Anna Weed Prosser
"A Woman of the Century"
Personal
BornOctober 15, 1846
Albany, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 20, 1902
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo
Children3 adopted children
Parent
ProfessionEvangelist
InstituteMissionary Training School, Buffalo
Senior posting
ProfessionEvangelist

Anna Weed Prosser (October 15, 1846 – December 20, 1902) was an American evangelist.[1] An invalid for many years, she believed her recovery due to prayer, and immediately entered upon her evangelical work in gratitude for her restored health. She worked for some time under the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.), ultimately establishing a mission of her own, known as the Old Canal Street Mission, in Buffalo, New York of which she took charge and was assisted in this work by reformed men whom she had saved from lives of destitution. After ten years spent in ministry among the poor and unfortunate, she entered the general evangelical work and became president of the Buffalo Branch of the National Christian Alliance.[2]

Early life and education

Anna Weed Prosser was born in Albany, New York, October 15, 1846.[1] Her parents were Erastus S. Prosser and Lucy (née, Wilbur) Prosser. Anna had one brother, Henry Wilbur Prosser, and two sisters, including Harriet.[3]

At the age of seven years, she removed to Buffalo, New York, where she was reared in a luxurious home. As early as four years of age, she recalled deep stirrings of conscience at times and heart-longings after God. At the age of fifteen, she entered the Sunday school of the Presbyterian Church in the neighborhood.[1]

Career

Leaving school very young, she began the usual career expected of a woman in her circumstance, that of a "society" girl. Gradually, her health failed under the incessant strain, until she was taken with a congestive chill, which was followed by a serious illness. She was carried to her room, and ten years of invalidism followed. Two of those years she spent in bed, and for five years, she was carried up and down stairs. One disease followed another, until finally, all physicians failing, she was removed from home on a mattress. After dedicating her life to the Christian religion, she returned to her home.[1]

She took up city mission work under the W.C.T.U., where she worked for several years.[1] From 1883, Prosser carried on rescue work in Canal Street, Buffalo.[4] She took charge of the Canal Street Mission in Buffalo, of which she undertook the charge, assisted by her Bible class of reformed men. Her musical talent became the most prominent feature of her work.[1]

About ten years after beginning this ministry, she received many calls from churches throughout the country and several invitations to assume the pastorate of a church. she entered general evangelistic work, and assumed the presidency of the Buffalo Branch of the National Christian Alliance. It was composed of members of various evangelical churches.[1] About 1896, she established the Mionnary Training School to which work she brought an inheritance of US$12,000. For five years, she was president of the Christian Alliance, and for some time, conducted a Jewish mission.[4]

Personal life

Prosser made her home in Kenmore, a suburb bordering Buffalo.[1] She adopted two daughters, Olive and Georgia Plumstell, and one adopted son, John Reece.[4]

On December 20, 1902, Anna Weed Prosser died at the Missionary Training School in Buffalo, which she founded, and of which she was superintendent.[5] Burial was at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). "PROSSER, Miss Anna Weed". A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life. Charles Wells Moulton. p. 590. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ↑ Logan, Mrs. John A. (1912). The Part Taken by Women in American History. Perry-Nalle Publishing Company. p. 738. OCLC 3443917. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ↑ "Obituary -- Death of the Hon. Erastus S. Prosser". Buffalo Weekly Express. 17 May 1888. p. 6. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "MISS PROSSER DEAD; WELL-KNOWN MISSIONARY. Gave Up Her Fortune to Found Missionary Training School". The Buffalo Enquirer. 22 December 1902. p. 12. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  5. ↑ "Obituary for Anna Weed PROSSER. Died December 20, 1902, Buffalo, New York". The Buffalo Enquirer. 22 December 1902. p. 1. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Miss Prosser's Funeral". The Buffalo News. 22 December 1902. p. 10. Retrieved 25 March 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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