Alice B. Neal Haven
Alice B. Neal Haven was an American author born in 1827 in Hudson, New York. She faced significant hardships in her early life, including the death of her father on her third birthday, multiple changes in guardianship, and health challenges such as eye problems and blindness. Despite these struggles, Haven began writing in her teens, encouraged by her sister to delay publishing until she was eighteen. Her early work caught the attention of editor Joseph C. Neal, leading to a correspondence that culminated in their marriage in 1846. However, her husband passed away just seven months later, and Haven took over the editing of the Saturday Gazette, striving to keep it operational.
Throughout her career, Haven published articles in various periodicals, including Godey's Lady's Book, and authored several books, starting with a children's book in 1849. She created a series of novels known as the Home Books, which were inspired by proverbs. Haven married Samuel Livermore Haven in 1853 and had four children, continuing to write until her health declined due to tuberculosis. She died shortly after giving birth to her fifth child in 1863, leaving behind a legacy of literary contributions despite her relatively brief life.
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Subject Terms
Alice B. Neal Haven
Author
- Born: September 13, 1827
- Birthplace: Hudson, New York
- Died: August 23, 1863
- Place of death: Mamaroneck, New York
Biography
Alice B. Neal Haven was born in Hudson, New York, in 1827. She was the youngest of three children. Her childhood was wrought with difficulty. Haven’s father died on her third birthday. At age six, she was adopted by her uncle. Three years later, at age nine, she returned to live with her mother, who had remarried. Haven also had a number of eye problems and bouts of blindness as a child.
Her family was very active in publishing. Haven started to write while still in her teens. Her sister Cornelia suggested that Haven not see her name in print until she was eighteen, asking her sister not to submit any work until then. Following her sister’s advice, Haven adopted a pen name.
Around this time, Haven began sending her work out to numerous publications for consideration. One such publication was the Saturday Gazette. The editor, Joseph C. Neal, took interest in the young writer and the two wrote to each other for months. Once Neal learned of Haven’s true identity, the two arranged to meet in 1846. A few months later, the two were married. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last long. Seven months after they were married, Joseph C. Neal passed away. Haven was working as an assistant editor to Neal’s Saturday Gazette at the time. Haven wanted the publication to remain in business, so she kept it going for a few years following Neal’s death. At the same time, Haven began writing for other publications. A few of her articles were published in Godey’s Lady’s Book.
In 1849, her first book was published. It was a children’s book titled Helen Marton’s Trial. She followed that book in 1851 with a sequel, Watch and Pray: Or, Helen’s Confirmation. The next year, Haven began to publish her Home Books, a series of novels that had nothing in common besides the fact their titles were proverbs. The first of these books was No Such Word as Fail: Or, The Children’s Journey.
In 1853, Haven married a businessman by the name of Samuel Livermore Haven. The two moved to New York City. Haven continued to write for journals and to publish her Home Books. The Havens also had their first child in 1853. In 1854, the family left New York City and moved elsewhere in New York state. In the following years, the family would have three more children.
In 1861, Haven published what would be the last of her Home Books. When There’s a Will, There’s a Way would be Haven’s last book published during her lifetime. In 1862, Haven became ill with tuberculosis while pregnant with her fifth child. The child was born in 1863. One month after the child was born, Haven died.