Brief biographies of the figurines on display in ... - University Library

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MRS. OLIVER MARCY
(Elizabeth Eunice Smith)
Mrs. Elizabeth E. Marcy was born December 22,
1821, at East Hampton, Connecticut, daughter <strong>of</strong>
Nathaniel Clark and Charlotte (Strong) Smith. She was
a direct descendant <strong>of</strong> Elder William Brewster and
Stephen Hopkins <strong>of</strong> Mayflower fame. She was educated
in <strong>the</strong> public schools, private schools, and later in <strong>the</strong>
Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Massachusetts. She
taught school, and was a creditable art student.
On July 2, 1847, she married Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Oliver Marcy,
a teacher in <strong>the</strong> Academy. Four children were born to
<strong>the</strong>m. In September, 1862, <strong>the</strong>y moved to Evanston,
where Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Marcy had accepted a position. Here
Mrs. Marcy found time for public service <strong>of</strong> an enduring
sort.
She was an active and influential worker in
<strong>the</strong> Woman's Foreign Missionary and <strong>the</strong> Woman's
Home Missionary societies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Methodist Episcopal
church from <strong>the</strong>ir organization.
In connection with her work in <strong>the</strong> Home Missionary
society, Mrs. Marcy undertook to found what is
known as <strong>the</strong> Elizabeth E. Marcy Home in one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
destitute sections <strong>of</strong> Chicago. The home is conducted as
a sort <strong>of</strong> religious settlement and is a center <strong>of</strong> acknowledged
help and usefulness.
Mrs. Marcy was also one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> founders <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>
Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She belonged
to <strong>the</strong> Daughters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> American Revolution, and was
eligible to membership in <strong>the</strong> Colonial Dames.
Mrs. Marcy has written many pamphlets concerning
philanthropic work, and many hymns, some <strong>of</strong> which
have been used in Methodist Hymnals throughout <strong>the</strong>
world. Her death occurred in 1911.