Isabel Richey (, Grimes; June 16, 1858 – November 13, 1910) was an American poet of the

long nineteenth century The long nineteenth century is a term for the 125-year period beginning with the onset of the French Revolution in 1789, and ending with the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It was coined by Soviet writer Ilya Ehrenburg and later popularized ...

. She was "perhaps the first woman in

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

to publish books of poetry".

Early life and education

Isabel Grimes was born in

Lancaster Lancaster may refer to: Lands and titles *The County Palatine of Lancaster, a synonym for Lancashire *Duchy of Lancaster, one of only two British royal duchies *Duke of Lancaster *Earl of Lancaster *House of Lancaster, a British royal dynasty ...

Schuyler County, Missouri Schuyler County is a County (United States), county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, its population was 4,032, making it the fourth-least populous county in Mi ...

, June 16, 1858. Her father, Henry Clay Grimes (1832-1903), was a

Kentuckian Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

and her mother, Mary Frances (Tipton) Grimes (1836-1909), was of the Tipton family of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

. Owing to disturbances caused by the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

her father, who was a merchant, removed his family to

Ottumwa, Iowa Ottumwa ( ) is a List of cities in Iowa, city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,529 at the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census. Located in the state's southeastern section, th ...

, when Richey was three years old. In her new home, the child began her education and was a quick and earnest pupil, always winning the good will of her instructors. A year before the time for graduation, her parents moved to the town of Afton, Iowa. Here, she finished in the high school.

Career

For two years after graduation, she taught in the home schools. After marrying Justus G. Richey on December 24, 1878, in Afton, Iowa, they resided in

Plattsmouth, Nebraska Plattsmouth is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 6,620 at the 2020 census. History The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed the mouth of the Platte River, just north of what is now Main St ...

. It was through the grief that followed the death of her first child, a son, Welch Richey (1880-1885), that Richey became aware of her skill in poetry. In 1888, she had another son, Justus Livingston Richey (1888-1957). The first sign of her poetical ability exhibited itself in fugitive verse, but she only wrote when in the mood to do so, and only a small portion of her work was offered for publication. Her first work was published in

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the List of cities in Nebraska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Nebraska. It is located in the Midwestern United States along the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's List of United S ...

papers, writing for the press starting in 1892. From 1893, Richey published two volumes of verse. In 1895, she published through the press of

Charles Wells Moulton Charles Wells Moulton (1859 – March 17, 1913) was an American poet, critic, editor, and publisher. He was the founding editor of '' The Magazine of Poetry and Literary Review'', and the publisher of ''A Woman of the Century'' (1893). Early life ...

, of

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

, ''A Harp of the West'', which volume of poems received flattering notices at the hands of

William Dean Howells William Dean Howells ( ; March 1, 1837 – May 11, 1920) was an American Realism (arts), realist novelist, literary critic, playwright, and diplomat, nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters". He was particularly known for his tenure as editor of ...

Joaquin Miller Cincinnatus Heine Miller ( ; September 8, 1837 – February 17, 1913), better known by his pen name Joaquin Miller ( ), was an American poet, author, and frontiersman. He became known as the "Poet of the Sierras" after the Sierra Nevada, about wh ...

, Prof. Herbert Bates, "Ironquill" ( Eugene Fitch Ware),

James Whitcomb Riley James Whitcomb Riley (October 7, 1849 – July 22, 1916) was an American writer, poet, and best-selling author. During his lifetime he was known as the "Hoosier Poet" and "Children's Poet" for his dialect works and his children's poetry. His ...

, and other authors and critics of the day. She provided the lyrics for 'The Wood Nymph's Song', set to music by W. W. Abbott and published in 1896. Richey's poems were generally serious, reflective, womanly; at times, they were tinged with a faint suspicion of weariness and sadness. She sought no startling effect or vivid denouements. Her versification was smooth; she never forced rhymes and accents. Her poems appeared in ''Everywhere'', the ''Omaha Bee'', the ''Omaha World-Herald'', ''Woman's Tribune'' (Washington), the ''Magazine of Poetry'', the ''Nebraska State Journal'', the ''Woman's Weekly'', and other periodicals. Isabel Richey died at Plattsmouth, November 13, 1910.

Selected works

* ''Harp of the west'', 1895 * ''When love is king'', 1900

Notes

References

Attribution

* * * *

Bibliography

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Richey, Isabel 1858 births 1910 deaths 19th-century American women writers 19th-century American poets 20th-century American women writers 20th-century American poets Poets from Missouri People from Lancaster, Missouri People from Plattsmouth, Nebraska Poets from Nebraska American women poets