Nationality American Died 1951 Occupation Heiress Board member of YWCA | Religion Presbyterian Children Mary French Rockefeller Name Mary French | |
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Full Name Mary Montagu Billings Born March 6, 1869 Woodstock, Vermont Relatives Laurence Rockefeller
Laura Rockefeller Chasin
Lucy Rockefeller WaletzkyMarion Rockefeller Weber
Franklin S. Billings Parents Julia Parmly, Frederick H. Billings Grandchildren Laurance Spelman Rockefeller Jr., Laura Rockefeller Chasin, Lucy Aldrich Rockefeller People also search for Frederick H. Billings | ||
Mary Montagu Billings French (March 6, 1869 – 1951) was an American heiress and society figure, as well as YWCA president and board member. She was the daughter of Frederick Billings and inherited the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park from him before she died. She passed it on to her daughter, Mary French Rockefeller.
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Early life
Mary Montagu Billings was born to Frederick Billings (1823–1890) and his wife Julia Parmly on March 6, 1869 in Woodstock, Vermont. Her mother Julia was born as the daughter of Dr. Eleazer Parmly of New York on December 8, 1835. Mary was named after her mother's older sister.
Mary had six siblings, being: Parmly (1863–1888), Laura, Frederick, Elizabeth, Ehrick (1872–1889), and finally Richard. Mary was the fourth child, after her brother Frederick and before her sister Elizabeth. The Parmly Billings Memorial Library, now called the Western Heritage Center, is named for Mary's brother Parmly.
Mary grew up in a wealthy family during the Gilded Age. Her father Frederick was one of the wealthiest men in California and was considered one of its "foremost citizens". After marrying Julia, they settled in Woodstock, Vermont, where the family was the wealthiest family of the town "by far". They owned the largest corn field in the state of Vermont, as well as a mansion on the family compound.
Vermont estate
After the death of her father on September 30, 1890, Mary inherited his Vermont compound. It comprised 4,228 acres and six buildings, including the mansion, stables, a cottage, a farmhouse, and other buildings. When she died, it passed to her daughter Mary. At left is a view from the compound, the future Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.
Marriage and family
On June 1, 1907, Mary married John French, son of the Hon. Warren Converse French and Sarah Ann Steele. The couple married at noon with Rev. Dr. William R. Richards officiating at the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York. The best man at the wedding was James R. Kingsley, with ushers being Dr. Frederick S. Lee, William Norman Campbell, Richard Billings and Dr. Thomas M. Taylor. After the two married, they lived in an apartment on Madison Avenue in New York.
Together Mary and John had three children:
Descendants
Through her son John French Jr., French's grandchildren include: John French III of New York City, Roberts Walker French of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Mary French Moore of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Through her daughter Mary, she was the grandmother of Laura Rockefeller Chasin, Marion Rockefeller Weber, Lucy Aldrich Rockefeller, and Laurance S. Rockefeller, Jr.
YWCA
Mary was very involved with the Young Women's Christian Association, also known as the YWCA. She was chair of the executive committee, as well as president. Her daughter Mary also carried on the tradition; In 1951 she joined the YWCA National Board, then was vice-chairman and then chairman of the YWCA's international division from 1955 to 1973. From 1958 to 1964, she was chairman of the YWCA's World Service Council, followed by being elected to the YWCA Board of Trustees in 1988. Together with her husband Laurance, Mary flew over 50,000 miles for YWCA activities around the world, inspired from her mother's example.