Sarah Johnson Prichard

Life Dates1830 – 1909

Sarah Johnson Prichard was a widely published author of fiction and essays. She devoted herself chiefly to the production of stories for the young. "And in doing so...has thrown fresh sunlight into many a young life and moulded many an inspiring spirit to a more perfect pattern." Her earliest endeavor in the field of literature was an article in the Waterbury American in the summer of 1853, describing her travels from Niagara northward. Her first book, "Martha's Hooks and Eyes," was published in 1860. Other volumes appeared in the following order: "Nat's Shoes," 1862; "Kate Morgan and her Soldiers," 1862; Kenny Carle's Uniform," 1863; "The Old Stone Chimney," 1865; "Joe and Jim," 1865; Marjie's Matches," 1866; "Hugh's Fire on the Mountain," 1866; "Faye Mar of Storm-Cliff," 1868; "Rose Marbury," 1870; "What Shawney did to the Lighthouse," 1871 and "Aunt Saidee's Cow" 1872. Besides writing fiction, Sarah also contributed stories and articles to The Atlantic Monthly, The Evening Post, The New York Tribune, St. Nicholas and The Waterbury American. She ceased writing stories in the 1890s, when she became a major contributor to a three volume history of Waterbury. Sarah was born on January 11, 1830. She was the daughter of Elizur Edwin Prichard and Betsey J. Cooper (who was a lineal descendant of John Cooper, one of the founders of New Haven). Her father was a successful manufacturer of buttons and other small metal items. Sarah had three sisters and a brother who died in infancy. None of the sisters ever married. Their father died relatively young; his wife outlived him by 27 years. Sarah lived in Waterbury at the southeast corner of Bank and Grand Streets (engraving of homestead, The Town and City of Waterbury, Anderson, Vol. II p. 271).