Elizabeth (Edwards) Coale was born and raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania where she received her education at the Sheron School for Young Ladies. The family were of the Quaker faith, and the Coales continued in that faith in Illinois. She married Benjamin Coale in Indiana in 1846, and they moved to Illinois in 1867. They made this trip by rail except for the last few miles made by covered wagon. The wagon trip took a full day because of the muddy roads. They had six children, but only 4 lived to see their mother reach the age of 99 years. As reported in her obituary, Elizabeth Coale was a woman of unusual intellect. She was a writer and kept informed on many subjects throughout her life. (22 Mar 1926) Benjamin Coale died May 11 1892, of diabetes. He was hospitalized for a month in the hospital of Battle Creek Michigan before returning home to die. (13 May 1892)
After Benjamin's death Elizabeth Coale blossomed as a writer and commenter. She wrote frequently to the Pantagraph, on a wide variety of subjects. The earliest letter that I found was written in 1902 and concerned political cartoons that appeared in the Sunday Pantagraph. She characterized these pictures as "coarse, ridiculous and unseemly."
In 1914 Mrs Coale was writing to the Pantagraph with regard to the European war. As a Quaker, Mrs Coale was one hundred percent against war. Rather than preparedness for war, Mrs Coale urged the
U S to prepare for the continuation of peace (when there was peace). If as much money were spent on the alleviation of distress, better care for children and the improvement of the lives of all people, the selfishness and animosity that leads to war would be avoided. (30 Oct 1914) She continued to write many times in this vein until the U S entered the war. When the war was over and the negotiations of peace were in train, Mrs Coale criticized the U S Legislature, which failed to ratify the peace treaty or approve joining in the League of Nations.
And oh the duplicity manifested at that time . . . those senators opposed to its (the treaty and league) adoption frequently declared they were not actuated by a partisan spirit, but solely by patriotism yet hardly was the session closed when Republican Leader Lodge announced without reserve and with seeming delight, that he would make these subjects a leading cause in the presidential campaign of next year. (3 Dec 1919)
A woman from Saybrook wrote to the Pantagraph asking for Mrs Coale's comments on her willingness to send her sons to war. She answered in the Pantagraph that two of her grandsons fought in the Great War and were severely wounded in that war. One of them was not expected to recover from his injuries, but was thought to be permanently disabled. She supported the League of Nations as the best chance for peace between the nations of the world. (11 Dec 1919)
The relaxation of clothing conventions were disturbing to Mrs Coale -- and many others of her generation. She wrote regarding two young women who paraded down a street in Bloomington clad in only their swimming costumes -- which left their legs bare from mid thigh and their arm pits showing -- only because their car had broken down on the way to a bathing place. Bloomington was not to tolerate displays of public nudity, either through public approbation or ordinances! (27 Jul 1921)
In 1916 Mrs Coale voted for the first time in her life! She wrote a column for the Pantagraph on this momentous occasion, rejoicing in her power. Men had questioned whether voting would be too taxing or expose women to ill effects, but Mrs Coale was scornful of their concerns:
. . .they [men] are so concerned about us when we want to exercise our "rights" at the ballot box, for fear we will become too tired with such arduous work as making a cross, or . . . that our housekeeping will be neglected, so we cannot prepare a meal for their craving appetites . . . My experience in the past and present, does away with the flimsy objections offered by men against equal suffrage. (8 Nov 1916)
Mrs Coale wrote on many many occasions to the Pantagraph on subjects such as fashion, alcohol (she was teetotal) and violence. She was admired as a voice of wisdom and good sense. She was a very interesting woman who lived a very long and fruitful life!