The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

400
the literature of our times, but from the standard English classics, who them-
selves drew from the deeper, purer 'wells of English undefiled." Under such
influences she grew up to early girlliood, loving all things beautiful and ijright.
and entering with eager zest upon the somewhat larger life which was opened
to her, when at the age of seventeen or eighteen, she made a visit to her
mother's sister, Mrs. Gen. Joseph Kirkland, of Utica. N. V.. who then and
during her life formed a bright and attractive feature of the social and reli-
gious circles of Central New York.
" Miss Cogswell was now in the first blush and freshness of early woman-
hood. Most attractive in person and in mind, she speedily drew around her,
by the fascination of her manner and the brilliancy of her wit, a host of ardent,
admiring friends, who were ready to avow- their sentiments of knightly devo-
tion or more sober regard. After rejecting many alluring, and in a worldly
sense, most advantageous offers of marriage, her young affections at length
centred upon one well worthy of her love, and at the age of twenty she was
afTianced to Major Douglas \V. Sloane, of Williamstown. Mass. He came of
good lineage, being the only son of Gen. Samuel Sloane of Revolutionary
stock, and the owner of a large and valuable real estate in that region and the
neighboring town. For his son, he built at Williamstown, on a beautiful site,
opposite the college edifices, what for that day, and indeed now, is a large
and noble mansion. On its completion Douglas Sloane. with his youthful
bride, took possession of this house. There they spent many happy years in
easy competence, and all of their eight children were born and reared in a
model New England home, under all the desirable and blessed influences
which such a home imparts. In 1834 they left \A'inianistown, and removed
to Cleveland. Ohio. From the first, Mrs. Sloane took a high positio\i in the
social and religious life of that then young city. She entered with character-
istic zeal and enthusiasm into every good work and benevolent e\iterprise.
originating the l^Iaternal Association, the effort to rescue and raise the fallen
in the Magdalen Association, and co-operating cheerfully and most helpfully
in every organized effort to instruct the ignorant, help the poor and depressed,
and elevate the standard of social and religious life. With warm sympathies,
she was singularly independent and outspoken in her opinions, and unyielding
in her views of what she esteemed to be right and in accord with Christian
duty and principle. During lier residence in Cleveland she passed through
deep domestic afflictions. Death invaded the devoted family circle, and four
lovely and gifted daughters and her only son, a noble, promising young man
of twenty years, were one after the other taken from her. Bereavement and
sorrow culminated in the death of her husband. She bore up under it all.
with the most heroic fortitude, and was ever ready to say.
' The Lord gave,
mill the Lonf hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord.' After her hus-
band's death she divided her time between her two remaining daughters. She
died on the 9th of Jan., 1870. in the city of New York, at the age of seventy-
eight. She departed after a brief illness, in great peace and quietness, after a
life of many vicissitudes, but of eminent usefulness, all life's duties and