Prairie Pages
Vol. 2 # 1 Education Services Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
Jane Addams
Portrait of Jane and the children of Hull House by Robert
Thom. Courtesy Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.
Jane Addams is one of the best known women from
Illinois. She worked with the poor, advocated peace, and
pushed for social change.
Jane Addams was born September 6, 1860, in Cedarville,
Illinois. She was the eighth of nine children, but only two sis-ters
and a brother survived into adulthood. Her parents were
Sarah Weber and John Huy Addams. Her father owned a saw-mill
and was president of the Second National Bank of
Freeport. He also served as state representative for nine terms.
When Jane was two years old her mother died, and she became
very attached to her father.
Glossary
Advocate—to speak
in favor of or to ar-gue
for a cause
