Twenty Years at Hull-House
By Jane Addams
Jane Addams was from a large wealthy family in the small town of Cedarville, Illinois. She was born in 1860, the fifth surviving child of eight. Her mother and sibling died during childbirth when Jane was two years old. Her father, John Addams, was a Quaker, a prosperous sawmill owner, and a state senator for sixteen years. He was a staunch supporter and friend of Abraham Lincoln. He encouraged education, sending his daughters to boarding school and impressed Jane with the virtues of merit, tolerance and a strong work ethic. These virtues were th…
