Josiah Willard

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Josiah Willard

February 24, 1857

Got on well in studies. Father took us to school.-Father came after us. 

Many of Frances Willard’s journal entries include information on the daily activities of her father, Josiah Willard.  Willard’s accounts of her father highlight the responsibilities that he had outside of the home, while also exposing the ways in which he impacted Frances Willard’s life.  Most of their respective daily activities occurred separately, yet Frances Willard deeply respected the ideas and opinions of her father.

This journal entry includes the most significant influence that Josiah Willard imparted on his daughter.  His gift of education to his daughters Mary and Frances Willard at Milwaukee Female College began the realization of their dreams.  Frances Willard often commented on what she read and what lectures she attended throughout the journals, and expressed her excitement about attending school in Milwaukee.  This journal entry demonstrates, in part, the influence that Josiah Willard played in the early education of Frances Willard.  His understanding of the importance of education influenced her initial desire for education and worked to send Frances Willard to school in her adolescence.

Josiah Willard became one of the most influential people in Frances Willard’s early life, as his commitment to her education inspired and realized her initial relationship with school.  Even though most of their daily activities are separate, Josiah Willard’s presence in Frances Willard’s early life developed into her adulthood as she began a career in teaching and spoke on the importance of education.

 

December 9, 1867

Father says his mind calmly so joyful in contemplation of Heavenly things, as usual [....] his faith is just as firm. He still desires the newspapers read & was pleased with the news that impeachment was quashed, on the ground that "Andy wasn't worth the trouble."

Josiah Willard’s political and social activities may not have directly involved the young Frances Willard, but their presence in the Willard home influenced her ideas on many issues.  This journal entry in particular highlights the ideas that Josiah Willard formed about the presidency of Abraham Lincoln and the issues of abolition, slavery, and Reconstruction.  Frances Willard’s earliest political ideas were formed from her father’s analysis of political current events and his understanding of Christianity and social reform.

As an adult, France Willard faced criticism from her contemporaries and later generations of social reformers on the rights of African Americans.  Despite her attempts to more actively advocate for social reform for Black Americans, Frances Willard referenced her father’s support for Abraham Lincoln and abolition.  Willard’s early influences supported her ideas on abolition, but stopped short of socio-political activism compared to other reformers in this period.

Despite the complexities of her adulthood, Frances Willard understood the current events of her youth from the exposure that her father provided.  His engagement in local and national events sparked Frances Willard’s early interest in politics and social reform.  These childhood influences shaped the ways in which Frances Willard developed into the socio-political powerhouse of the late nineteenth century.