In a farmhouse near Princeton, Indiana, Mary Gambrel was born on August 21, 1843 to Henry Gambrel and Nancy Montgomery Gambrel. Mary was the second daughter born to Henry and Nancy, following Mariah, in 1840. She was probably named after Henry's sister Mary Polly Gambrel. One can see how the research of the Gambrel family gets a little confusing. Henry had a sister named Mary Polly and his first wife was named Mary Polly and he named one of his daughters Mary. Then Henry's daughter, Mariah, named her daughter Mary Polly. Heartwarming for sure but it decidedly makes the research more difficult. The above portrait of Mary was taken in Princeton, Indiana. She came to Kansas in 1878 to live with her sister Miranda.

Mary Gambrel married D.W. Poe on September 17, 1882. D.W. had been previously married to Francis Button and to that union was born three children, George, Frank and Florence. He was an attorney. D.W. had also been a state legislator for two terms. He had not been in very good health stemming from his service during the Civil War with the 111th Ohio Infantry. Mary and D.W. never had any children of their own. Thomas Townley Rigg and Miranda Gambrel Rigg , her sister and brother-in-law, lived next door to Mary on South Olive Street. Thomas and Miranda had moved into Leon from their farm in Quito after the typhoid epidemic that had taken four of their sons. Mary had taken in one son, Perry D. Rigg , and nursed him back to health. Perry became like a son to her. On Mary's death, she left her home and possessions to Perry.

The house located to the south of Thomas and Miranda, was the home of my grandparents, Lauren Dale and Pearl Palmer Rigg. So there were three houses in a row that were occupied by family.

D.W. was born on July 27, 1834 and died on September 27, 1891. The cause of death was dropsy. He and Mary had only been married for eight years. Mary died on December 24, 1917 at the age of 74 years 4 months and 3 days. It seems as though everyone called her "Aunt Mary Poe". It's my opinion that the reason that her last name was always a part of her nickname was because there were so many Mary's that it was a way of making it clear which Mary one was referring to. In the 1880 census it lists Mary's occupation as a dressmaker. At that time she was living with Thomas and Miranda on their farm in Little Walnut Valley. According to her obituary, Mary loved working with flowers. Both Mary and D.W. are buried at the Leon Cemetery.