Harriet Newell Ralston

Harriet Newell Ralston (, Jackson; October 21, 1828 – February 6, 1920) was an American poet. She was born in New York and spent her early years in that state, as well as Massachusetts and Illinois. After marrying James Harvey Ralston in 1853, she lived in California and Nevada before later settling in Washington, D.C. Ralston wrote numerous poems that were published individually in newspapers and widely circulated, including “Fatherless Joe,” “Decoration Day,” “The Spectral Feast,” “The Queen’s Jewels,” and “The White Cross of Savoy.” Her poem “The Queen’s Jewels” was written for a banquet of the Woman's National Press Association during the Pan-American Congress and received favorable acknowledgments from Central and South American representatives. Her best-known work was “Columbus and Isabella – The Immortals.”

Early life and education Harriet Newell Jackson was born in Waverly, Tioga County, New York, October 21, 1828. She was the daughter of Rev. Aaron Jackson. Her youth was passed in New York state, Massachusetts, and Illinois. She received her education in the schools of the first two named States.

Career Upon her removal to Quincy, Illinois, she formed the acquaintance of Hon. James Harvey Ralston (1807–1864), and they married shortly afterward, in 1853. Judge Ralston was a leading man in Illinois and held various important offices in that State. After serving as an officer in the Mexican War, he turned his attention again to the practice of law, settling in the then new State of California. On their wedding day, Judge and Mrs. Ralston set out from New York for the Pacific coast, enjoying on the way the tropical beauties of the Nicaraguan Isthmus. They had two children, Jackson Harvey Ralston and Mary Aurora Ralston. Her married life was spent in Sacramento, California, and Virginia City and Austin, Nevada. Judge Ralston died in 1864 near Austin, which came to be known as Ralston Desert.

Selected works Poems "The spectral feast", 1878 "Columbus and Isabella – The Immortals", 1893 "Fatherless Joe" "Decoration Day" "The Spectral Feast" "The Queen's Jewels" "The White Cross of Savoy" "The Queen's Jewels"