The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-09-19
Miss Mary n. Henry


ny, better known to many outside of
her wide circle of friends by the nom
de plume of Howe Benning, occurred
at the old Henry homestead, Benning-
ton, VT, on Sept. 16, 1913, after a
short illness.
Born at Bennington on June Z, 1S4l,
her early education was gained in the
public schools of the town, followed
by course at Mt. Anthony seminary
conducted by Prof. Yates, preparatory
to entering Mt. .Holyoke seminary
(now Mt. Holyoke college,. Gradu-
ating from Mt. Holyoke with the class
of 1862 she taught for while in the
schools of Bennington after which she
accepted a position as teacher in the
high school at Lapeer, Mich, where
she remained for four years.
From Lapeer in 1875 she went to
Downer college at Fox Lake, Wis,
where in time she was asked to fill
the presidents chair. She threw her
self into the administration of the col
lege with such intensity and main.
tanned such close, personal relations
with the young women students,
both in their curriculum and social ac-
tivities, that her health proved I'M
equal to the task, and after three or
four years stay she was obliged to
relinquish her work, returning home
fer q long rest.
After months of recuperation she
entered upon the most prolific period
of her literary career, which she had
commenced during the leisure hours
of her early teaching days. To gath
er further material for this purpose
and at the same time crafty the de-
sire, always with her, of helping
those in distress, she entered into set
Element work in New York city, visit
ing the Sullivan street and Mulberry
street slums and assisting the settle
ment schools in these sections. Her
first-hand knowledge of human woes
in a great city was blended with the
more pleasant scenes of a country
eirlhcOd and college life in several
books written more especially for girls
and young women until about 1887,
when her health again broke down,
never TO be fully regained. An inval-
i'd in bed for two or three years, she
gradually recovered her lost strength
sufficiently to write many serials and
short stories for religious and juven-
ilo papers.
At the time of the dedication of the
Bennington Battle monument in 1891
she wrote a little booklet entitled
Historic Bennington" which was H.
Illustrated by Mrs. {. A. Weston. the
wife of a former pastor of the North
Bennington Congregational church.
Her next book. Goshen Hill" was
published in 1895 and was followed by
four more until 1899, after which she
confined her writing to short stories.
or nearly a score of books written
by Howe Benning several were trans.
lated and republished in foreign coun.
tries. Two of her books, Quiet Cor
ners' (1SS2) and Goshen Hill'
(1S95), were awarded the Geo. Wood
gold medals by the American Tract
society as the best works of their
kind. Among some of her more popu.
lar works might be mentioned. Hes
ter LenoX" tlS76). Opening Plain
Paths" QSSD. Finding Her Place"
tlSSS), Hope Reeds Upper Window
lSS5). "One Girls Way Out" QSS0,
Grandpa's Desk 0S96). a book for
children. and Jeans Opportunity
tlSss). All her books were of The
highest moral tone and bore the i'm.
press OF her strong religious nature.
While a student al Mt. Holyoke she
united with the Congregational
church. later taking a letter 10 the
congregational church at North Ben.
nington. OF which church she was
treasurer for many years. Possess.
ed OF unusual ambition. nervous ener.
~ and determination she constantly
overtaxed her rather fraf phvsical be.
ing so that the results OF her lsbo-s
I were eNacted al the expense of tho
last ounce OF her strength. She com.
bined keen and COMPREHENSIVE
grasp Of life and human affairs with
considerable business and executive
ability. Absorbed in the training ana
education Of girls and young women
IN her earlier years. she later showed
special fOndness for children. while
I her whole life has been Characterized
by unseifish devotion 10 the interests
and betterment Of others.
She Is survived in her immediate
family by her brother. Berthe T. Her
fy OF Bennington and her nephew. Al
Ion Nl NHInrara ~ ".