Childhood and Family
Jane Addams, age eight
On September 6th,1860, Jane Addams was born Laura Jane as the youngest of eight siblings into a large Northern family in Cedarville, Illinois. As a young child, her life was consumed by grief and loss. Three of her siblings passed away as infants, and another at the age of sixteen. Jane had only four siblings by the time she reached eight years of age. Her mother, Sarah Weber Addams, passed away while giving birth to her ninth child, who was stillborn due to prematurity, Jane was only an infant at the time. Jane was also burdened with health conditions her entire life. At age four she developed Tuberculosis of the spine, later this illness caused her to stop studying at college and undergo spinal operations.
During hard childhood times, without her mother, Jane became very close to her adored father, John Huy Addams. He was the President of the Second National Bank of Freeport, and an agricultural business man who was politically prominent. Jane used him as a role model throughout her life. Later, in 1868, when Jane was eight, John remarried to Anna Hostetter Haldmen.
While Jane was a child, she spent most of her time reading books, or playing outside, and was often at Sunday school. As a teenager, Jane Addams dreamed of creating something, or having a great impact on the world. She wanted to help people in a way no one ever had before.
During hard childhood times, without her mother, Jane became very close to her adored father, John Huy Addams. He was the President of the Second National Bank of Freeport, and an agricultural business man who was politically prominent. Jane used him as a role model throughout her life. Later, in 1868, when Jane was eight, John remarried to Anna Hostetter Haldmen.
While Jane was a child, she spent most of her time reading books, or playing outside, and was often at Sunday school. As a teenager, Jane Addams dreamed of creating something, or having a great impact on the world. She wanted to help people in a way no one ever had before.