Professor Calvin E. Stowe and Harriet Beecher Stow
Professor Calvin E. Stowe, then a comparatively young man, was also present, and contributed his share to the conversation; he is the best Biblical scholar I ever knew. His first wife, a New England lady, quite hand-some and interesting, also attended the reunions. His present wife, then Miss Harriet Beecher, was just beginning to be known for her literary abilities. Two or three years after this time, I published in the Cincinnati Chronicle what I believe was her first printed story. I had heard her read at Miss Pierce's school, in Litchfield, Conn., her first public composition. It surprised every one so much that it was attributed to her father, but in fact was only the first exhibition of her remarkable talents. In the reunion I speak of she was not distinguished for conversation, but when she did speak, showed something of the peculiar strength and humor of her mind.
Her first little story, published in the Chronicle immediately attracted attention, and her writings have always been popular. Notwithstanding, the world-wide renown of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” her real genius and characteristics were as much exhibited in her short stories as in her larger books. Her Sister, Miss Catharine Beecher, was a far more easy and fluent conversationalist. Indeed, few people had more talent to entertain a company, or keep the ball of conversation going than Miss Beecher, and she was as willing as able for the task.
From Historical Collections of Ohio by Henry Howe; Pub. 1888