History of Graysville, (Rhea County) Tennessee United States of America

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Serepta Myrenda (Irish) Henry, reformer, was born in Albion, Pa., Nov. 4, 1839; daughter of the Rev. H. Nelson and Mary A. (Clark) Irish, and a descendant of New England colonial stock on both sides, her paternal ancestors being Quakers, her maternal grandfather a surgeon in the Revolutionary army, and his son a captain of militia in the war of 1812. Her father, a Methodist minister, removed to northwestern Illinois in 1840, where he was a missionary. She was educated at borne and at Rock River seminary, Mount Morris, Ill., 1859-61. She was married, March 7, 1861, to James W. Henry, of East Homer, N.Y., who was made an invalid by his service in the civil war, and died in 1871. She supported her family by her writings, and in 1872 removed to Rockford, Ill., where she taught in the public school. She soon resigned to prepare "After the Truth," a series of books for the Youth's Library of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was associated with the national body of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union as superintendent of national evangelistic work, and as evangelist, from its organization. She organized the Cold Water Army, later known as the Loyal Temperance Legion; founded the W.C.T.U. Institute for the purpose of teaching the objects and methods of the organization, and occupied pulpits of all denominations throughout the land. She is the author of: Victoria: with Other Poems (1865); After the Truth (4 vols., 1873); Mabel's Work (1882); The Pledge and the Cross (1882); Voice of the Home (1882); One More Chance (1885); Marble Cross, poems (1886); Beforehand (1888); The Unanswered Prayer (1889); Frances Raymond's Investment (1889); Afterward (1891); Studies in Home and Child Life/1897); The Abiding Spirit (1898); Good Form (1900). She died at Graysville, Tenn., Jan. 16, 1900.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Graysville, (Rhea County) Tennessee

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