Elizabeth Prentiss

Elizabeth Prentiss, born Elizabeth Payson in 1818, was an American writer recognized for her devotional hymn "More Love to Thee, O Christ" and the religious novel "Stepping Heavenward." Her early life in Portland, Maine, was shaped by her father's role as a Congregationalist pastor and the strong influence of New England Christianity. Following her father's death, her family relocated to New York City, where she made a public profession of faith. Even as a child, Prentiss displayed significant intellectual and empathetic abilities, contributing stories and poems to a religious periodical by age sixteen.

Her adult life included periods of teaching and later marriage to George Lewis Prentiss. She experienced profound personal loss, including the deaths of two young children within a short span. Despite chronic health issues, Prentiss continued to write, producing works like "Little Susy's Six Birthdays" and the popular children's poem "Mr. Nobody." Her novel "Stepping Heavenward," published in 1869, achieved considerable success and, along with her hymn, contributed to a resurgence of interest in her writings in the late 20th century. She passed away in 1878, with her hymn being sung at her funeral.

Born Elizabeth Payson in Portland, Maine, in 1818, she was the fifth of eight children raised in a devout household. Her father, Edward Payson, was an influential Congregationalist pastor, and the family's life was deeply immersed in the tenets of New England Christianity, a tradition blending Puritan foundations with evangelical and philanthropic endeavors. Daily prayer meetings were a regular feature of their home. The death of her father in 1827, after a prolonged illness, significantly impacted young Elizabeth. By 1831, the family had moved to New York City, and it was there that Elizabeth publicly declared her Christian faith and joined the Bleecker Street Presbyterian Church. From a young age, she demonstrated keen intellect, a compassionate nature, and remarkable insight into others. Her literary talents emerged early, as she began submitting stories and poems to "The Youth's Companion," a religious publication, by the age of sixteen.

Elizabeth Prentiss began her professional life by opening a small school for girls and teaching a Sabbath-school class. She later moved to Richmond, Virginia, to take on a leadership role at a girls' boarding school. In 1845, she married George Lewis Prentiss. The couple settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where her husband served as a pastor. Her life as a pastor's wife and homemaker was marked by significant personal tragedy when, in 1852, she lost her second and third children within a three-month period. Despite ongoing health challenges, Prentiss continued to write prolifically. Her works, such as "Little Susy's Six Birthdays" (1853) and "Little Little Lou's Sayings and Doings" (1868), which included the widely recognized poem "Mr. Nobody," gained popularity. Her most celebrated novel, "Stepping Heavenward," was serialized in 1869. Following her husband's pastoral resignation due to ill health, the family spent time in Europe before returning to New York, where he resumed his ministry and took a position at Union Theological Seminary. Prentiss died in 1878 at the age of 59 in Dorset, Vermont.

“Much of my experience of life has cost me a great price and I wish to use it for strengthening and comforting other souls.”