• Came over from Ireland on steamer in 1830 on which she caught smallpox.23

• While crossing from Ireland smallpox broke out in the steerage, and as Mary had eaten an apple given to her by a steerage passenger, she was the only cabin passenger who took it - so she, her aunt and mother stayed in quarantine on landing while the father went on. By wrapping each finger in rags, tying the hands behind her and constant vigilance with a switch in hand, she was saved a scar - this she always appreciated when she saw such disfigurements as many had, in those days, since scratching the scab does this. She always felt this smallpox was responsible for her excellent health, “fine blood” in later life.36, p 2; lines 65-71

• Estelle’s mother caught smallpox on steamer coming from Ireland – only one in 1st Class. Went down with the 2nd class where she caught it. Was put in quarantine and her mother & Aunt Lib [Elizabeth O’Brien, Mary’s sister – DWM] staid [sic] with her while her father went on to Vermont & settled in Irish Grove. 23

• Mary’s first days in Vermont, she weaved, knitted, and went to school. When she took James for the first time he came home and said “That teacher has nothing to eat in her cupboard.” The children used to blow out eggs, fill them with maple syrup, let them harden in the snow. One of these James wanted to take to the teacher “to make her sweeter.”36, p 4; lines 20-23

• Marriage permission statement from Mary O’Brien’s parents:
“This is to certify that we the undersigned do from henceforth and for ever truly give our consent that George More Shall have our Daughter mary obrine to wife.”
April the 11th 1846
/s/ Miles obrine
Mary Curley
Witness Patrick Giblin537

• Certificate of Marriage:
“I hereby certify that on the 15th day of April 1846 I celebrated the marriage of the above name persons vz. George More & Miss Mary O’Brien”
Oneco May 10th 1846
E. H. Hazard537

• Township of Lena
Presbyterian Church — Early in 1844, the Rev. Elisha Hazzard came into the neighborhood of where Lena now is and commenced a missionary work, and in June of the same year, established what was then known as Waddams Grove Presbyterian Church.538, p 527

• Mr. and Mrs. John [sic] O’Brien and daughter, Mary, 3 years old, with Mrs. O’Brien’s sister left Ireland for Vermont. Here James, Elizabeth, William, John, George [sic] were born – moved to Illinois to a farm outside of Freeport. Mary finished the village school, then lived with Mrs. Brewster, went to school in town, met and married at 16 George Henry [sic] Moore. (Mrs. B. gave her a fine trousseau and wedding – she had no children – Mama adored her). The first year of mama’s married life she lost, first Mrs. Brewster, then her husband and mother – her first child was born one month after Mr. Moore’s death. He was 21 – died of T.B. At 20 she married Mr. Clark. He was well connected. Clark Hubble, a nephew was head of pension dept. in Wash. His nephew Charlie Terrell a bright lawyer came across the plains with them.
Mr. Clarke provided well. He had a hardware business and was an expert locksmith. Against mama’s wishes he sold his business, sewed $20 gold pieces around his belt (Mama said she never again saw so much gold), but he expected to ‘pick it up’ in California – this was ‘51. Emily was 3 when they started [this would date it abt 1854]. Mr. C. was captain of his train – 30 men and mama was the only woman. They came well equipped, so had no hardships of much importance. They found people dying of cholera – left water and food and went on. The wagons were closed into a circle each night, the Indians were not dreaded so much as the Mormons, and have heard Mama say: they landed in Sacramento with no deaths.36, p 1; lines 16-23
Mama’s first husband Mr. Moore died after ten months. A son was born, George Henry. It was with this son, her second husband Mr. Clarke and Emily 3 yrs. old that she crossed the plains – she was pregnant for May. They stopped off at Diamond Springs for this birth. Mr. Clarke died when Mama was 25. At 30 she married Frederick Walter – he was 32. He was very kind, too easy stepfather, both Emily and May told me. He was considered a rich man and all was rosy for a few years.36, p 1; lines 35-40
She [Mary] considered Mrs. Brewster her best friend, appreciated always the privilege of living in a beautiful home with servants in contrast to the farm. Mary had brown hair, deep blue (Irish) eyes, cheeks like roses – a beautiful person (Aunt Lib told me) very gay – loved fun always. Like your mother she had little hands and feet – small waist. Mrs. B. [Brewster] didn’t approve of anything as common as a circus – so when a widow at 17 – in a white dress and black silk shawl I still have, she attended her first circus with “Mr. Babcock” – cousin of Babcock in Vallejo. Lib now lived with her in town (Springfield) [sic] and was married from her home to Johnathan Hay whom Mama always loved. After many beaux Mama finally chose Mr. Clarke. Before she left the East she found that he had been untrue to her – (Aunt Lib cried just as your mother did when her sister (Anne) married.) Aunt Lib never liked Mr. C. Well, Mr. Clark was very penitent and hoped he was forgiven – but, imagine leaving all you friends, your sister, father, home, to go to a new country with George Henry (by her first husband, Moore). Emily, three and one “on the way” and the love killed. When Mr. Clark died in Sacramento of a lung “bursting” – he said “Mary, you have never forgiven me.” And she hadn’t – but she was proud of his mind, felt he was a very clever man.36, pp 2-3; lines 80-94
Mama’s mistake was in marrying Mr. Clark. There was a wild streak in the blood. You see Mr. C. was a widower, had buried a wife and daughter “Arzella.” Mama expressed her opinion that a widow should marry a widower – she felt “one of these boys could not be such an understanding father.” Emily Arzella was their first child. Mama earnestly believed she marked May – who was Mary Elizabeth till she changed her name herself while in the convent to “May Josephine.” While Mary was a widow the first time she had many beaux – one, the minister’s son whom Aunt Lib wanted her to marry. At a dance he passed her a candy heart on which was printed “So fair, yet so deceiving.” This I think always hurt a little when she repeated it. Mama loved poetry – Moore’s she practically knew from cover to cover. She knew her English and French history – admired Queen Victoria; knew just whom each of her eight children married and where they were, etc. Queen V. was like a relative – yet, she was always hoping she could live to “see” Ireland free!36, p 4; lines 138-149
In Sacramento, when Mr. Clark died leaving her with George Henry and his three children, for Frank was a nursing baby, he left her a business, a two story house, located where the Capitol now stands. To save a baby’s life she took a new born baby whose mother died of T.B. and nursed and cared for it. The father was a rich mining man. Mama loved this child, brought him up to be a healthy child – then his father married again and took him. For this Mama got $75.00 a month (plenty to keep her going in those days). Soon she began to sing in the church choir. Here she met Fred Walter, a widower twice.36, pp. 4 & 5, lines 175-181

• Mama loved her new home [in Vallejo]. She had the largest parlors in town - two marble mantles and a bathroom. Papa thought it crazy to get such a big house - ten rooms (she added an eleventh later).36, p 5; line 211

• Copy of only letter of Mary Walter in possession of Amy Estelle Eckart:

Vallejo, April 29, 1894
My dear Estelle –
I am very tired this evening but I must write to my baby. Mabel and Mr. Halsey came over to spend the day and I had all the family except Dora - she is in Oakland today with Dr. Burk. She is not entirely well yet. I had chicken and ice cream. Mr. Halsey said I had a fine dinner, green peas, mashed potatoes, salad, so you see I am tired. The house is looking very well for me, if you were here it would be better. The yard is loaded with flowers more than ever before but I don’t get time to gather and make bouquets of fill the vases which is a great addition to a room. I will try this week to have some flowers in the house.
The babies are both well now, Miriam has two back teeth and more coming. Emily’s folks are are well. I received your last two letters, also the money. I put twenty with it and it is in the Bank in your name so you will be getting a few cents interest. Keep on. The best of all is to hear your health is good and you are happy. They are playing croquet at Alice’s this evening. Lilly was here after the balls – the Damuth girls and a young lady friend, a very pretty girl cousin of theirs. I have not seen any of the Fountains since you were here. Am glad Alice [Fountain] is doing so well. It won’t be long before your school is out. Well I will close by wishing you good night and God Bless you.
From your ever loving Mother,
Mary Walter36, p 7; lines 285-304

• I [Elizabeth O’Brien Hay] rec’d a letter from Aunt Mary yesterday. She said when she received my instructions about travel, she laughed. Said Mr. Walters discouraged her and told her she was no traveler & now she reads how cold it is here, she is glad she did not come. And she can’t come in summer because she is afraid of lightning. Bless her heart, she does well to stay at home but she is determined that I shall go there to live. She has $30.00 a month to spend as she likes now so we would have a good time. She thinks it so hard with two children and they so far from me.
I should feel the same about her. I know but I am used to more than she.539, p 5

• Seville, Ohio
August 28, 1901

My dear Estelle –
I cannot stand this anxiety any longer. I have no heart or courage to ask a question. My heart is like ice and no one to speak to about it as I am alone and strangers cannot understand. So I just keep the sorrow and anxiety to myself. Do please write, you dear girl.
Your loving Aunt,
Elizabeth Hay
Note by Amy Estelle Eckart:
Written when Mama was dying. Elizabeth Hay was Mama’s only sister (my only Aunt).36, p 12; lines 505-515

• Letter by Amy Estelle Walter Eckart:
An incident:
When Mary and Mr. W[alter] got acquainted, comparing notes, they found they had crossed the plains at the same time. Made camp so close one time Mr. Walter hears there were a woman and two children in the Clark camp. So he sent two men over with a bucket of milk (he had brought along a milk cow) for the children. Mr. Clark met them and poured the milk on the ground – afraid to expose any of them to the dreaded cholera. Mr. W. saw this from afar and was very angry. This they both remembered. There were no women in the Walters’ camp. He often said it was the happiest year of his life. Mary said it was an awful nightmare. They passed men dying of cholera along the trail; they left water and food, and passed on.
Mary always bragged of her “good, healthy Irish inheritance”; she never had a stitch taken nor any operations of any kind, was never examined by a doctor. With the care we get, who knows, she might have lived ten years longer.
Her mother, a devout Roman Catholic; all the children, Protestants.
When Mary was a widow [from her first husband], to please her mother she brought her baby home to be christened – the village priest started in to criticize his curls, his silly gown, etc., her family. The he said “I suppose you think you are married; who was the man? Some horse thief?” Mary said “Don’t you dare touch my child.” Her mother fell on her knees and prayed aloud; her father took her part so he was not christened, Mary said (Mary was married each time by a Presbyterian minister).
When Alice [Walter] favored the Episcopal church – since she played the organ there, she pulled us all to that church. When Mary was dying, she requested a communion in her bed. We all gathered and Mr. Ballard brought it from the altar. The next day she sank in a coma, died on _________. We were all comforted by the fact that her wish had been satisfied. She said “when she was on her deathbed my mother would say ‘Thy will be done.’ I say ‘Thy will be done if I can’t help myself for I would like to live ten years more.’” She talked of Mr. Moore and May – had perfect faith that she would meet them.
She was a high strung racehorse tied to a good truck horse when married to Mr. Walter – always pulling apart. She, so ambitious for her children, ready to work for their welfare; cooking for boarders so she could pay $4.00 per yard for Anne and Alice’s dresses; to pay for Alice’s music in S.F. and Anne’s singing lessons. She loved music and craved it and was so proud of Alice’s ability.
Since Alice was my teacher, I didn’t get far, and Mama always regretted this; felt I didn’t get a right start. But she had to save when she could.
When Alice taught South, we wrote regularly. She sent me $5.00 a month with which I took music lessons of dear L____. Alice and I were very much alike; it was our marriages that made us grow so far apart. I was always very proud of my sister Alice; I wasn’t so sure of Anne. She was kind, but I felt she was coarser – her laugh always embarrassed me. I was a very proud child and suffered more than anyone could know; Alice was too.
When Anne at 18 was visiting in Oakland for weeks once, Alice and I slept together. We’re so fond on one another, I found myself wishing that Anne would stay in Oakland, for when she returned I would go back to my room and be just a “nuisance” again.
It is time for lunch. Dear Will is here.
Love,
Aunt Stell36, pp 12&13; lines 520-573

• WALTER - In Vallejo, September 4, Mary, beloved wife of Frederick Walter and mother of Mrs. Emily Martin, Mrs. Henry Wilson, Mrs. V. V. Harrier, Mrs. W. R. Eckart Jr. and Frederick J. Walter, aged 72 years.536

• 1840 Census: Age 10-15, with her father, Miles O'Brien, and family in Buffalo Grove Precinct, Ogle county, Illinois.540
• 1850 Census: Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois. Age 21, b Ireland, wife of Phineas F. Clark; with son, George H. Moore, age 3.541, p 12,542, p 12
• 1860 Census: Sacramento, Sacramento, California. Age 29, b Ireland. Housekeeping. Name given as Mary Clark.543
• 1880 Census: Vallejo, Solano, California. Age 51, b Ireland.196
• 1900 Census: Vallejo, Solano, California. Age 70, b Aug 1829, Ireland. Mother of 8 children, 5 living.197