Anna Elizabeth Dickinson was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1842. A member of the Quaker Church, she was very well
educated and became a supporter of the growing anti-slavery movement in America. When the Civil War started, and
threatened to break the Nation in two, Anna became a public speaker on both the evils of slavery, and her support for
the Union war effort. While her views on slavery were consistent with that of the Quaker Church, her support of war was
not, and she was eventually ex-communicated. But her passion and patriotism did not wane and she continued to travel
throughout the North, speaking out, publicly, in support of the Union cause.

On January 15, 1864, at their invitation, Anna Dickinson addressed a Joint Session of Congress, also attended by the
Supreme Court, President Lincoln, and his entire Cabinet. She was also hired by the Republican Party to muster votes
for the Republican candidates and support for the war. While the average male worker earned ten cents a day, Anna was
offered on hundred dollars for each of her speaking engagements, she did not always receive payment. Many credit her with
rallying the crucial support which was needed within the civilian population and their elected representatives in order for
the North to continue their efforts in fighting to end slavery and to preserve the Union.

In later years, Anna came to live with the Ackley family of Goshen, who offered her a room over their ice cream parlor -
currently the site of Joe Fix It's - on West Main Street. She relied on the charity of the Ackley family and lived nearly 40
years in that apartment, spending her final few years at the Ackley's home on Murray Avenue where she died just six days
before her 90th birthday. She is buried in the Ackley family plot at the Slate Hill Cemetery in Goshen where, until now,
her grave was marked only by a small stone stating her name.

Local history tells of Anna sitting in the ice cream parlor and telling tales of her travels and speeches - which many in
Goshen did not believe.

We know to believe her now.

In 2001, the Colonel Ellis Camp - under the leadership of Memorials Officer Louis D. Neuburger, Sr. - raised the required
funds and placed a large bronze plaque on the building in which Anna E. Dickinson lived the last 40 years of her life, as well
as another plaque at her grave in the Slate Hill Cemetery, each of which tell of her life and accomplishments.

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