Mary Gilbert's uncle bequeathed her $60,000 to marry her cousin. She was 'greatly annoyed'
In late September 1900, Miss Mary Gilbert 31, encountered her 15 minutes of fame in a peculiar way.
Mary had been born and raised in Newark and was an 1894 graduate of the Columbus Art School. The Newark Daily Advocate published June 17, 1894 , reported that she "has attained such proficiency and developed such talent for her work," she was hired as a teacher in the fall. In November of that same year, a Columbus correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that "Miss Mary D. Gilbert, of Newark while not a resident of Columbus, properly should be classed with the artists of the Capital City by reasons of the fact that she teaches watercolors in the art school here."
In 1900, Mary was living with her sister Katherine at 133 S. Third St. In the 1900 census , Mary's occupation was left blank. Katherine taught school at the Texas school in what is known as Little Texas in the south end of Newark.
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The headline "Chicago Man's Will" in the Newark Daily Advocate on Sept. 28, 1900, captured the attention of readers as they read that Miss Mary Gilbert's uncle, Daniel Edgerly, of Chicago, at his death bequeathed her a sum of $60,000, a value worth over $2 million today. However, there was one condition: She must marry his son and her cousin, 39-year-old Risley. Later that afternoon, an Advocate reporter spoke to Mary. She said that her uncle died about four weeks before and that she had been in Chicago for three weeks after his death and then returned to Newark about a week ago. When she had left Chicago, she said the will had not been read. The reporter then wrote, "Miss Gilbert is greatly annoyed at the publicity that is necessarily attendant upon the affair and refused to be interviewed. She said there may be some mistake, but even if the report is true, she considers that it is not a matter for publication."
"When asked if she would accept the condition precedent to the inheritance and marry Mr. Risley Edgerly, she answered that was her own private matter. She spoke in the highest terms of the young man and said that she was very fond of him."
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The story ran in numerous papers in Ohio . The Cincinnati Enquirer added its gossip in an Oct. 7 edition that stated, "That there are romantic, or at least interesting features behind this bequest goes without saying, Fathers do not make such bequest lightly or without reason." The paper also added that "Many of the lovely young friends believe that an engagement exists, but that it is not announced because the uncle's death was so recent."
Whether there was any truth to any of the story, we know that Mary and Risley never married. Risley Edgerly died in 1905. Mary was listed in the 1904 Newark City Directory, the last time she was found living in Newark. The next record that can be found is her Texas death certificate stating she died Aug. 26, 1925, in Houston. Her body was taken to Nashville, Tennessee, where she was buried at the Mount Olivet Cemetery. Mary Gilbert died having never married anyone.
Doug Stout is the Licking County Library local history coordinator. You may contact him at 740.349.5571 or dstout@lickingcountylibrary.org .
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Newark teacher Mary Gilbert given $60,000 to marry her cousin in 1900
