A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Dwight, Elizabeth Baker
DWIGHT, ELIZABETH BAKER,
Was born at Andover, in Massachusetts, in 1808. Her maiden name was Baker. She was carefully educated; and her naturally strong mind was thus disciplined to give greater effect to her graces of character. She was about seventeen years of age when she became a member of the church of which Dr. Justin Edwards was pastor. From this period till the time of her marriage. Miss Baker was remarkable for the mingled sweetness and discretion of her manners; constantly striving to improve her time and talents in the service of the Saviour, whom she, like Mary of Bethany, had chosen for her portion.
In 1830, she married the Rev. H. G. O. Dwight, and sailed with him to Malta, where she resided two years, her husband being a missionary to that place. She was actively and usefully engaged while there, and also when her husband removed to Constantinople.
Her correspondence at this period, and the testimony of her associates, shew how earnestly her spirit entered into the work she had undertaken. Her pious and tender sympathy was most efficient help to her husband, in his arduous missionary duties; though her delicate health, and many household cares, prevented her from giving the active assistance in the teacher's department she had intended, and was well qualified to have done. She had anticipated this work as her happiest privilege; to be able to imbue the minds of the children of unbelievers with the sweet and salutary truths of the gospel had been Mrs. Dwight's most cherished desire.
The missionary family resided at San Stefano, near the Bosphorus. Scenes of beauty and of storied interest were around Mrs. Dwight; still she had few opportunities of visiting the remarkable places in this region of the world. Once she made an excursion with Lady Frankland and an American friend to the Black Sea, and found her health renovated; still she was drooping and delicate, like a transplanted flower, which pines for its own mountain home, and the fresh breezes and pure sunshine of its first blossoming.
In the spring of 1837, the plague appeared at Constantinople, and Mrs. Dwight felt she was one of its doomed victims. The presentiment proved true. She died on the 8th. of July, 1837; her devoted husband being the only person who remained to watch over, comfort her, and receive her last breath. She was only twenty-nine years of age, and had scarcely become habituated to the missionary cross, when she was called to wear its crown.