Person:Mary Dunbar (11)

OBITUARY: Mary M. Knight was born Mary Miranda Dunbar in Southern Michigan in 1854. She attended High School in Eaton Rapids, Michigan and began her career as an educator there at age 16. After completing her appenticeship, by teaching a few terms, she moved with her family to Huron, South Dakota where she continued teaching. At age 22 she returned to Eaton Rapids and married another educator, Marcus F. Knight, on June 29, 1876. She had known her future husband since they were in High School together. The Knights remained in Michigan until 1890 when they decieded to move to Shelton, Washington with their two daughters, Gyneth and Jessie. Mary M. Knight immediately started teaching in Shelton where she remained for 5 years before moving to Bellingham. In Bellingham, Marcus and Mary were educators, but so were their daughters. Mary M. Knight entered politics in 1890 as a candidate for the Democrat/Populist party and was elected as the Mason County Superintendent of Schools on November 9, 1890. As the Superintendent of Mason County Schools for 18 years, Mary M. Knight worked very hard to get the 5 school districts along the western border of Mason County to consolidate. With consilidation, the one new school could offer far more to the students than the 5 smaller schools could offer. Eventually, consolidation occured and the new school was built in 1924. This new school district was named in honor of the former Mason County Superintendent. Mary M. Knight died on January 31, 1940 in Seattle Washington, at the age of 86.

Shelton-Mason County Journal of Tuesday, February 6, 1940 Shelton, Mason County, Washington DEATH TAKES MARY Knight, PIONEER HERE Early-Day Educator Passes Friday in Seattle After Lingering Illness; Matlock Names School After Her Mason county paid tribute Monday to its foremost early-day educator at funeral services conducted for Mrs. Mary M. Knight, 86, who died in a Seattle nursing home Friday after a long illness which had kept her bedridden for the past several years. The last rites were held in the Masonic Temple here with the Order of Eastern Star and Chapter B, P. E. O., conducting the ritual. Rev. Cyrus L. Gilbert, former pastor and teacher here who has been superintendent at Highland high school for the past 20 years, conducted the services for his former teacher and superintendent. Former Pastor Officiates Rev. Gilbert's funeral oration was a feeling presentation of early association both of the speaker and of the community which Mrs. Knight so long and so well served. Supt. A. D. Hunter of Mary M. Knight school at Matlock, named in honor of Mrs. Knight, headed a delegation of students from the school to attend the services. The entire personnel of the county courthouse closed the county offices to attend the funeral. Interment was a Masonic division of Shelton Memorial Park beside the grave of her husband, Marcus F. Knight, who died July 4, 1921 Two Daughters Survive Besides her daughter, Miss Jessie Knight, Shelton postmaster for the past twenty years, Mrs. Knight is survived by another daughter, Mrs. Gyneth Emens of Shanghai, China, and her only brother, Will Dunbar of Edmonds, Wash. Mrs. Knight was born in Ingham County, Michigan, September 2, 1854, and was in her 86th year. She married Marcus Knight, in Eaton Rapids, Mich., June 29, 1876, and in 1890 moved the family to Shelton following the several Dunbar families already located here. During the earlier years the family lived for a time at Bellingham, but this has been their continuous residence since. During his lifetime, Mr. Knight held various county offices while Mrs. Knight taught and later served several terms as county school superintendent until failing health forced her retirement.

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CENSUS: 1860 United States Federal Census Name: Mary Dunbar Age in 1860: 6 Birth Year: abt 1854 Birthplace: Pennsylvania Home in 1860: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan Gender: Female Post Office: Eaton Rapids Household Members: Name Age Elieb Dunbar 33 Margret Dunbar 28 Elieb Dunbar 10 Mary Dunbar 6 Isaac A Brandeberry 19 Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Eaton Rapids, Eaton, Michigan; Roll: M653_542; Page: 0; Image: 68.

1930 United States Federal Census Name: Mary Ann Knight Home in 1930: Shelton, Mason, Washington Age: 75 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1855 Birthplace: Michigan Relation to Head of House: Head Race: White Occupation: none Household Members: Name Age Mary Ann Knight 75 Jessie A Knight 53 Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Shelton, Mason, Washington; Roll: 2508; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 22; Image: 489.0.