Born to Patrick and Margaret McNamara Clancy in Conneautville, Pa. November 6, 1857 at a time when this community was fast becoming a thriving metropolis. Jobs were plentiful. The lumber business was booming with sawmills shipping to Erie as well as Pittsburgh. There was unrest in the south due to a slavery issue, but locally, the push was to move their products before a possible winter freeze that could close the Canal.

The local Warehouses were stocking up, as well as the local merchants. The town boasted 3 Physicians, a couple of Dentists, two Attorneys, at least two Hotels, a Pharmacy, a couple of clothing stores, two new brick buildings three stories high, a school on each end of town for those children on the North and those over the Borough line just south of Jefferson St. Education for the children was at it's best. A new school of Higher Education had recently been constructed on the North, called the Academy and could accommodate foreign children from the surrounding townships.

It was in this prosperous and productive atmosphere that Mary was raised and no doubt made up her mind to become a teacher.

High School Conneautville, Pa

In 1867 a new brick school building was erected and the academy students were marched down Washington Street to the new location. At age 10 or 11, this new structure must have been very impressive; Two stories high, four rooms on each floor with lots of cloak rooms, storage and even an office for the Principal. this new school was called the Union School which united local students with many rural schools from surrounding townships. Eight grades would occupy the first floor with two grades in each room, then you got to climb the very long stairs to the second floor where the big kids had their classes.

It is here where May would graduate with a class of 9 students in the year 1876, but wait, (?) there must be some mistake. Mary started teaching after graduation, but she also started a journal when she started teaching. This journal lists all of the students she taught and it starts with "Beach School" in Summerhill township. She tells us she taught 2 terms, perhaps this was "on the Job training" as the year is 1875.

Mary lists the following students in her school as:

Libbie Chamberlyn	age 11	1875
Mary Chamberlin	age 9
Libbie Dodge	age 8
Louisa Dodge	age 7
Belle Dearborn	age 8
Mary Mathews	age 8
Louisa Mathews	age 14
Linna Tallman	age 13
Minnie Houser	age 12
Maggie Mathews	age 11
Cassie. Mathews	age 7
Loa Klingensmith	age 6
Ella Tingley	age 13
Belle Hays	age 15
Jennie Morrow	age 5
Archie Mathews	age 18
Fred Staiger	age 9
Eddie Dodge	age 5
Willa Morrow	age 6
Frank Houser	age 10
Charlie Houser	age 7
John Vedenburg	age 12
George Chamberlin	age 6
Will Steele	age 13
Pearl Cooper	age 7
Emma Smith	age 5	(year 1876)
Tena Houser	age 4
Floyd Chamberlin	age 5

Teaching in a one room school must have been an experience with children from age 4 to 18?? A total of 30 students

The next assignment was teaching at "The Big Road School", Summerhill township.

Students were: year 1876

Frank Miller	age 7
Charlie Sterling	age 9
Merritt Sterling	age 12
Charles Brewer	age 16
George Ryerson	age 19
Sam Fish	age 9
Carrie Davenport	age 7
Spencer Proctor	(?)
Clara Lane	age 17
Mary Lane	age 11
Emma Miller	age 15
Lina Ryerson	age 14
Ettie Davenport	age 18
Lina Davenport	age 15
Jennie Miller	age 11
Alice Lane	age 9
Emma Lane	age 14
Lizzie Miller	age 10
Ettie Miller	age 9
Lera Fish	age 6
Ada Fish	age 10
Della Procter	age 13

For a total of 22 students ages 6 to 18. This completes the year 1876. The years 1877 and 1878 were spent at the Carr School in Summerhill township. Total students listed from these 2 years amounted to 51 with ages ranging from 4 to 18.

In 1879 Mary accepted a position teaching at the Conneautville Union School and kept a record of each student's name and age. She recorded 887 students passing through her class to the year 1923. She taught for 44 years until her health forced her to retire from the profession she loved.

For those interested, this ledger, in very poor condition has been reproduced and is available for research at our museum located at 1625 Main St., Conneautville.

At her death in 1929, Mary was survived by 3 sisters; Mrs. Margaret Callaghan, Mrs. L. M. Ofensend of Dicksonburg and Mrs. Arze Dibble of Erie, Pa., also a brother Frank of Conneautville.

Burial was at the family plot in St. Peter's Cemetery, Conneautville.