Mary Jane Aldrich was an American temperance reformer, lecturer, and essayist. She served as vice-president of the NationalWoman's Christian Temperance Union and president of the Iowa union. At the time of the division in the ranks of the WCTU, Aldrich, with the Iowa union, adhered to the non-partisan temperance work, and became evangelistic secretary of the National Non-Partisan union. As a temperance worker, she was characterized as sanguine and practical. As a speaker, she was bright, forceful, entertaining and logical.
Early life and education
Mary Jane Johnston was born in Sidney Plains, New York, March 19, 1833. Her home was on a tract of land purchased before the Revolutionary War by her paternal great-grandfather, the Rev. William Johnson, a Scotch-Irish Presbyterian minister who, with her grandfather, Col. Witter Johnston, was in the Continental Army. Her father, Milton Johnston, was a farmer. Her mother, Delia Hull, was a well-educated woman of a deeply religious nature. She had at least four siblings, three brothers and a sister. Beyond attending a select school in early childhood, and later in the public school, she attended three terms in Franklin Academy. Since turning 18, she was deeply interested in Christian and philanthropic work. At the age of 19, she united with the Congregational Church of Sidney.
Career
In 1855, she married John Aldrich of Norwich, New York. They removed soon after to Nebraska, where the first ten years of her married life were full of pioneer experiences. In 1866, she removed with her husband and two children, a son and daughter, Carl and Luta, to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where her youngest child, a son, John, was born. Her uneventful life was spent in caring for her husband and children, as well as in Sunday school and missionary work. From childhood, a "total abstainer" and in full sympathy with prohibitory law, she was never a temperance worker, not even a member of any temperance society, until the Women's Crusade. That movement fanned a latent interest into deep enthusiasm, brought out the hitherto undeveloped powers of her nature, and joined her to a work that would serve everyone. Quick in thought and prompt in action, she soon became a recognized worker, enjoying the consent and co-operation of her husband and children. At the organization of the WCTU of Iowa, November 3–4, 1874, the Raising of Lazarus was her text for more earnest temperance work by Christian people in restoring to a better life and nobler life those who were morally dead through drink. Later, at a county WCTU convention, she took the place of a college professor, who had failed to appear, and delivered her first address. Made a vice-president of the National WCTU at its organization, November 18–20, 1874, she visited different localities to enlist women in the work of that society. Chosen corresponding secretary of the Iowa WCTU in 1875, she held the office for one year only, leaving it in order to spend more time in the field. In different positions, she was a member of the executive committee of the Iowa union, and there were few counties in Iowa where she did not speak. Elected president of her State union in 1883. She was then elected corresponding secretary by the National WCTU. When the National Union, at the St. Louis Convention in 1884, declared in favor of political temperance work by the union, Aldrich, with the majority of the Iowa delegation, voted against the resolution. She because the efficient co-worker of Judith Ellen Foster, the president, who represented the Iowa WCTU in its open opposition to political WCTU work. In 1885, Aldrich declined re-election as president of the Iowa State union because she was unable to give to the work all the time it required. She attended the convention held in Cleveland, Ohio, January 22–24, 1890, at which time the Non-partisan National WCTU was organized. As secretary of the department of evangelistic work, she was a member of the executive committee from its organization.
Later life
The later years of Aldrich's life were spent in a quiet home in southern Missouri. Here, in 1905, failing health permitted only the quietest celebration of the golden wedding anniversary. In 1907, in bad health, Aldrich came with her husband and daughter to the old home in Sidney, and renewed her membership in the church of her youth. She died in Sidney, April 27, 1909, and was buried at that town's Prospect Hill Cemetery.
