Biography

Mrs. Frank A. Breck is a direct descendant of Col. Timothy Ellis, who won distinction in the battle of Ticonderoga, during the Revolutionary war. Born January 22nd, 1855, in Vermont, her early life was spent among the New England hills. Later she removed to Vineland, N. J., but now resides in the "City of Roses" Portland Oregon.

Her first poem, a bit of ironic rhyme on "Washing Dishes", was published in The Youth's Companion; later she wrote verse and prose for religious and household publications.

In 1884 she was married to Frank A. Breck and made her home on a place which was part of what had once been the home property of Henry C. Work, author of Grandfather's Clock","Marching Through Georgia", "Nicodemus and other famous songs. "I distinctly remember his pleasant, kind-hearted wife allowing me to thrum on their little melodeon with my childish fingers."

For a number of years family duties superseded those literary, and only semi-occasionally did she entertain her muse. One day the mail brought her a manuscript copy of a song, words by herself "You Ought To Do Something for Jesus". It was published in The Christian Herald, and was her first Gospel hymn.

It was a great joy to me", she has told me, "and, as opportunity offered, I penciled verse under all sorts of conditions over a mending basket, with a baby in arms, and sometimes even when sweeping or washing dishes, my mind moved to meter"

She has written between fourteen and fifteen hundred hymns. Some of the best known of these are "Face to Face", "Help Somebody Today", "When Love Shines In" and "Life-time is Working-time". She is the mother of five daughters, the second of whom, Flora Elizabeth, has written hymns occasionally, several of which have appeared in various books of song. Mrs. Breck is a consistent Christian. Her parents and grandparents were God-fearing people. And She cannot remember when Bible reading and prayer were not her daily home custom. Kindhearted, charitable and sympathetic, it was but natural she should sing:

''Look all
around you,
Find someone in need;
Help somebody today,
Tho it be little;
A neighborly deed;
Help somebody today."

Source: The Singers And Their Songs
by Charles H Gabriel, 1916