Mary Eastman Ward

Mary Eastman Ward
Born(1843-05-02)May 2, 1843
Danville, Vermont, US
DiedJune 23, 1907(1907-06-23) (aged 64)
Waterbury, Vermont, US
Occupation(s)Teacher, Writer, Poet

Mary Eastman Ward (1843–1907) was an American poet born in North Danville, Vermont on 2 May 1843.[1] Her father was Samuel Ward and her mother was Amanda Willard Ward, granddaughter of Rev. Elijah Willard of Dublin, New Hampshire. Rev. Elijah Willard was a minute man and chaplain in the American Revolution.[1]

Mary's mother was her first teacher and she grew up with a love of poetry.[1] She wrote her first poem in the summer following her thirteenth birthday.[1] In her early life, she taught school in Sheffield, Vershire, and Danville.[2] She was also employed at the Vermont Union newspaper office for several years. After leaving those jobs, she devoted her time to writing poetry.[2]

Her poems were included in Poets and Poetry of Vermont. Her poem "The signal lights" appears in Woman in Sacred Song.[3] She also contributed to the St. Johnsbury Republican[4],Vermont Union[2],Vermont Chronicle, Golden Rule and Union Signal.[1]

She died on 23 June 1907 in Waterbury, Vermont.[2] Mary was buried in the Ward family's cemetery, "Ward Cemetery," in Danville, Vermont.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice; Frances Elizabeth Willard, eds. (1893), "Mary E. Ward", Woman of the Century, Buffalo, N.Y.: Charles Wells Moulton, retrieved 2022-09-21
  2. ^ a b c d ""Death of Miss Ward"". The Caledonian-Record. 3 July 1907. p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  3. ^ Ward, Mary E (1888). "The signal lights". In Smith, Eva Munson (ed.). Woman in Sacred Song. Oakland, California: Arthur E. Whitney. p. 477. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. ^ Ward, Mary E (5 Jan 1888). ""Not So Easy, After All"". St. Johnsbury Republican. p. 4. Retrieved 21 September 2022.