From History
of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - 1881, Volume 1, Page 547-548
MISS MARY MORTIMER, who was
identified, for more than a quarter of a century, with the higher educational
interests of this city, was born in Bath, England, in 1817. When
she was four years of age her parents came to this country, and remained in New York City about two years, when
they removed to Scipio, Cayuga County, N.Y. At the age of
twelve, she was left an orphan. Without encouragement from friends, and
in spite of many obstacles, she succeeded in acquiring a finished
education. When only sixteen years of age she had charge of a district
school; and, studying and teaching alternately, prepared herself for Madame
Ricord's Seminary, in Geneva, N.Y., an institution of
considerable note in those days, where she graduated in two years, having
completed a four years' course in one-half the allotted time. After
graduating, she taught in the same seminary several years as an associate with
Miss THURSTON, with whom a most devoted friendship was formed, lasting through
her entire lifetime. After severing her connection with the seminary Miss
MORTIMER taught for several years most successfully in the Brockport Collegiate
Institute and in the Ingham University at LeRoy. In
1850, the "Ladies' Educational Association" at Hartford, Conn., two
of its members, Mrs. STOWE and Miss BEECHER, using their personal influence,
prevailed upon Miss MORTIMER to come to Milwaukee and assist in establishing a
college for the better and higher education of women. The trials,
disappointments and discouragements which she encountered and nobly struggled
against in this undertaking can only be appreciated by her pupils of those
early days, by her associate teachers, and by the noble men and women, residents
of the city, who gave her both moral and financial support. Miss MORTIMER
remained with the college until the Spring of
1857. During these years there were at one time 252 pupils in attendance,
according to the college catalogue. In the Autumn
of 1857, she established a seminary at Baraboo, which continued in a
flourishing and prosperous condition for seven years, under her care. By
the unanimous and urgent invitation of the Trustees of the college, Miss
MORTIMER returned to Milwaukee in July, 1866, and
again took charge of the college. In 1873, on account of failing health,
she urged the Trustees, if possible, to secure as President, Prof. FARRAR, of
Vassar College, saying: "That among all the educators of the day with whom
she was acquainted, she knew of no one whom she thought so well fitted to carry
out the principles upon which the college was founded;" and in the
following year this suggestion was realized. After severing her
connection with the college, Miss MORTIMER was enabled to carry out some of her
long cherished dreams; a quiet suburban home of her own, where nature in many
ways ministered to her necessities, and brought her peace, happiness and much
needed physical rest, while as pleasant work for the active mind - which could
not rest - she commenced a Post Graduate course of instruction for
ladies. In pursuance of this plan she prepared several courses of Parlor
Lectures on Art, Ancient History, Roman History and Medieval History.
These lectures were delivered to classes of ladies in Milwaukee, Baraboo, Madison, and
other cities. They were initiatory to the successful classes in the
various departments of art and science which have become so popular in Milwaukee. Besides her
literary pursuits, she was also actively interested in charitable and religious
work during these years of comparative leisure. It was at Miss MORTIMER's
request that, in October, 1876, about thirty of the prominent ladies of the
city were invited to meet Mrs. Julia WARD HOWE, of Boston, for the purpose of
organizing the "Woman's Club of Wisconsin," to the success of which
cause she greatly contributed by her pen and personal influence. This
truly noble life was suddenly ended July 14,
1877. The memorial services were held in Immanuel Presbyterian
church, and were impressively conducted by the pastor, the Rev. G. P.
NICHOLS. The pulpit, altar and gallery were beautifully adorned with
fragrant flowers and trailing vines, by the loving hands of friends and former
pupils. A large number of the Alumnae of the college attended the
services in a body. Resolutions of respect and numerous testimonials of
love and esteem were offered by the Trustees and Alumnae of the college, and by
the various benevolent, literary and religious organization of which she was a
member. "The Mary MORTIMER Library" presented to the college by
the Alumnae, and a fine crayon portrait, also presented to the college by the
"Woman's Club of Wisconsin," are prominent
among the testimonials
Miss Mary MORTIMER was a woman of rare strength
and charm of character. Her life was frequently been spoken of as an
epic; grand, tender and beautiful. From earliest childhood she was a
constant and careful reader. Not only possessed by unusual perceptive
powers, but a deep and logical mind. Thus endowed, she became a woman of
great and varied information, of clear and strong judgment. Prominent in
and devoted to the higher educational interests of women, it was only given to
her pupils and a small circle of intimate and loving friends to know that full exhibition
of a thoroughly developed and symmetrical life which causes her memory to be
tenderly and sacredly cherished. As a teacher, she inspired her pupils
with her own enthusiastic love of all that was excellent. Though not what
is distinctively called a "Woman's Rights" woman, she was singularly
free and independent in thought and action. Preferring to be rather than to seem, she received the reward of
devotion and sincere affection from all who lived within her influence.
The noble life of Miss Mary MORTIMER was a benediction to the college to which
she gave her best energies, to the society in which she moved, and to all the
benevolent enterprises in which she took such an active interest.
Submitted by Carol