Mary Ann Browne

"Early in 1855, Anna (21 yrs old) and Mary Ann Parish (19 years old) left Randolph, VT to go to Wisconsin, where their married sister Abbie lived. Their intention was to open a "Select School" in the new community. The two girls came by train to Chicago, by boat to Milwaukee, by stage to Oshkosh, by steamboat on the Fox and Wolf Rivers to Gill's Landing. All went well until the steamboat struck a snag. The lower deck with all the trunks submerged and the boat caught fire. However, with their wet luggage, the girls reached Waupaca by stage coach.

The following Sunday there was a religious service, probably in the Sessions home. Among the worshipers were two young men, George Loren Lord, the miller, and Edward L. Browne, a lawyer. Said George, "I'll take the blue-eyed one!" Said Edward, "I'll take the brown-eyed one!" And that very afternoon the two young men came to call on the Parish sisters.

A public school had been started in the little frontier settlement. However, the young ladies from Vermont planned to open a "Select School" to teach the Arts. They had a circular printed offering the following branches: English, Latin, French, ("particular attention will be paid to the French language. Having always received instruction from native teachers, they flatter themselves they will be able to give a correct pronunciation of the same") They also offered Art courses, Pencil drawing, Crayon, Monochromatic, Water Color painting, and music. The winter term was to open Dec. 5, 1855. It is recorded that Hannah Parish won two fifty-cent prizes for an oil painting, and a pencil drawing at a local exhibition.

The girls did have some private pupils, but whether a "school" ever got started is not known, for by the end of December 1855, the young men had pressed their matrimonial suits and had been accepted.

A double wedding was arranged for at the home of their cousin, Chester Hutchinson, which took place on March 4, 1856.

Their father, Jacob Kimball remarked, "Well, Anna will always have bread!" For George Lord and his brother had erected the first "Flouring Mill". George, at the age of 19, had set out with his brother Winthrop for the west. Settling first at Battle Creek, then at Ceresco (now Ripon). They were interested in milling, and made many trips to the Indian lands at Waupaca Falls selling flour to the early settlers. Being impressed with the future prospects of Waupaca, they decided to locate there. In 1851 they built and opened the first flouring mill of any importance in the country. They continued to operate the "star Mills" until 1884."

source: "The history of the Jacob Kimball Parish Family"

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Educated in the district schools in VT and also at Montpelier, afterward attending Mt. Holyoke College in MA. After college she accompianed a sister in coming west to Wapaca, WI where an older sister of theirs was the first white woman to locate in the area. The two ladies opened a select school in Wapaca and taught there until they were married. Mary Ann's sister married G. L. Lord.

She was called Aunt Mary Ned to distinguish her from other Mary's in the family.