Mary S. Cummins
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Mary Stuart Slemons was born in [[Jonesborough, Tennessee]], May 31, 1854. She was of [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] origin, but her ancestors, both maternal and paternal, were for a long time residents of the [[Southern United States|South]]. Her father, William C. Slemons (d. 1887), a native of [[Tennessee]], married Miss Maria Dosser, also of that State. They reared a family of seven children, Cummins being the fourth born. The father was by trade a [[Tanning (leather)|tanner]] and was engaged in that business all his life. He was an [[Elder (Christianity)|Elder]] in the [[Presbyterian Church in the United States|Presbyterian Church]].{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Joaquin |title=An Illustrated History of the State of Montana: Containing a History of the State of Montana from the Earliest Period of Its Discovery to the Present Time, Together with ... Illustrations and Full-page Portraits of Some of Its Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Citizens of To-day |date=1894 |publisher=Higginson Book Company |pages=92–93 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o2qEEKVVR7sC&pg=PA92 |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en |chapter=Mrs. M. S. Cummins}} {{Source-attribution}} |
Mary Stuart Slemons was born in [[Jonesborough, Tennessee]], May 31, 1854. She was of [[Pennsylvania Dutch]] origin, but her ancestors, both maternal and paternal, were for a long time residents of the [[Southern United States|South]]. Her father, William C. Slemons (d. 1887), a native of [[Tennessee]], married Miss Maria Dosser, also of that State. They reared a family of seven children, Cummins being the fourth born. The father was by trade a [[Tanning (leather)|tanner]] and was engaged in that business all his life. He was an [[Elder (Christianity)|Elder]] in the [[Presbyterian Church in the United States|Presbyterian Church]].{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Joaquin |title=An Illustrated History of the State of Montana: Containing a History of the State of Montana from the Earliest Period of Its Discovery to the Present Time, Together with ... Illustrations and Full-page Portraits of Some of Its Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Citizens of To-day |date=1894 |publisher=Higginson Book Company |pages=92–93 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o2qEEKVVR7sC&pg=PA92 |access-date=20 April 2024 |language=en |chapter=Mrs. M. S. Cummins}} {{Source-attribution}} |
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Cummins was reared and educated in her native town, graduating at the age of sixteen. Seeking to continue her studies beyond the standard academic course, she pursued further education through her own efforts and obtained a full diploma from the Augusta Female Seminary (now, [[Mary Baldwin University]]), [[Staunton, Virginia]]. |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Returning to Tennessee in 1874, she began teaching, and for nine years, was [[Head teacher|principal]] and teacher of the [[Knoxville High School (Tennessee)|Knoxville High School]], remaining in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] until 1886. Finding time to enter other fields, a very large mission [[Sunday school]] became a part of her work. She also served as president of the Synodical Missionary Society and a State member of the executive board of Home Missions of New York for the Presbyterian Church. An effort was made to place her in charge of school interests in Mexico, but that did not seem to be compatible with her other duties. |
Returning to Tennessee in 1874, she began teaching, and for nine years, was [[Head teacher|principal]] and teacher of the [[Knoxville High School (Tennessee)|Knoxville High School]], remaining in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] until 1886. Finding time to enter other fields, a very large mission [[Sunday school]] became a part of her work. She also served as president of the Synodical Missionary Society and a State member of the executive board of Home Missions of New York for the Presbyterian Church. An effort was made to place her in charge of school interests in Mexico, but that did not seem to be compatible with her other duties. |
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In 1886, partly for a change of climate and partly to |
In 1886, partly for a change of climate and partly to pursue new business opportunities, she came with her husband to [[Montana Territory]]. They settled in [[Helena, Montana|Helena]], where Mr. Cummins engaged in the real estate business, both on his own account and for others, and also held interests in various mining enterprises. |
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Soon after their coming to Helena, Mary Cummins accepted the position as principal of [[Helena High School]], in which she served for five years, and which she resigned in order to accept a position as [[preceptor]] in the [[Montana Wesleyan University]] in September 1891. There, she was in change of the young ladies' department and professor of Latin and modern languages. Cummins, together with Prof. Joseph C. Templeton, also a professor in Montana Wesleyan, handled the inside management of university affairs. |
Soon after their coming to Helena, Mary Cummins accepted the position as principal of [[Helena High School]], in which she served for five years, and which she resigned in order to accept a position as [[preceptor]] in the [[Montana Wesleyan University]] in September 1891. There, she was in change of the young ladies' department and professor of Latin and modern languages. Cummins, together with Prof. Joseph C. Templeton, also a professor in Montana Wesleyan, handled the inside management of university affairs. |
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