The first years of her childhood was passed at home, at Henderson Grove, under the surveillance of her parents. There was scarcely a book at her command, and the day of daily newspapers had not dawned in Galesburg. In 1847, the family moved to Galesburg. She first attended a private school and afterwards entered the public schools; with this preparatory training she became a student in Knox Academy. She attended Knox College, 1854-57, graduating with distinction, with the Class of 1857. The first year after leaving college was spent in the study of music and French. In the spring of 1858 she taught the children of the neighborhood, and in April 1859, she went from home to teach in the schools of Henderson County. Mary was on the Knox Faculty, 1860-64. She was a teacher in Canton, Kewanee, Freeport, Galesburg, Monmouth, and Chicago and then became Principal of Galesburg High School, 1876-1895, when the schools and the school system having grown to such proportions that the responsibilities were too great to be longer carried by a woman, she resigned, and accepted the less onerous position of assistant principal, from which she retired in 1901. She was an author and contributor to the Journal of Education, 1905-06. Mary married, September 21, 1865, Robert Hood Gettemy (1825-1891) (his 2d marriage) and they lived in Monmouth IL, until their removal to Chicago in May 1867, where Robert was engaged in the lumber business. In 1869 fire destroyed the accumulation of years, blackening his prospects for the future. His health becoming impaired, they returned to Monmouth in November 1873. In April 1875, Robert returned to Chicago, but his physical condition gave no promise for permanent business pursuits, and Mary Ellen again entered the schoolroom as a teacher, and took the principalship of the High School in Galesburg in 1876. To the cares of the schoolroom was added the care of an invalid husband; after many years of ill health, Robert was at last compelled to give up entirely the active labors of life. He came to Galesburg in 1886, where for five years, he was confined to his home. In 1897, Knox College conferred the Degree of Master of Literature upon her.
The first years of her childhood was passed at home, at Henderson Grove, under the surveillance of her parents. There was scarcely a book at her command, and the day of daily newspapers had not dawned in Galesburg. In 1847, the family moved to Galesburg. She first attended a private school and afterwards entered the public schools; with this preparatory training she became a student in Knox Academy. She attended Knox College, 1854-57, graduating with distinction, with the Class of 1857. The first year after leaving college was spent in the study of music and French. In the spring of 1858 she taught the children of the neighborhood, and in April 1859, she went from home to teach in the schools of Henderson County. Mary was on the Knox Faculty, 1860-64. She was a teacher in Canton, Kewanee, Freeport, Galesburg, Monmouth, and Chicago and then became Principal of Galesburg High School, 1876-1895, when the schools and the school system having grown to such proportions that the responsibilities were too great to be longer carried by a woman, she resigned, and accepted the less onerous position of assistant principal, from which she retired in 1901. She was an author and contributor to the Journal of Education, 1905-06. Mary married, September 21, 1865, Robert Hood Gettemy (1825-1891) (his 2d marriage) and they lived in Monmouth IL, until their removal to Chicago in May 1867, where Robert was engaged in the lumber business. In 1869 fire destroyed the accumulation of years, blackening his prospects for the future. His health becoming impaired, they returned to Monmouth in November 1873. In April 1875, Robert returned to Chicago, but his physical condition gave no promise for permanent business pursuits, and Mary Ellen again entered the schoolroom as a teacher, and took the principalship of the High School in Galesburg in 1876. To the cares of the schoolroom was added the care of an invalid husband; after many years of ill health, Robert was at last compelled to give up entirely the active labors of life. He came to Galesburg in 1886, where for five years, he was confined to his home. In 1897, Knox College conferred the Degree of Master of Literature upon her.
