Elizabeth Prentiss knew a lot of pain and loss in her life.
Born in 1818 Maine to a minister, her father died when she was about nine. The family would later moved to New York City.
In 1838, she opened a small girls’ school in her home. Two years later, she accepted a position as deprtment head at a girls’ boarding school in Richmond, Virginia.
She married George Lewis Prentiss in 1845. He served as pastor to churches in Massachussets and New York City.
By 1852, she’d lost two of her three children. Despite her poor health, she would go on to have three more children.
In 1853, she published her first book of stories.
In 1856, her daughter, Minnie, became very ill and almost died. It was then that Elizabeth penned “More Love to Thee”.
The family travelled abroad for a few years due to health issues before returning to the ministry.
In 1869 her most popular book “Stepping Heavenward” was published. The family later moved to Dorset, Vermont where Elizabeth died in 1878.
After her death, her husband published “The life and letters of Elizabeth Prentiss” in 1882.
