness to marry.  Willard’s ideas of a wifely role remained fairly conventional for the period, but her thoughts for herself highlighted Willard’s hesitation toward a traditional marriage.

This journal entry, written nearly seven years after her engagement to Charles Henry Fowler, illustrated Willard’s openness to marriage.  However, she claimed, “I shall employ, & pay, a first-rate proxy!,” meaning, that Willard would have willingly entered a religious marriage.  Her devotion to social reform efforts and teaching, however, remained Willard’s priorities.  She stated the condition, “I’ll do my kind of work, & earn money to pay my proxy in my homelike home.”

Ultimately, Willard never married.  Despite her openness to marriage and previous engagement, Willard’s career acceleration and commitment to the promotion of women’s suffrage, temperance, and other socio-political reforms became the most important features of her life and legacy.