Esther Saville Allen


Esther Saville Allen was a 19th-century American author. In her day, Allen was probably the author of more works, both in prose and verse, than any other woman in Arkansas.

Early years and education

Esther Saville was born in Honeoye, New York, December 11, 1837. Her parents were Joseph and Esther Redfern Saville, natives of England. Her father contributed to British journals of his time. Before Allen was ten years old, she made her first public effort in a poem, which was published. At the age of 12 years, she wrote for Morris and Willis a poem which they published in the "Home Journal." While a pupil in the common schools of western New York, and in the academy in Rushford, New York, she wrote and published many poems under the pen-name of "Winnie Woodbine."

Career

She became a teacher in the public schools of western New York and continued to write for eastern papers, assuming her proper name, "Etta Saville