Mary Clark Thompson
Encyclopedia
Mary Clark Thompson born Mary Lee Clark, was a noted philanthropist
and wife of banker Frederick Ferris Thompson
.
in 1835 to Myron Holley and Zilpha Watkins Clark. She moved with her family to Canandaigua, New York
when she was about two years old.
She attended various schools in Ontario County
, including the Ontario Female Seminary.
State in 1854, and the family took up residence in Albany
, the state's capital. It was in Albany that she met her future husband, Frederick Ferris Thompson, son of prominent New York banker John Thompson
. The couple were married
on June 17, 1857 in Canandaigua.
Although the Thompson's principal residence was at 283 Madison Avenue in New York City
, the couple spent their summers in Mary's girlhood home of Canandaigua on a farm they purchased in 1863. In 1885, they tore down the farmhouse and replaced it with a 40-room Queen-Anne style mansion. They named the home Sonnenberg (German
for "sunny hill"), which was the former name of the farmhouse.
, Vassar College
, and Teacher's College (now Columbia University
).
Frederick Ferris died in 1899 and Mary soon made Sonnenberg her principal home. She continued to give generously to civic, religious, and educational institutions, though her philanthropic work focused principally on the community in which she lived. In Canandaigua, she established and built the F.F. Thompson Hospital, the Clark Manor House, and the Woodlawn Cemetery chapel. She donated land for the city's post office, and contributed heavily to the local YMCA
, the Ontario County
historical society, the Wood Library, and numerous local churches.
She also maintained an interest in preserving the history of Native Americans
in the New York area, and made multiple contributions to the State Museum in Albany for that purpose.
Her interests also included enjoyment of gardens, and she had a number of formal gardens built at Sonnenberg. Often she would allow the public to come on to her property and walk through her gardens.
Mary Clark Thompson died on July 28, 1923. She is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua, New York
.
Comptroller Clark Williams
was her nephew.
Her home, Sonnenberg, is preserved and operated as a museum.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and wife of banker Frederick Ferris Thompson
Frederick Ferris Thompson
Frederick Ferris Thompson was a prominent American banker.-Biography:Born in New York City on June 14, 1836 to John and Electa Thompson, Frederick grew up in a life of luxury. He attended Williams College from 1852 to 1854, and was a member of St. Anthony Hall, but left to go abroad at his...
.
Early years
Mary Lee Clark was born in Naples, New YorkNaples (village), New York
Naples is a village in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,072 at the 2000 census.The Village of Naples is in the Town of Naples. Naples is in the center of an important grape-growing region.- History :...
in 1835 to Myron Holley and Zilpha Watkins Clark. She moved with her family to Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
when she was about two years old.
She attended various schools in Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
, including the Ontario Female Seminary.
Marriage
Mary's father Myron was elected Governor of New YorkGovernor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
State in 1854, and the family took up residence in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, the state's capital. It was in Albany that she met her future husband, Frederick Ferris Thompson, son of prominent New York banker John Thompson
John Thompson (banker)
John Thompson was a United States banker, financial publisher, and dealer in bank notes. The son of a Revolutionary War soldier, he was born near Pittsfield, Mass. He worked as a teacher and lottery-ticket dealer before moving to New York 1832 to become a dealer in bank notes...
. The couple were married
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
on June 17, 1857 in Canandaigua.
Although the Thompson's principal residence was at 283 Madison Avenue in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the couple spent their summers in Mary's girlhood home of Canandaigua on a farm they purchased in 1863. In 1885, they tore down the farmhouse and replaced it with a 40-room Queen-Anne style mansion. They named the home Sonnenberg (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for "sunny hill"), which was the former name of the farmhouse.
Philanthropic Interests and Life as a Widow
The Thompsons became generous benefactors to multiple organizations and established themselves as philanthropists. Some of the more notable institutions benefited by Thompson endowments and donations include Williams CollegeWilliams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
, and Teacher's College (now Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
).
Frederick Ferris died in 1899 and Mary soon made Sonnenberg her principal home. She continued to give generously to civic, religious, and educational institutions, though her philanthropic work focused principally on the community in which she lived. In Canandaigua, she established and built the F.F. Thompson Hospital, the Clark Manor House, and the Woodlawn Cemetery chapel. She donated land for the city's post office, and contributed heavily to the local YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, the Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
historical society, the Wood Library, and numerous local churches.
She also maintained an interest in preserving the history of Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in the New York area, and made multiple contributions to the State Museum in Albany for that purpose.
Her interests also included enjoyment of gardens, and she had a number of formal gardens built at Sonnenberg. Often she would allow the public to come on to her property and walk through her gardens.
Mary Clark Thompson died on July 28, 1923. She is interred at Woodlawn Cemetery, Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
.
Comptroller Clark Williams
Clark Williams
Myron Clark Williams was an American banker and politician.-Life:...
was her nephew.
Her home, Sonnenberg, is preserved and operated as a museum.
External links
- Welcome to Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion at www.sonnenberg.org