Mary Bigelow Ingham (, Janes;
pen name
A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name.
A pen na ...
, Anne Hathaway; March 10, 1832 - 17 November 1923) was an American author, educator, and religious worker. Dedicated to teaching, missionary work, and
temperance
Temperance may refer to:
Moderation
*Temperance movement, movement to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed
*Temperance (virtue), habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion
Culture
*Temperance (group), Canadian danc ...
reform, she served as professor of French and ''
belles-lettres
is a category of writing, originally meaning beautiful or fine writing. In the modern narrow sense, it is a label for literary works that do not fall into the major categories such as fiction, poetry, or drama. The phrase is sometimes used pejora ...
'' in the
Ohio Wesleyan College; presided over and addressed the first public meeting ever held in
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
conducted exclusively by religious women; co-founded the Western Reserve School of Design (later,
Cleveland Institute of Art
The Cleveland Institute of Art, previously Cleveland School of Art, is a private college focused on art and design and located in Cleveland, Ohio.
History
The college was founded in 1882 as the Western Reserve School of Design for Women, at firs ...
); and was a charter member of the order of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence.
A non-profit group, they promote ...
.
Early life and education
Mary Bigelow Janes was born in
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in and the county seat of Richland County, Ohio, United States. Located midway between Columbus and Cleveland via Interstate 71, it is part of Northeast Ohio region in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau. The city ...
, March 10, 1832. Her parents, of
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either participates in, or advocates a revolution. The term ''revolutionary'' can also be used as an adjective, to refer to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.
...
ancestry, were from
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
. Her father, Rev. John Janes, Jr. was a pioneer Methodist Minister in
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
and
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
. He also owned a book store in
Norwalk, Ohio
Norwalk is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Huron County, Ohio, Huron County. The population was 17,012 at the United States Census 2010, 2010 census. The city is the center of the Norwalk, OH μSA, Norwalk Micropolitan Stat ...
on the site later occupied by the Norwalk National Bank, and the Avalon Hotel. Her mother, Hannah Brown, was one of the founders of the
Methodist Episcopal Church
The Methodist Episcopal Church (MEC) was the oldest and largest Methodist denomination in the United States from its founding in 1784 until 1939. It was also the first religious denomination in the US to organize itself on a national basis. In ...
in
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Washtenaw County. The 2020 United States census, 2020 census recorded its population to be 123,851. It is the principal city of the Ann Arbor ...
.
John Janes, Sr. (paternal grandfather), and Daniel Brown, Sr. (maternal grandfather), lived in Vermont; each was the father of 12 children. John Janes, Sr., emigrated to
Delaware County, Ohio
Delaware County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. It is a frequent placeholder on the List of highest-income counties in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 214,124. Its county seat i ...
while Daniel Brown settled in
Ann Arbor
Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna (name), Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah (given name), Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie (given name), ...
,
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan. Detroit w ...
. John Janes, Jr., became a Methodist preacher, traveling Detroit Circuit. Two daughters of Daniel Brown, Sr., Rebecca and Hannah B., organized the nucleus of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Ann Arbor, their father and brother Daniel aiding the establishment of
Michigan University
, mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth"
, former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821)
, budget = $10.3 billion (2021)
, endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...
. John Janes, Jr. married Hannah B. Brown, their marriage occurring in May, 1828. In time, they became parents of five children, which included Mary B.; Eliza R. (died young); Emma, was a professor in Central California, later becoming a writer and journalist in Washington, D.C.; and Frank, who went into the railroads business.
As a very young child, Ingham was a pupil in Lizzie T. Higgins’ School. At nine years of age, she was placed me in Latin Grammar at the SEminary, which she attended with Mary Watrous, Mary Tuttle, and Mary Beardsley. Later on, Lawyer Curtis drilled Ingham in
Virgil
Publius Vergilius Maro (; traditional dates 15 October 7021 September 19 BC), usually called Virgil or Vergil ( ) in English, was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He composed three of the most famous poems in Latin literature: t ...
at her home. Ingham also attended
Norwalk Seminary
Norwalk Seminary was a private, Methodist school in Norwalk, Ohio. Opening in 1838 with Edward Thomson as principal, by 1842 it had an attendance of nearly four hundred. Nonetheless, the school was unsuccessful financially, and it was forced to ...
and
Baldwin Institute.
Career
Educator
In 1850, at the age of 18, Ingham went to
Cleveland
Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...
,
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
, as a teacher in the public schools. She served as assistant principal at Norwalk North Grammar School and Rockwell School of Cleveland. During a portion of the six years spent there, she boarded and studied in the family of Madame Pierre Gollier, learning to speak the French language fluently. Appointed professor of French and ''belles-lettres'' in the Ohio Wesleyan College for young ladies, in
Delaware, Ohio
Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County, Ohio, United States. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio m ...
, she applied herself to the study of German, adding thereto Spanish and Italian, and received from her alma mater the honorary degree of M. L. A. She retired from her teaching career in 1866.
Social and religious activist
On March 22, 1866, she married William A. Ingham (died 1898), and removed to Cleveland. In 1870, she was chosen to inaugurate in northern Ohio the work of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. She presided over and addressed the first public meeting ever held in the city of Cleveland conducted exclusively by religious women. Afterward, she addressed large audiences in the various cities of Ohio, in
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
,
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
,
Buffalo,
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
,
New Haven
New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134,02 ...
, and
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
, upon the needs of the women of foreign lands. In March, 1874, being in charge of the praying community of her own city, she led for six weeks a very successful
temperance
Temperance may refer to:
Moderation
*Temperance movement, movement to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed
*Temperance (virtue), habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion
Culture
*Temperance (group), Canadian danc ...
crusade and was among the most active of Cleveland women in establishing inns, reading-rooms and chapels. She became chairman of the Pearl street inn, which for seven years did great work in the evangelization of the masses in the 9th, 10th and 11th wards of Cleveland. She was one of the original committee members in
Chautauqua, New York
Chautauqua ( ) is a town and lake resort community in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 4,017 at the 2020 census. The town is named after Chautauqua Lake. It is the home of the Chautauqua Institution and the birthplac ...
that projected in August, 1874 the formation of the National
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is an international temperance organization, originating among women in the United States Prohibition movement. It was among the first organizations of women devoted to social reform with a program th ...
. That organizing convention met in Ingham's city on November 18–20, 1874. Ingham served as treasurer of the national organization (1874–75), though she was primarily affiliated with the local chapter in Cleveland.
Ingham was one of the founders of the Western Reserve School of Design. She was a charter member of the order of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence.
A non-profit group, they promote ...
, and also of the Cleveland Sorosis, modeled upon that of the
New York Sorosis organization.
Writer
Writing was always a favorite pastime with Ingham. At age 10, her first article was published in the Norwalk "Reflector." While in
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
, encouraged by Professor W. G. Williams, she wrote her first story, for which he gave her the subject, "Something to Come Home To," receiving for it US$15 from ''
The Ladies' Repository
''The Ladies' Repository'' was a monthly periodical based in Cincinnati and produced by members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. From 1841 to 1876, the magazine devoted itself to literature, arts and doctrines of Methodism, containing articles, ...
''. That was followed by other articles. For the Cleveland "Leader", she wrote letters from the United States and Europe. Her letters from
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
in 1882 contained very accurate descriptions of natural scenery in the land of flowers. In 1880, at the request of the management of the "Leader," she began, in a series of articles covering three years' space, the "History of Woman's Work in Cleveland since 1830." She included, besides the founding of the four churches and a review of the principal charities, sketches under the title of the "Women of Cleveland." Her pen-name was "Anne Hathaway." In 1884, she wrote the history of the pioneer Methodist Episcopal Churches of Cleveland. In 1890, Ingham wrote her famous "Flag Festival", the third edition being adapted to Discovery Day.
Personal life
Her husband, William, was a bookseller and the senior member of a Cleveland-based publishing business, Ingham & Bragg. It became Ingham, Clarke & Co. in 1872, and their son, P.M. Ingham, was a part of that house. She continued with her religious and missionary activities after relocation to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
in 1908, and died 17 November 1923.
Selected works
* ''Women of Cleveland and their work : philanthropic, educational, literary, medical and artistic : a history in which more than one thousand people of Cleveland's past and present are mentioned as participants'', 1893
References
Attribution
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ingham, Mary Bigelow
1832 births
1923 deaths
19th-century American writers
19th-century American women writers
19th-century pseudonymous writers
American women academics
Ohio Wesleyan University alumni
Ohio Wesleyan University faculty
People from Mansfield, Ohio
Woman's Christian Temperance Union people
Baldwin Wallace University alumni
People from Cleveland
Pseudonymous women writers
Daughters of the American Revolution people
Founders of American schools and colleges
Wikipedia articles incorporating text from A Woman of the Century