Brief biographies of the figurines on display in ... - University Library

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MRS. TRUMAN MARCELLUS POST
(Frances Alsop Henshaw)
Frances Henshaw Post was born at Middlebury,
Vermont, in 1809, <strong>the</strong> daughter <strong>of</strong> Daniel and Sarah
Prentis Henshaw. Before her marriage she wrote, and
some silver tablespoons she bought with her first earned
money are still in existence.
On October 5, 1835, she was married to Truman Marcellus
Post at St. Stephen's Church in Middlebury. On
November 12, <strong>the</strong> same year, she came with her husband
to Jacksonville, Illinois, where he was Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> ancient
languages and ancient history in Illinois
College.
She was <strong>of</strong> great assistance to her husband when he had
trouble with his eyes, for she helped him prepare for his
recitations by reading to him in English, Latin, and later,
Greek.
Mrs. Post took an active part in promoting <strong>the</strong> educational
interests in Jacksonville, and was a helpmate
in <strong>the</strong> true sense <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> word, <strong>of</strong> Dr. Post in his ministerial
career in St. Louis. She organized, and was president <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> first Woman's Congregational Missionary Society in
Missouri.
The strong and sterling character <strong>of</strong> Mrs. Post is
proven by <strong>the</strong> fact that although used to comfort and <strong>the</strong>
greatest refinement, she was able to adjust herself to
<strong>the</strong> wilds <strong>of</strong> Illinois in 1835.
Mrs. Post died in St. Louis, Missouri, November 4,
1873, and is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery, which had
been dedicated by her husband in May, 1850.