Frederick Llewellyn Hovey Willis

Frederick L.H. Willis, was raised in the same household as Louisa May Alcott and her sisters. According to Alcott Memoirs (1915), compiled from Dr. Willis's biographical writings, he provided the inspiration for the character Laurie in Little Women. Frederick Willis entered Harvard College Divinity School but was suspended in 1857 for his involvement with the Spiritualists. Dr. Wilis served as a Spriritualist minister before moving to Rochester to work as a physician, although he still continued with Spiritualist activities. Edith later described him as a Unitarian clergyman.

"Orphaned in his childhood, Willis was taken in by Abba and Bronson Alcott at the age of fourteen and spent many subsequent summers with the family. He was considered a son and brother,  regarded with deep affection by the family. He enjoyed an unusual level of intimacy with them and recorded his thoughts generously."

links

• http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm?page=4708
• http://louisamayalcottismypassion.com/2012/10/19/what-was-louisa-ma...

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1. The Selected Papers of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: National Protection for National Citizens, 1873 to 1880 Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Page 50
2. Alcott memoirs Author: Willis, F. L. H. (Frederick Llewellyn Hovey), 1830-1914; Bazin, Henri, joint ed; Linn, Edith Lenore (Willis), Mrs., 1865- ed Published 1915 by R. G. Badger; [etc., etc. in Boston . Written in English.