Clara Cleghorn Hoffman (January 18, 1831 – February 13, 1908) was an American temperance activist. She was a lecturer within the National

Woman's Christian Temperance Union The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is an international temperance organization, originating among women in the United States Prohibition movement. It was among the first organizations of women devoted to social reform with a program th ...

(WCTU). Hoffman was born in

New York state New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. stat ...

, but became identified with the white-ribbon movement in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

, giving up her position as principal of a school to enter its ranks. Under her leadership,

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

became one of the best organized of states, while her growing power and popularity as a leader were evidenced by the fact that for five years of her state presidency, there was not one ballot cast against her. At the

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Convention in 1893, she was made Assistant Recording Secretary, and at

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

, 1894, chosen Recording Secretary to succeed

Lillian M. N. Stevens Lillian M. N. Stevens (1843–1914) was an American temperance worker and social reformer, born at Dover, Maine. She helped launch the Maine chapter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.), served as its president, and was elect ...

Early years and education

Clara Cleghorn was born in

De Kalb, New York DeKalb is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 2,434 at the 2010 census. The town is named after American general Baron de Kalb, a German officer serving under George Washington. The Town of DeKalb is in the ...

, January 18, 1831. She was the eleventh child in a family of thirteen children, seven daughters and six sons. She was the daughter of Humphrey Cleghorn, a Scotchman. He was an abolitionist and a conductor on the famous "

underground railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...

" in the anti-slavery days. Her mother was Olive Ruruham, daughter of Major Elisha Burnham, who bore an honorable part in the Revolutionary War. She received her education in New York and

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

Career

In 1861, she married Dr. Goswin Hoffman, a German physician. For twelve years, she was principal of Lathrop School in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1882, she was appointed, by the general officers of the National WCTU, president of the

WCTU,

Frances E. Willard Frances Elizabeth Caroline Willard (September 28, 1839 – February 17, 1898) was an Americans, American educator, Temperance movement, temperance reformer, and women's suffrage, women's suffragist. Willard became the national president of Wom ...

having visited Kansas City to look over the ground and having learned of the mental powers and vigorous executive talents of Hoffman, her success as a teacher, her remarkable voice and elocutionary training, and her earnest Christianity. At that time, one of the leading merchants in the city, in whose home Willard was entertained, said to her: "If you have come here to speak and organize a Woman's Christian Temperance Union, you are welcome, hut if you have come to spirit away Mrs. Clara Hoffman from our schools, then I, as a member of the school board, have a controversy with you, however cordially I may treat you as my guest." But Hoffman had felt inspired to join the crusade movement, and she left an assured position. It was within a year well-managed, and in 1883, being duly elected by the State convention, Hoffman left her position and entered upon the work. Front that time on, the work in Missouri, which had been playfully railed "poor old Misery" by the white-ribboners, forged forward, until it attained a position hardly-second to that of any State in the Union. Every town and village had its local association. Hoffman's labor was almost incessant. She rallied the forces with the skill of a major-general, drilling them with the thoroughness that her long experience as a teacher had caused to become second nature, and inspiring them with zeal. No woman has been better loved by her associates. Headquarters were established in Kansas City, where systematic work was planned. Temperance sentiment was cultivated. Improved legislation on many lines was secured, and the good work continued with Hoffman at the head. Her powers as a speaker, her strength in debate on the floor of the National WCTU convention, caused her to become a national leader, and a national organizer. She was one of its fittest survivals, by sheer force of intellect, pluck and devotion. She was in demand from

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, and made endless trips, speaking and organizing. Her powers upon the platform were greatly developed. The courage and vigor with which she attacked conservatism made her a tremendous power before an audience. She was the delegate of the National WCTU at the Woman's Council in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

To her was given the honor of being one of the most honored delegates at the

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

Convention. Hoffman has two sons. Shed died February 13, 1908, in Kansas City of

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

References

Attribution

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Bibliography

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffman, Clara Cleghorn 1831 births 1908 deaths Woman's Christian Temperance Union people People from De Kalb, New York American temperance activists Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century