Marion Dix Sullivan (1802–1860) ( fl. 1840–50) was an American songwriter and composer. She was born in

Boscawen, New Hampshire Boscawen is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,998 at the 2020 census. History The native Pennacook people called the area ''Contoocook'', meaning "place of the river near pines". In March 1697, Hanna ...

, the daughter of Timothy Dix and Abigail Wilkins and the sister of General

John Adams Dix John Adams Dix (July 24, 1798 – April 21, 1879) was an American politician and military officer who was Secretary of the Treasury, Governor of New York and Union major general during the Civil War. He was notable for arresting the pro-Southern ...

of New York. She married John Whiting Sullivan in 1825 and had one son, John Henry, who died of drowning in 1858. Little is known about her background, but she was considered the first American woman to write a "hit" song, " The Blue Juniata," which was referenced by

Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has p ...

in his autobiography. ''The Blue Juniata'' was the basis for variation sets by other well-known 19th century American composers, such as Charles Grobe and J. Edgar Gould. The song was recorded in 1937 by

Roy Rogers Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebra ...

and the early

Sons of the Pioneers The Sons of the Pioneers are one of the United States' earliest Western singing groups. Known for their vocal performances, their musicianship, and their songwriting, they produced innovative recordings that have inspired many Western music perf ...

. The song was also referenced with the full lyrics by Laura Ingalls Wilder in her book ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books is a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adolescence in the Midwestern United States, American M ...

''.

Works

Marion Dix wrote ballads and sacred songs. Selected works include: *'' The Blue Juniata'' (1844) *''Marion Day'' (1844) *''Jessee Cook, the Lily of the Wood (1844) *''Oh! Boatman, Row Me O'er the Stream'' (1846) *''Cold Blew the Night Wing : The Wanderer'' (1846) *''The Cold Has Bound the Joyous Stream'' (1846) *''The Evening Bugle'' (1847) *''The Field of Monterey'' (1848) *''Mary Lindsey'' (1848) *''The Strawberry Girl'' (1850) *''We Cross the Prairies of Old'' (1854) *''The Kansas Home'' (1854) *''Juniata Ballads'', compilation (1855) *''Bible Songs'', compilation (1856) *''Bright Alfarata'' (1871?) *''Lightly On'' *''Evening Hymn to the Savior''

References

External links

Sons Of The Pioneers - Blue Juniata (1937) from YouTube.
1802 births 1860 deaths 19th-century classical composers American women classical composers American classical composers Musicians from New Hampshire People from Boscawen, New Hampshire 19th-century American composers 19th-century American women musicians 19th-century women composers {{US-composer-19thC-stub