Quakers

I am not so sure there are any Puritans left over today but there certainly are Quakers. I bought an 1885 house near Caesar's Creek which was built by Quakers as were many of the (old) houses in Springboro, Wanysville, Lebanon, etc.  While there, the family of the woman who had built my house befriended me and I was included in their family events for a couple of years until I moved.  The entire family was still "Friends" and so were most of their friends. I learned a lot about them...there was nothing not to like. Here are a few things of note:

In the Civil War, the Quakers did not fight but they certainly took car of all the farms where the soldiers had gone off to war and left wives, children.

The Quakers (men and women) in the late 1800's were registered to a political party, but did not vote. they were on city councils, etc and helped make policy for the regions in which they lived. They certainly were not "apolitical."  Women were encouraged to express their views publicly the same as the men. 

By 1870, Young Quaker women were abandoning "plain speech," the "Thee and Thou" we all associate with that sect. They were abandoning the plain Quaker dress as well.

Quaker girls were allowed to date outside of their Friend circle and did not necessarily have to have permission on whom to marry. 

Each Quaker believed he or she had a single high calling...preaching, ministery, caring for the sick, etc. and pursued perfection in that calling. there was also a strive for perfection in everything they did.

More than other cultures of the time, Quaker women shared a large amount of equality with their husbands.

Enough!! have a great weekend!  Julie