The march to the Mother Thompson Home, Part I
Lead Summary

By
Steve Roush-
Ladies and gentlemen, in the winter of 1873-74, Hillsboro’s Eliza Jane Trimble Thompson, daughter of a governor and wife of a judge, helped lead a temperance crusade that is still remembered to this day.
Thirty years after that, in the year of our Lord 1903, a large delegate of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union made a pilgrimage to Hillsboro to march to pay tribute to Mother Thompson and the Hillsboro crusaders.
As I sit on the porch of the Mother Thompson Home, I ask the daughter of Eliza Jane about that indelible day.
“So, Mrs. Rives, it was announced that the more than 500 delegates attending the 30th National Convention of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union would make special a trip to Hillsboro, ‘the home of the great crusade movement,’ on Nov. 16, 1903, and preparations were made here to greet those coming by train that day,” I say. “Could you tell me more about that memorable moment in time?”
“You are correct,” she says with a smile, “it was certainly a memorable moment in time. I could go on and on about that day, but I have a few newspaper clippings here that give a wonderful depiction of that occasion. Here is one I dearly savor entitled, ‘Mother Thompson’s home, formerly the home of Governor Trimble, is visited.’
“The paper of that date says, ‘The National Convention of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union has been is session in Cincinnati the past week, and Monday was the high-water mark of interest when five hundred of the White Ribboners visited Hillsboro, the home of Mrs. Eliza J. Thompson, known the world over as ‘Mother of the Crusade.’ Eight coaches filled to overflowing arrived here about ten o’clock over the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern.
“The Commercial-Tribune of Tuesday had the following report of the occasion: As the train bearing the White Ribbon host steamed into the historic little town of Hillsboro, the banks surrounding the station were lined with enthusiastic citizens of the place. The procession was formed, and the line of march taken up in the direction of the First Presbyterian Church, which stands on the site of the old Crusade church. Here the visitors were welcomed by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Faulconer, and a committee of Hillsboro women. The church was decorated for the occasion. The famous Memorial Room overlooks the auditorium of the church from a slight elevation, and here sat the beloved Mother Thompson, surrounded by the following old Crusaders of Hillsboro: Mrs. Collins, Mrs. William Scott, Mrs. R. Evans, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. J. M. Boyd, Mrs. William Barry, Mrs. McSurely, Mrs. Willet, Miss Maria Stuart. The seating capacity of the church was inadequate, and overflow meetings were held at the Methodist Church, where Mother Thompson is a lay member, and at the Webster and Washington School buildings.”
“Ah, Webster and Washington,” I say. “I went to both schools and wish they were still … uh, please excuse my manners, Mrs. Rives, I did not mean to interrupt, please do go on with the story.”
“No worries,” she says, somewhat confused, before continuing. “‘On the platform sat Mrs. Lillian M.N. Stevens, the National President; Miss Anna Gordon, Vice President; Mrs. Annie Woods Clark, State President, of Columbus; Miss Cornelia Dow, of Maine, daughter of the late Neal Dow; Mrs. Beauchamp, of Kentucky, Assistant Recording Secretary; Mrs. Susan M.D. Fry, Recording Secretary; and Princess Olive Christian Malvery, of India.
“After prayer by Rev. William Jasper McSurely and the reading of the Crusade Psalm by Mrs. McSurely out of the Crusade Bible, Rev. Mr. Faulconer welcomed the visitors, assuring them their visit was a spiritual uplift and inspiration to the people of Hillsboro.
“Mrs. Stevens, in a brief talk, stated that the old Crusaders should be given the prominence rather than the national officers, and for that reason her remarks, as well as the remarks of the others, would be brief. Miss Anna Gordon, who was called upon, said that as they were approaching the church, Princess Malvery had said regretfully, ‘We are a little travel-stained for
such a memorable visit, are we not?’ and added, ‘That becomes pilgrims, doesn’t it?’ Princess Malvery was called upon to read an original poem by Kate Lunden Sunderlain.
“Mrs. Fry spoke of being with her husband in Halle, Germany, at the time of the Crusade, and of being entirely at sea as to the condition of affairs when she received papers and periodicals ridiculing the women who were taking part in the Crusade. Mrs. Beauchamp addressed the old Crusaders as leaders of the Gideon Band and called attention to their heroic work in behalf of the children and the home.
“Mrs. Annie W. Clark spoke briefly, with great force and feeling. She said: ‘When asked to occupy a place on the platform, it had not entered my head that there would be any time or opportunity for me to say anything; but it comes to me now, as I look at these dear old Crusaders, that we owe all these great movements to some heroic heart, to some heroic leader, who dared to begin.’ Mrs. Clark sat down amidst a storm of applause.
“At this point, someone asked that Mother Thompson might be requested to stand that the audience might all see where she was and which was she.”
As Mother Thompson begins to rise on a memorable day more than 113 years ago, let’s pause for now, and we’ll continue next week.
Steve Roush is a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press.
Thirty years after that, in the year of our Lord 1903, a large delegate of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union made a pilgrimage to Hillsboro to march to pay tribute to Mother Thompson and the Hillsboro crusaders.
As I sit on the porch of the Mother Thompson Home, I ask the daughter of Eliza Jane about that indelible day.
“So, Mrs. Rives, it was announced that the more than 500 delegates attending the 30th National Convention of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union would make special a trip to Hillsboro, ‘the home of the great crusade movement,’ on Nov. 16, 1903, and preparations were made here to greet those coming by train that day,” I say. “Could you tell me more about that memorable moment in time?”
“You are correct,” she says with a smile, “it was certainly a memorable moment in time. I could go on and on about that day, but I have a few newspaper clippings here that give a wonderful depiction of that occasion. Here is one I dearly savor entitled, ‘Mother Thompson’s home, formerly the home of Governor Trimble, is visited.’
“The paper of that date says, ‘The National Convention of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union has been is session in Cincinnati the past week, and Monday was the high-water mark of interest when five hundred of the White Ribboners visited Hillsboro, the home of Mrs. Eliza J. Thompson, known the world over as ‘Mother of the Crusade.’ Eight coaches filled to overflowing arrived here about ten o’clock over the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern.
“The Commercial-Tribune of Tuesday had the following report of the occasion: As the train bearing the White Ribbon host steamed into the historic little town of Hillsboro, the banks surrounding the station were lined with enthusiastic citizens of the place. The procession was formed, and the line of march taken up in the direction of the First Presbyterian Church, which stands on the site of the old Crusade church. Here the visitors were welcomed by the pastor, Rev. Mr. Faulconer, and a committee of Hillsboro women. The church was decorated for the occasion. The famous Memorial Room overlooks the auditorium of the church from a slight elevation, and here sat the beloved Mother Thompson, surrounded by the following old Crusaders of Hillsboro: Mrs. Collins, Mrs. William Scott, Mrs. R. Evans, Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. J. M. Boyd, Mrs. William Barry, Mrs. McSurely, Mrs. Willet, Miss Maria Stuart. The seating capacity of the church was inadequate, and overflow meetings were held at the Methodist Church, where Mother Thompson is a lay member, and at the Webster and Washington School buildings.”
“Ah, Webster and Washington,” I say. “I went to both schools and wish they were still … uh, please excuse my manners, Mrs. Rives, I did not mean to interrupt, please do go on with the story.”
“No worries,” she says, somewhat confused, before continuing. “‘On the platform sat Mrs. Lillian M.N. Stevens, the National President; Miss Anna Gordon, Vice President; Mrs. Annie Woods Clark, State President, of Columbus; Miss Cornelia Dow, of Maine, daughter of the late Neal Dow; Mrs. Beauchamp, of Kentucky, Assistant Recording Secretary; Mrs. Susan M.D. Fry, Recording Secretary; and Princess Olive Christian Malvery, of India.
“After prayer by Rev. William Jasper McSurely and the reading of the Crusade Psalm by Mrs. McSurely out of the Crusade Bible, Rev. Mr. Faulconer welcomed the visitors, assuring them their visit was a spiritual uplift and inspiration to the people of Hillsboro.
“Mrs. Stevens, in a brief talk, stated that the old Crusaders should be given the prominence rather than the national officers, and for that reason her remarks, as well as the remarks of the others, would be brief. Miss Anna Gordon, who was called upon, said that as they were approaching the church, Princess Malvery had said regretfully, ‘We are a little travel-stained for
such a memorable visit, are we not?’ and added, ‘That becomes pilgrims, doesn’t it?’ Princess Malvery was called upon to read an original poem by Kate Lunden Sunderlain.
“Mrs. Fry spoke of being with her husband in Halle, Germany, at the time of the Crusade, and of being entirely at sea as to the condition of affairs when she received papers and periodicals ridiculing the women who were taking part in the Crusade. Mrs. Beauchamp addressed the old Crusaders as leaders of the Gideon Band and called attention to their heroic work in behalf of the children and the home.
“Mrs. Annie W. Clark spoke briefly, with great force and feeling. She said: ‘When asked to occupy a place on the platform, it had not entered my head that there would be any time or opportunity for me to say anything; but it comes to me now, as I look at these dear old Crusaders, that we owe all these great movements to some heroic heart, to some heroic leader, who dared to begin.’ Mrs. Clark sat down amidst a storm of applause.
“At this point, someone asked that Mother Thompson might be requested to stand that the audience might all see where she was and which was she.”
As Mother Thompson begins to rise on a memorable day more than 113 years ago, let’s pause for now, and we’ll continue next week.
Steve Roush is a vice president of an international media company and a columnist and contributing writer for The Highland County Press.