April 27, 2022 - The Center Woman’s Reading Club met on Thursday, February 17th at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
Billie Sue Payne presented her book choice, Abigail Adams, written by Woody Holton.
Billie Sue has always enjoyed reading. Her mother loved to read. Ms. Payne has fond memories of Lucy Todd, librarian at Timpson ISD. Ms. Todd encouraged children to read and was always suggesting books. Billie Sue has always loved biographies.
Abigail Adams was a woman born before her time. She was an “enthusiastic New Englander” with a giddy personality that initially, turned off her future husband. She was taught by her mother, loved to read and was an avid writer. She was one of the finest writers of her age. In one of her letters she said “my pen is always freer than my tongue.
Abigail Adams was far more charismatic and influential than most people realize. The two drivers in her life were: 1. A deep belief in women’s rights and women’s education and 2. The right for women to be financially sound. She passionately campaigned for women’s education, denounced sex discrimination and certainly matched wits not only with her husband, John, but with Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. She did not like Benjamin Franklin
Abigail Adams was 15 years old when she met John Adams in 1759. They were married in 1764 and had 6 children in 12 years.
While John was gone, Abigail ran the household. Over time, she became more assertive, smarter and much more capable than her husband. She was dominant and confident in her own good judgement. She was a brilliant business woman, defying centuries of legislation that assigned married women’s property to their husbands, she amassed a fortune in her own right,
If John had not been away from home so much, historians would not have learned as much about the couple, politics and the war. They wrote each other constantly. John frequently sought her advice on many matters and their letters are filled with intellectual discussions on government and politics. The letters also offer an eyewitness account of the American Revolution on the home front. In her letters, Abigail complained about the exclusion of women. Although she was feisty and opinionated, Abigail expressed her views and opinions in a diplomatic manner.
Abigail did not attend her husband’s inauguration as the 2nd President of the United States. She was tending to his dying mother. Once John was elected President, Abigail continued a formal pattern of entertaining. She held a large dinner each week, made frequent public appearances and provided entertainment for the city of Philadelphia each 4th of July.
When the capital was relocated to Washington D.C., in 1800, Abigail became the first First Lady to live at the White House. They lived there the last 4 months of her husband’s term. She said, the city is a wilderness, the city was a wilderness, the President’s house far from complete – she found the mansion “habitable”.
Abigail died in her home on October 28, 1818, exactly two weeks shy of her 74th birthday.
Delicious refreshments were served and a time of fellowship followed.
Guests are always welcome. Please contact the club membership coordinator, Monty Jones, at 936-598-5757 if you are interested in visiting the club.
Submitted by Stephanie Elswick
