Sarah Jane Marsh (née Hanna)
BIRTH: 23 Sep 1854 in Minersville, Meigs County, Ohio, USA
DEATH: 8 Nov 1934 (aged 80) in Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, USA
Section 6 | Plot 95-4, Lot D
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Sarah Jane Hanna was born in 1833 in Ohio. She was the daughter of James Hanna and his wife (also named Sarah). As a young woman, she moved with her family to the frontier settlement of Mankato, Minnesota, in its very earliest days.
In the summer of 1853, Sarah became Mankato’s first schoolteacher. At that time the town was only a few months old. For six months she taught in a rough board warehouse located at the end of Walnut Street, on the south side of where the City Hall now stands. Approximately twenty-three scholars attended, ranging from young children to nearly grown young men and women. She was paid by subscription from the parents and settlers. Her pioneering effort helped lay the foundation for public education in the new community.
On May 10, 1853, Sarah married John Q. A. Marsh, one of Mankato’s early prominent citizens. The couple made their home in Mankato and raised a large family. They had at least ten children, several of whom survived into adulthood: Ervin, Clarence, Laura, Lucinda, and others. The Marshes were active and respected members of the community. John worked in business and public life, while Sarah managed a busy household and maintained strong connections throughout Mankato.
Sarah was a devoted Christian Scientist in her later years and was greatly beloved by her many friends and neighbors. She was known for her kind and helpful nature, her strong faith, and her willingness to assist others. She had lived in Mankato for nearly fifty years and was considered one of the city’s true pioneers.
After a brief illness, Sarah Jane Marsh passed away on December 29, 1902, at the age of 69. She was survived by her husband, several children, and a large circle of friends who remembered her as an early educator, loving mother, and faithful community member.Her funeral was held from the family home, with arrangements under the direction of the Presbyterian Church (which she had attended earlier in life). She was laid to rest in the Mankato area, leaving behind a legacy as one of the first women to bring education to the growing settlement that would become the City of Mankato.
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