Wednesday, April 13, 2011
If I had lived in the mid-1800's I would have wanted to be like Mollie McDonald.
Mary Jane "Mollie" McDonald was born about 1840. Early in 1856, she came with her mother Jane, sister Lizzie and brothers John and Michael (my great-great grandfather) to Ahnapee, now Algoma, Wisconsin.
Her mother, who kept a strict boarding house, might have been a mentor for Mollie. Mollie became a successful pioneer businesswoman.
 |
| 1870 Morse Telegraph Embossing Printer (photo from Google site) |
 |
| 1865 Singer Sewing Machine (from Singer website) |
"One of the neatest and best arranged little business places we have visited in a long time is the circulating library and news depot of Miss Mollie McDonald, telegraph operator at Ahnapee. Miss McDonald has an excellent selection of books and periodicals, and her establishment should be well patronized."The Ahnapee Record newspaper ran this ad continually for Mollie's news depot from June, 1873 into July, 1874:
MISS MOLLIE McDONALD
NEWS DEPOT. KEEPS A CONSTANT supply of all the leading periodicals of the day. Also Stationary and Confections. Agency for the Singer Sewing Machine. South Water street, Ahnapee, Wis.Based on numerous articles in the newspapers, Mollie had a very good reputation in the community. When election returns were due in November, 1873, the paper reported:
"Ahnapee was the first town on the Northwestern telegraph line to report election returns to Milwaukee. We are endebted to the telegraph operator, Miss Mollie McDonald, for late election returns."The community was encouraged to patronize her establishment. In January, 1874, an article read:
"Miss Mollie McDonald has recently added quite a number of new books to her circulating library. This institution should be well patronized."And, another reported that:
"The News Depot of Miss McDonald, at the telegraph office, is a great convenience to our community, and deserves liberal patronage. The circulating library contains many volumes of standard authors, besides miscellaneous works upon science, theology and law, and interesting novels."In May, 1875, the telegraph company promoted Mollie. She assumed charge of the telegraph office in Manitowoc on May 26, 1875. Her brother Michael took over the Ahnapee telegraph office. Upon the announcement, the Ahnapee Record newspaper reported:
"...While the departure of this estimable lady from our midst will be regretted by all, it is a gratification to know that her talents as an operator are appreciated..."Sadly, in August of 1876, Mollie became very ill. She had to give up her telegraph job. Her sister, Mrs. William (Elizabeth "Lizzie") Nelson went to Manitowoc to care for her. Ultimately Mollie moved to Chicago where her other sisters, Mrs. Kingsley (Catherine "Katie") Olmstead and Mrs. John (Margaret "Maggie") Kley, and brother Andrew lived. Mollie died in Chicago on September 23, 1876 of consumption (tuberculosis).
The announcement, although not unexpected, was a grievous blow to her relatives and friends. The death notice described her as "an estimable lady, possessed of rare mental powers, an untiring energy, which disease and sickness could scarcely diminish, and a grace of disposition that gained and held for her many firm friends. Among those who best knew her, and whose hands during her last hours, supplied the tender ministrations prompted by love, her loss will be the most keenly felt, while by all who enjoyed her acquaintance the tidings of her death will be received with profound sorrow and regret."
She was only 36 years old.
Special thanks to Wes Cox, Sr. of Algoma who provided much of the information I have about the other children in the Jane McDonald family.
0 comments:
Post a Comment