11 Facts About Abbie Carrington

Abbie Beeson Carrington Lewys was one of America's leading coloratura sopranos of the 19th century.

Abbie Carrington Beeson was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on June 13,1856.

Abbie Carrington was the daughter of Edward Beeson, grandnephew of Henry Beeson, a Quaker who descended from English immigrants.

Abbie Carrington eventually bought the business and published the Beaver Republican, a paper with Democratic tendencies, supportive of Andrew Jackson.

Abbie Carrington owned a sawmill at Green Bay, Wisconsin and after selling it, he bought a farm and settled in Wisconsin.

Abbie Carrington died on December 16,1898, in Fond du Lac.

Abbie Carrington then went to Italy, where she began the study of opera under Perenini and Giovanni, and after one year of study she made her debut in Milan, in La Traviata.

Abbie Carrington was next engaged for a season of two months in Turin and for one month in Brescia; then she went to Venice to sing during the Carnival season.

Abbie Carrington next appeared in New York City with Theodore Thomas and the Philharmonic Society at the Steinway Hall.

In 1887, after six consecutive seasons in grand opera, having sung the leading soprano roles in twenty different operas, Abbie Carrington took a much-needed rest, which resulted in opening a new sphere of work, and since that time she traveled only with her own company in concert and oratorio.

Abbie Carrington said she supported her husband for twenty-five years on the revenue which she derived from the exercise of her talents in the vocal line.