Julia E. McConaughy facts for kids

Julia E. McConaughy (born January 1, 1834 – died August 29, 1885) was an amazing American writer. She wrote a huge number of articles, especially for religious magazines and Sunday school materials. She also wrote 14 books and about 8,000 articles for 75 different newspapers and magazines! People loved her writing so much that her articles were often copied and shared in other papers, even in England. One editor said she was the only writer whose articles he never turned down. She always chose to write for religious publications, even if it meant less money, because her main goal was to share her faith.

Early Life and Learning

Julia E. Loomis was born in Twinsburg, Ohio, on January 1, 1834. Her family had Puritan roots. Her mother was from Connecticut, and her father, Elisha Loomis, was also from Connecticut. Her father moved to Ohio in 1817, becoming one of the first settlers in the Western Reserve area.

A Love for Reading

From the age of seven, Julia loved to read. When she was ten, she broke her ankle in a carriage accident. This meant she had to stay home for several months. This time helped her read even more. She found a library in a neighbor's attic, full of old newspapers, magazines, and books like Waverley.

School Days

Julia spent her first twelve years on a farm. Then, her family moved to Hudson, Ohio. There, she attended the Hudson Female Seminary. Her teacher, Miss Mary Strong, helped Julia become interested in religion. At age fourteen, Julia joined the Congregational Church in Hudson.

A Life of Teaching and Writing

During her studies, Julia became an assistant teacher at Miss Strong's seminary. She taught there and in the village school for several years. Later, she taught at a new seminary and then at the High School in Akron, Ohio. She also worked as a Lady Principal in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where she was in charge of the school.

Marriage and New Roles

At age 24, Julia married Rev. Nathaniel McConaughy in New York City on June 14, 1868. They soon moved to Millville, New Jersey, which was her home for eight years. As a minister's wife, she was very active in her community. She led ladies' prayer meetings, helped with Sunday School, and taught Bible classes. She also visited the sick, helped the poor, and supported many good causes. After Millville, she lived in Swedesboro, New Jersey, for two years before moving to Elwood, New Jersey.

Starting Her Writing Career

Julia began writing for newspapers when she was 21. She wrote short, clear articles. Her first article, "Learning Hymns," was published in the New York Evangelist in 1855. She continued writing until her death.

A Prolific Author

Even as her family grew, Julia kept writing. For 30 years, she wrote about one article a day for many religious newspapers and magazines. Some of these included:

• The Presbyterian of Philadelphia
• The New York Evangelist
• The Sunday School Times
• The Herald and Presbyter of Chicago
• The American Messenger
• Child's Paper

She also wrote for many literary magazines that focused on religious themes and family life. These included:

• Arthur's Home Magazine
• Peterson's Magazine
• The Ladies' Home Journal

Julia also contributed to farming journals like:

• The New England Farmer
• The Ohio Farmer
• The Rural New Yorker
• The Farm and Garden (where she managed the "Household Department" at the time of her death)

She even wrote for children's magazines such as:

• The Schoolday Visitor
• The Little Corporal
• Our Young People
• Golden Hours

In total, Julia wrote at least 8,000 articles for over 75 different publications. On top of that, she wrote fourteen books, all for young people.

Later Years and Legacy

In her later life, as her own sons grew up, Julia became very interested in helping young men. She started writing articles especially for them. For several years, she wrote a weekly article for the "Clerk's Department" of The American Grocer. Many young men wrote to her, showing how much they appreciated her advice.

Julia also joined the "Shut-in-Band," an organization for people who were ill and confined to their homes. Even though she was suffering from a painful illness herself, she wrote many letters to other sick people. She wanted to cheer them up and make their lives brighter. After she passed away, people found the addresses of 44 invalids she had written to. These were all strangers to her, living all over the country.

Julia had been ill for seven years before her death. The disease she died from had started about 20 years earlier. She had several operations that helped her live longer. She passed away at her home in Somerville, New Jersey, on August 29, 1885. She was buried in the Somerville Cemetery.

Selected Works

• Archie at the Seaside
• Hours with my Picture Book
• Minnie's Thinking Cap
• How to be Beautiful
• The Little Box and its Travels
• Respect the Burden
• The Prize Bible and other Stories
• One Hundred Gold Dollars
• The Hard Master
• Hanna's Lesson
• Clarence
• The Fire-fighters
• Capital for Working Boys