American writer Lucy Ellen Guernsey was born in Rochester, New York, on August 12, 1826, and died on November 3, 1899. Despite never having children of her own, she was a fervent supporter of moral development and early education in children. She produced nearly 60 novels during her most prolific years (1855-85), the majority of which were picked up by the American Sunday School Union for publication. She was involved in the founding of the Home for Aged Women and organized the first sewing school for children from working-class families. She was a prominent part of the Rochester community. In addition to becoming the president of the Christ Church Missionary Society (1881-85), she taught an adult biblical class for Sunday School and wrote the prominent religious journal The Parish Visitor. James T. and Electra Guernsey were the parents of Lucy and her sister Clara. Her father, James, was a philanthropist and businessman from the Rochester area who contributed to the moral and cultural development of his western New York neighborhood. Apart from his commercial endeavors, he had a significant role in horticulture's introduction to the region. Long before the abolitionist movement gained steam in the North, James was also well-known as an anti-slavery crusader, but among the community, he was most renowned for being a friend of the Native Americans.
![Cover of Ready Work for Willing Hands; Or, the Story of Edith Allison [By L.E. Guernsey].](https://images.bookhype.com/covers/1b/43/91576f15-1e6d-4bf6-b409-81ecf98934b1/9781154152982-2327d2d148274a4c3ef3d3-medium-cropped.jpg)
