Sunday's Obituary - Mary Dyer Jackson, Early Suffragette

Mary Dyer Jackson (1844 -1934) 
(Oneida, Madison County, New York)

Mary (Dyer) Jackson was my maternal gr-gr-grandfather (George B, Dyer)'s first cousin. She was a fascinating and accomplished woman. She married her sister's widower, was a founding member of the county historical society, was an early activist in the women's suffrage movement, and did so much more in her full life.

Note that in the obituary, Mary's mother's name, Mahala Barnard Dyer, was misspelled as Masala.

Oneida Daily Dispatch
Thurs., Nov. 8, 1934
page 1 column 4 - page 6 column 1


ONEIDA PIONEER WOMAN PASSES
____________
Mrs. Mary Dyer Jackson Dies Early Today - A Leader in Civic Activities
_____________

Mrs. Mary Dyer Jackson, 90, a pioneer resident of this vicinity and prominent club woman, died in her apartment, Gables, at 7:20 o'clock this morning following an illness of two months.

She was born February 29, 1844 at Wampsville, daughter of the late Benjamin Wood Dyer and Masala Barnard. Although 90 years old, Mrs. Jackson only celebrated 21st birthday anniversaries in her lifetime.

Mrs. Jackson was graduated from Oneida Seminary, then located on the present C. Will Chappell estate at Elizabeth and Grove Streets. Later she studied voice culture at New England Conservatory of music and for seven years sang in a quartet choir in one of the Boston churches. She possessed a fine contralto voice.

Mrs. Jackson was the widow of the late Darius Jackson whom she married in 1874. He died two years later. During their married life they lived in Brooklyn where Mr. Jackson was a commission merchant. His first wife was Mrs. Jackson's sister, Julia Dyer, who died in 1870.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Jackson established her residence in Oneida and became active in civic affairs which she continued until her recent illness.

She was the founder of the Progress Club in 1889 which today is one of the outstanding women's organizations of this city.

Mrs. Jackson was also a charter member of the Madison County Historical Society, founded in 1898, and the Political Equality Club established in early 90's which is now merged with the Madison County League of Women Voters.

She was more prominently known as a member of the latter organization as Mrs. Jackson was the first woman to circulate a petition in Central New York for women's suffrage cause. She obtained 50 or 60 names on the petition which was mailed to Albany asking the legislature to allow women to vote.

This was in 1897 or 1898 and although the document received little or no attention at the time, Mrs. Jackson lived to see her work accomplished about 20 years later as the 19th amendment was adopted.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

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Mary is buried in Glenwood Cemetery, Oneida, Madison County, New York in her father's family plot. Frank Dyer was her brother. Her husband, Darius Jackson and his first wife Julia Dyer Jackson are buried in the same family plot, Their memorial is inscribed on another side of the shared Dyer/Jackson family monument.

The Dyer - Jackson Family Monument

Glenwood Cemetery

Oneida, Madison, County, New York

Wednesday's Child - Dyer Infants

Dyer Infant Boys
Died Four Months Apart in 1851

Redwood Cemetery

Oneida, Madison County, NY

These two older graves sit by themselves to the left and behind the adults in the Dyer/Tuttle Family plot. Burton H. Dyer was my gr-gr-gr-grandfather and he  and his wife are also buried in Redwood Cemetery to the front of the boys.

(original photo taken by Polly Held)

The stone to the left is inscribed:

William J. Dyer
 Died
 August 24, 1851
 Aged 3 yrs & 9 mos
 Son of
 Burton H. Dyer

The stone to the right is inscribed:

Little G A R Dyer

 Died
 April 11, 1851
 Infant Son of
Burton H. Dyer

[Note: the photographer guessed at the G A R as it was almost illegible]

~ Karen the AncesTree Sprite 

Thanks Polly for your act of genealogical kindness. 
 

Sunday's Obituary - George Burton Dyer 1841-1905

Obituary: George Burton Dyer (1841 - 1905)

(my maternal gr-gr-grandfather)

George Burton Dyer in his Civil War Uniform

Oneida Independent Calvary Company (NY)

George Burton Dyer

May 1893

Oneida Democratic Union Page 2 Column on Thursday, February 9, 1905

GEORGE B. DYER

George B. Dyer, a former well known and respected citizen of Oneida, died in his home in Redwood, Jefferson Co., on Saturday morning, aged 62 years. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Burton H. Dyer, of this city, and until removing to Redwood a few years ago had passed the most of his life in Oneida and vicinity. Mr. Dyer was a veteran of the civil war, having enlisted August 10, 1861 in the Oneida Independent Cavalry, and remaining as orderly sergeant of the company to the close of the war, being mustered out of service June, 1865. Since removing to Redwood he had been proprietor of the Dyer Hotel, which he was conducting at the time of his death. He had been in failing health for about two years, though able to attend to business the greater portion of the time. He is survived by a widow, three sons and two daughters; also by one sister, Mrs. John F. Tuttle, of Syracuse. He was a genial kind hearted man who enjoyed the esteem of a large acquaintance. He was a member of John R. Stewart Post G. A. R. and numbered among the friends he prized most highly outside the family circle were his old Army comrades. It was his expressed desire, shortly before his demise, that his body be borne to the grave in Glenwood, by some of the survivors of his old company. Dwight Chapin was apprised of this fact through a communication from a son of the deceased and made arrangements accordingly, himself, Joseph Veiling and Patrick Clark, of this city, and Treat Miner, of Georgetown, serving as bearers and accompanying the body to Glenwood Tuesday afternoon. The funeral took place at the late home of the deceased that morning, and accompanied by members of the family, the body arrived in Oneida that afternoon.

==============

 Notes

Oneida in this article refers to Oneida in Madison County, New York State. Redwood Cemetery in located at Oneida.

Dwight Chapin mentioned in the obituary, served in the Oneida Independent Cavalry Co. with George Dyer and later married George's cousin, Hannah Dyer.

For more information about the Oneida Independent Cavalry Company and their unique role in the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, click here.

My relationship to George is as follows
George Burton Dyer > Harry Sherman Dyer > Ethel (Dyer) Hirst > Olie (Hirst) Yohn Adam > me

George B. Dyer

Oneida Indpt. Cav. Co.

1841 - 1905

Dyer/Tuttle Family Plot

Redwood Cemetery

Oneida, Madison Co., NY

~ Karen the AncesTree Sprite