Mary Easton Sibley
Encyclopedia
Mary Easton Sibley was an early American pioneer and educator.
on January 24, 1800, the daughter of Rufus Easton
and Alby Smith Easton. She was the first of eleven children for the Easton family. In 1804, Sibley’s father, was appointed territorial judge of the Louisiana Territory
by President Thomas Jefferson
, making it necessary for the family to follow in his stead to St. Louis
. In addition to his duties as judge, President Jefferson asked Easton to keep an eye on the Territorial Governor, General James Wilkinson
, because he was suspected of collaborating with Vice President Aaron Burr
to cause the western part of the United States to secede and form a separate country.
While little is known of Sibley’s early life, family records state that for a period she was sent to boarding school
in Shelbyville, Kentucky
. According to Sibley’s diaries, sometime prior to 1815 she had returned to her family in St. Louis. It was during this time that she would frequent dances with her friend . The details of this period have mostly been lost to history, but it is assumed that it was at one of these dances that Mary met her husband George Champlin Sibley. They married on August 19, 1815. Due to his duties as the factor (trade superintendent to the Indians
), the Sibleys quickly returned to Fort Osage
near present day Kansas City, Missouri
.
.
's first capitol early in it’s statehood and where Mary’s father, Rufus Easton, was the second Attorney General for the State. After the capitol moved to Jefferson City
, the Eastons remained behind in St. Charles. George owned land in St. Charles which he had purchased in 1814 when he temporarily moved east during the War of 1812
. Because of the numerous Linden trees on this property, the Sibleys named the property Linden Wood. While George cleared the land for farming, the couple lived in town until a home was built on the property in 1829.
, after which, she became an ardent Old School Presbyterian. Through Mary’s influence, George was converted a few years afterward. Due to the preeminent role of religion in the Sibleys lives, Mary incorporated her faith into her continued interest in educating the area youth. She writes in her diary about schooling the children of newly arrived German immigrants using a bilingual Bible to teach English. Additional attempts at education were made with the region’s slaves, but as fearful slave-owners worried about a potential rebellion from enlightened blacks, Sibley was quickly forced to stop. Ultimately, the Sibleys faith was the focal point of the women’s college they opened and named after their property, Lindenwood College
(today known as Lindenwood University).
.
, James E. Yeatman. The organization, named The House of Bethany, was restricted to women who served the needy by providing food and medical care while promoting their Christian
beliefs. Once the House of Bethany closed in 1869 and Mary moved back to St. Charles, living in a house near the edge of the Lindenwood campus. Near the end of her life, Mary became involved in the Second Adventist Movement which originally felt that Christ would return in 1844, but turned into an organized denomination when they were disappointed. In 1873, Mary received a letter from a Japanese man named Isaac K. Yokoyama who requested that she send educators to Japan who could also spread Christianity. At the age of 73, Mary took it upon herself to serve as a missionary
/educator. Mary left from New York City
by boat to Panama
, crossed the isthmus, and travelled to California
, but before she left the United States she realized that the journey would be too hard on someone her age and returned to St. Charles. On June 20, 1878, Mary Sibley passed away at the age of 78. She is buried with her family in a cemetery located at Lindenwood University
.
Early Life
Mary Sibley was born in Rome, New YorkRome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
on January 24, 1800, the daughter of Rufus Easton
Rufus Easton
Rufus Easton was a Delegate from the Territory of Missouri.Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, Easton completed an academic course....
and Alby Smith Easton. She was the first of eleven children for the Easton family. In 1804, Sibley’s father, was appointed territorial judge of the Louisiana Territory
Louisiana Territory
The Territory of Louisiana or Louisiana Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1805 until June 4, 1812, when it was renamed to Missouri Territory...
by President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, making it necessary for the family to follow in his stead to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. In addition to his duties as judge, President Jefferson asked Easton to keep an eye on the Territorial Governor, General James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson
James Wilkinson was an American soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, but was twice compelled to resign...
, because he was suspected of collaborating with Vice President Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
to cause the western part of the United States to secede and form a separate country.
While little is known of Sibley’s early life, family records state that for a period she was sent to boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Shelbyville, Kentucky
Shelbyville, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,085 people, 3,822 households, and 2,549 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,333.5 people per square mile . There were 4,117 housing units at an average density of 544.4 per square mile...
. According to Sibley’s diaries, sometime prior to 1815 she had returned to her family in St. Louis. It was during this time that she would frequent dances with her friend . The details of this period have mostly been lost to history, but it is assumed that it was at one of these dances that Mary met her husband George Champlin Sibley. They married on August 19, 1815. Due to his duties as the factor (trade superintendent to the Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
), the Sibleys quickly returned to Fort Osage
Fort Osage
Fort Osage was part of the United States factory trading post system for the Osage Nation in the early 19th century near Sibley, Missouri....
near present day Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
.
Fort Osage
Once at Fort Osage, George kept busy trading goods with the Indians and negotiating treaties for the United States. Records during this time period scarcely mention Mary; however, several biographers believe that she began her interest in teaching when she noticed that the few area children were not receiving an education. Mary remained with George at Fort Osage until it closed in 1822. Between 1822 and 1825, George was the Postmaster General for the area, along with trying unsuccessfully to start up a privately owned trading post. When the trading post failed, George found work as the lead commissioner which surveyed what became known as the Santa Fe TrailSanta Fe Trail
The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century transportation route through central North America that connected Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pioneered in 1822 by William Becknell, it served as a vital commercial and military highway until the introduction of the railroad to Santa Fe in 1880...
.
Move to St. Charles, Missouri
When work on the Santa Fe Trail ended in 1827, the Sibleys returned to St. Charles, MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
's first capitol early in it’s statehood and where Mary’s father, Rufus Easton, was the second Attorney General for the State. After the capitol moved to Jefferson City
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
, the Eastons remained behind in St. Charles. George owned land in St. Charles which he had purchased in 1814 when he temporarily moved east during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Because of the numerous Linden trees on this property, the Sibleys named the property Linden Wood. While George cleared the land for farming, the couple lived in town until a home was built on the property in 1829.
Mary’s Spiritual Awakening
According to Sibley’s diaries, she grew up in a home where religion was inconsequential. This view toward religion lasted until the early years of the Second Great AwakeningSecond Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening was a Christian revival movement during the early 19th century in the United States. The movement began around 1800, had begun to gain momentum by 1820, and was in decline by 1870. The Second Great Awakening expressed Arminian theology, by which every person could be...
, after which, she became an ardent Old School Presbyterian. Through Mary’s influence, George was converted a few years afterward. Due to the preeminent role of religion in the Sibleys lives, Mary incorporated her faith into her continued interest in educating the area youth. She writes in her diary about schooling the children of newly arrived German immigrants using a bilingual Bible to teach English. Additional attempts at education were made with the region’s slaves, but as fearful slave-owners worried about a potential rebellion from enlightened blacks, Sibley was quickly forced to stop. Ultimately, the Sibleys faith was the focal point of the women’s college they opened and named after their property, Lindenwood College
Lindenwood University
Lindenwood University, often referred to as Lindenwood or LU, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Saint Charles, Missouri, United States...
(today known as Lindenwood University).
The Development of Linden Wood
In 1827, as the Sibleys settled in St. Charles, Mary started a small school in town; first teaching her sister, Louisa, and a few town girls from her home. By 1831, a log cabin was built at Linden Wood, specifically to house twenty boarding students; as well as creates additional classroom space. As finances became tight for the college in 1843, Mary traveled to the east to raise money. She succeeded in raising approximately $4,000; enough to keep the school in operation. When the Sibleys were older and looking to retire, in 1853, they deeded the college to the Presbyterian ChurchPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
.
Later Years
After her husband George died in 1863, Mary sold her house and moved to St. Louis. Between 1866 and 1869, Mary joined an organization created by a prominent St. Louis philanthropistPhilanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, James E. Yeatman. The organization, named The House of Bethany, was restricted to women who served the needy by providing food and medical care while promoting their Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
beliefs. Once the House of Bethany closed in 1869 and Mary moved back to St. Charles, living in a house near the edge of the Lindenwood campus. Near the end of her life, Mary became involved in the Second Adventist Movement which originally felt that Christ would return in 1844, but turned into an organized denomination when they were disappointed. In 1873, Mary received a letter from a Japanese man named Isaac K. Yokoyama who requested that she send educators to Japan who could also spread Christianity. At the age of 73, Mary took it upon herself to serve as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
/educator. Mary left from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
by boat to Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, crossed the isthmus, and travelled to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but before she left the United States she realized that the journey would be too hard on someone her age and returned to St. Charles. On June 20, 1878, Mary Sibley passed away at the age of 78. She is buried with her family in a cemetery located at Lindenwood University
Lindenwood University
Lindenwood University, often referred to as Lindenwood or LU, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Saint Charles, Missouri, United States...
.
See also
- St. Charles, Missouri
- Lindenwood UniversityLindenwood UniversityLindenwood University, often referred to as Lindenwood or LU, is a private, coeducational, liberal arts university located in Saint Charles, Missouri, United States...