Mary Virginia Cabell

Mary Virginia Cabell (Ellet)

Founding Vice President of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

• Find A Grave Memorial ID # 18777435
• Mary Virginia Cabell's Wikipedia Page
• Mary Virginia Cabell's Virginia Encyclopedia Biography
• Guide to the Ellet Family Papers, 1839-1968
• Daughters of the American Revolution – Washington D.C.

NOTE: Illinois Society Children of the American Revolution, Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell Society, Chicago, Illinois

• Daughters of the American Revolution
• Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell
• Nat'l Num: 6
• Chapter: IL
• Ancestor: BALDWIN, CORNELIUS (A005221)
• Ancestor: ISRAEL, ISRAEL (A060678)

She was the daughter of Colonel Charles and Elvira Augusta Ellet (Daniel), and the wife of William Daniel Cabell.

Born in Virginia. Descendant of Israel Israel of Pennsylvania. Daughter of Colonel Charles Ellet, Jr., and Elvira Augusta Stuart Daniel, his wife. Granddaughter of Charles Ellet and Mary Israel, his wife.

Great-granddaughter of Israel Israel and Hannah Erwin, his wife. Israel Israel was a member of the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania and a recognized active patriot. Also granddaughter of Judge William Daniel and Margaret Baldwin, his wife.

Great-granddaughter of Dr. Cornelius Baldwin and Mary Briscoe, his wife. Dr. Baldwin was surgeon in the American Army throughout the Revolution. Also great-granddaughter of Ensign William Daniel and Martha 'Pattie' Field Allen, his wife.

Ensign William Daniel served in the War of Independence as ensign in Capt. Arda Allen's company. He was appointed in April, 1776.

NOTE: The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution first president general was U.S. First Lady Caroline Harrison, which was founded on October 11, 1890.

The organization aimed to inspire the remembrance and celebration of the history of the American Revolution, to educate and enlighten the public in line with the ideals laid out by U.S. President George Washington in his Farewell Address, and to foster patriotic spirit. To achieve these goals, the DAR asked to serve as the first president general, as her participation would bring immediate prestige and prominence to the new organization. Although she delegated many of the day-to-day duties of the president general to the vice president presiding, Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell, Caroline spoke at the First Continental Congress for the society in February 1892 and hosted a reception in the East Room of the White House for nearly one hundred DAR delegates on the evening of February 24, 1892.

CABELL, Mrs. Mary Virginia Ellet, educator, born at the "Point of Honor." Lynchburg, Virginia, the home of her maternal grandfather, Judge Daniel, 24th January, 1839. Her father, the eminent civil engineer. Charles Ellet. jr.. built the first suspension bridge in the United States, over the Schuylkill river at Philadelphia, presented the first plans for a bridge across the Mississippi river at St. Louis, and built the first bridge across the Niagara below the Falls. He first suggested and advocated a Pacific railroad, and his "temporary track" over the Blue Ridge, at Rock Fish Gap, was the most noted mountain railroad in the world. He was the author of the reservoir plan for the improvement of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.

He invented the steam-ram and constructed and commanded the steam-ram fleet in the victorious battle of Memphis, where he was mortally wounded. Mrs. Cabell's education was directed by her father. At twelve years of age she had thoroughly read Gibbon, and at fifteen she had accomplished a remarkable course of reading, and was in fluent command of the French and German languages. She accompanied her parents to Cuba, remaining there some time. She spent nearly a year at Niagara, crossing the river repeatedly m the famous "iron basket" which first conveyed men and materials, and was the first female to view the Falls from the bridge before its completion.

The years of 1854 and 1855 she spent in Europe, studying history and literature. She spent art of the winters of 1860 and 1861 in Richmond, Va., where, under the guardianship of her kinsman, Hon. A. H. H. Stuart and Hon. John B. Baldwin, the two Union leaders in the convention, she followed the proceedings and heard the views of the men who weighed the measure of secession. When the unhappy decision was reached which precipitated civil war. she returned to her family in Washington.

After the Battle of Memphis Mrs. Ellet and her daughter were permitted to join and nurse Colonel Ellet, who sank rapidly from his wound. When the fleet moved to participate in the siege of Vicksburg. Charles Rivers Ellet, who had first hoisted tile flag in Memphis, begged to accompany it. The decision was left to his sister, who sent the boy to his brief and glorious career.

Colonel Ellet died in Cairo, 21st June 1862, his body was carried to Philadelphia, lay in state in Independence Hall, and was interred in Laurel Hill with military honors. His wife survived him but one week. Charles Rivers Ellet died 29th October, 1862, from exposure and fatigue. The care of the two younger children and of their aged grandmother devolved upon the solitary young girl. After the war, Mary Ellet became the wife of William D. Cabell, of Virginia.

In 18S8 they removed with their family of six children to Washington, DC, and opened a school for girls, which at once won great repute as Norwood Institute, and is now increasingly prosperous.

In 1890 Mrs. Cabell aided in organizing a society of the descendants of Revolutionary patriots, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). At the first meeting Mrs. Harrison was elected president-general and Mrs. Cabell vice-president-general presiding. At the first Continental Congress of the order, held in Washington 22nd to 24th February, 1892, Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Cabell were unanimously reelected.

Held DAR membership #6
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MARY VIRGINIA (ELLET) CABELL

Cabell, Mrs. Mary Virginia Ellet, educator, born at the "Point of Honor," Lynchburg, Va., the home of her maternal grandfather, Judge Daniel, 24th January, 1839. Her father, the eminent civil engineer, Charles Ellet, jr., built the first suspension bridge in the United States, over the Schuylkill river at Philadelphia, presented the first plans for a bridge across the Mississippi river at St. Louis, and built the first bridge across the Niagara below the Falls. He first suggested and advocated a Pacific railroad, and his "temporary track" over the Blue Ridge, at Rock Fish Gap, was the most noted mountain railroad in the world. He was the author of the reservoir plan for the improvement of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. He invented the steam-ram and constructed and commanded the steam-ram fleet in the victorious battle of Memphis, where he was mortally wounded. Mrs. Cabell's education was directed by her father. At twelve years of age she had thoroughly read Gibbon, and at fifteen she had accomplished a remarkable course of reading, and was in fluent command of the French and German languages. She accompanied her parents to Cuba, remaining there some time. She spent nearly a year at Niagara, crossing the river repeatedly in the famous "iron basket" which first conveyed men and materials, and was the first female to view the Falls from the bridge before its completion. The years of 1854 and 1855 she spent in Europe, studying history and literature. She spent part of the winters of 1860 and 1861 in Richmond, Va., where, under the guardianship of her kinsman, Hon. A. H. H. Stuart and Hon. John B, Baldwin, the two Union leaders in the convention, she followed the proceedings and heard the views of the men who weighed the measure of secession. When the unhappy decision was reached which precipitated civil war, she returned to her family in Washington. After the battle of Memphis Mrs. Ellet and her daughter were permitted to join and nurse Col. Ellet, who sank rapidly from his wound. When the fleet moved to participate in the siege of Vicksburg, Charles Rivers Ellet, who had first hoisted the flag in Memphis, begged to accompany it. The decision was left to his sister, who sent the boy to his brief and glorious career. Col. Ellet died in Cairo, 21st June, 1862, his body was carried to Philadelphia, lay in state in Independence Hall, and was interred in Laurel Hill with military honors. His wife survived him but one week. Charles Rivers Ellet died 29th October, 1862, from exposure and fatigue. The care of the two younger children and of their aged grandmother devolved upon the solitary young girl. After the war Mary Ellet became the wife of William D. Cabell, of Virginia. In 1888 they removed with their family of six children to Washington D. C., and opened a school for girls, Norwood Institute. In 189o Mrs. Cabell aided in organizing a society of the descendants of Revolutionary patriots, the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Source: "American Women Fifteen Hundred Biographies" Vol 1 Publ. 1897 Transcribed by Marla Snow