Amanda Reed McFarland (1832–1912) was an American

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

. She was the first woman missionary to the U.S. state of

Alaska Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...

Biography

McFarland was born in

Brooke County, Virginia Brooke County is a county in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,559. Its county seat is Wellsburg. The county was created in 1797 from part of Ohio County and named in honor ...

(present day

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

) about 1832. She was educated at Steubenville Female Seminary. In 1857, she married Rev. David F. McFarland, a Presbyterian clergyman. From 1862 till 1866, her husband held charge of Mattoon female seminary in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

, and in 1867 removed to Santa Fe,

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...

to engage in mission work in that state. Here Mrs. McFarland organized and conducted a successful mission-school among Mexican children. In 1873, they removed to

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

and established an academy at

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...

, and in 1875 they conducted missions among the Nez Perce people. After Mr. McFarland's death in 1876, she went under the Presbyterian Church Home Board and removed to

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

, and in 1877 took charge of a school at

Fort Wrangell The City and Borough of Wrangell ( tli, Ḵaachx̱ana.áakʼw, russian: Врангель) is a List of boroughs and census areas in Alaska, borough in Alaska, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the population was 2, ...

, where she was joined and assisted by missionary

S. Hall Young Samuel Hall Young (September 12, 1847–1927), more commonly known as S. Hall Young, was an American clergyman. Early life and education Born in Butler, Pennsylvania, Young's father was Reverend Loyal Young,D.D., and his mother was Margaret Port ...

in August 1878. She acted as clergyman, physician, and lawyer for the local people. Encountering great difficulties and discouragements, she made the beginning of a Christian society in opening schools and organizing churches. She was called to preside over a native constitutional convention, and chiefs came long distances to enter the school of "the woman who loved their people," and to plead that teachers should be sent to their tribes. Her efforts resulted in the establishment of a training-school for Alaskan girls called "The McFarland Home," of which institution she held charge.

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Attribution

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Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:McFarland, Amanda People from Brooke County, West Virginia American Presbyterian missionaries Female Christian missionaries 1837 births 1898 deaths Christian missionaries in Alaska Presbyterian missionaries in the United States