Clara Hazelrigg

Clara Hazelrigg (1859–1937) was a school teacher and superintendent who became an organizer for the Christian Woman's Board of Missions, served as an evangelist, and was ordained in 1897.

Clara Espy Hazelrigg was born on November 23, 1859 in Council Grove, Kansas. Her parents were Colonel H. J. Espy and Melora E. (Cook) Espy. Her mother, a schoolteacher, died in 1861 and her father died in 1868 from wounds received during the American Civil War. Clara Espy was then sent to Indiana to attend school. At the age of 14 she began teaching in a private school. She later taught in the Ripley County, Indiana public schools. Clara Espy married W. A. Hazelrigg on December 27, 1877. The couple moved to Butler County, Kansas in 1883. After attending business college in Emporia, Kansas, Hazelrigg became superintendent of the Butler County schools.

In addition to working as a school teacher and school superintendent, Hazelrigg was an author. In 1895 she wrote A New History of Kansas Designed Expressly for Use in the Public Schools. Hazelrigg began writing for the press at the age of twelve, although she did not use her own name. Over the years she wrote for many well-known periodicals and edited a department of a Chicago newspaper as well as writing for the Topeka Lancet.

Hazelrigg was active in the Women's Christian Temperance Union.

Hazelrigg was an active organizer for the Christian Woman's Board of Missions. She served as Kansas secretary. In 1897 she reported traveling 9,000 miles, speaking before state, Sunday School, and Christian Endeavor conventions.

As an evangelist, Hazelrigg covered eight states in the West and Midwest and was also known as "the Walking Preacher." During her 1897 speaking tour, Hazelrigg called on audience members to convert. She made 125 appearances on this tour. She was ordained this year, becoming a regular evangelist and holding revival meetings. Hazelrigg spoke at the national General Missionary Convention held October 10–17, 1901 in Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazelrigg raised the money to build a church in Topeka, Kansas, the West Side Christian Church. She was its minister from 1914–1931.

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