Mary (Henderson) Atworth

Birth: She was born in Illinois around 1861.  

Family Information: Married to Theodore Atworth.  

Description:  

Pre-Colony History:

Home in Colony: In 1930 she was living in the New Llano Colony with her husband, Theodore.  

Job in Colony: She worked as a librarian in the colony and wrote for the Colony diary.

In September 1928 he was on the college faculty along with: Lowell H. Coate - Superintendent and instructor in Sociology, Economics and Public Education; E.C. Bennett - English and History; Benjamin Roe - Scientific Agriculture; Guy F. Rogers - Mathematics; Eugene Hough - Psychology; F. Hamel - Spanish, German and Latin; Mary Erma Wilson - Voice and Piano; R.B. Snyder - Director of Orchestra, Wind and Stringed Instruments, Chorus and Ensemble; Geo. T. Pickett - Industrial Science; Daisy Daugherty - Domestic Science; Edna Mae Coffin - Manual Art, Sculpture and Architectural Drawing; Austin McLane - Journalism; Nell Rogers - Botany; Hope Shoemaker - Shorthand, Typewriting and Book-keeping; Mr. Daugherty - Intermediate Grades; Mrs. A.E. Bennet - Primary Grades; Esther Allen - Health and Hygiene; Mary H. Atworth - Librarian and Instructor in the Art of Expression; Anna Tabb - School Nurse, Dr. J.P. Kimmel - College Physician; Alice Pickett - Girls Counselor; Theodore Atworth - Oil and Watercolor Art; Alma Wilson Bell - Dramatic Art.

In January 1929 she and Theodore were in Pickett's gladiolus garden, reaping a rich harvest of bulbs for next summer's campaign of flowers.

In 1932 Mrs. Atworth was expected to have written a column for the "Colonist", but when approached gave a laconic, "I am too busy, maybe next week," -- she'd been transferred to the front office where she was assisted by Ruth Shoemaker.

In 1934 she was doing housekeeping at the Hoag Ranch (Poultry Department No. 2). 

Other Info: In 1928 she was one of the founding members of the local Conscientious Objectors Union; Theodore Atworth served as the first Secretary-Treasurer with O.E. Enfield serving as the President. The organization was planned to be international, composed of people who refused to go to war as a matter of conscience. Charter members included: Theodore and Mary H. Atworth, Emily H. Dougherty, I.A. Dougherty, Carl H. Gleeser, S. Weislander, Charlie C. Black, John Hight, Lowell H. Coate, W.A. Shutt, F.O. Jernberg, Reka Jernberg, Anna Tabb, Peter Kemp, F. Rosenburg, B. Wade Hewitt, Hamilton H. McClurg, W.J. Hoag, Theodore F. Landrum, C.N. Butts, Mary Snyder, George Snyder, Anna Garrett, Emma Shutt, M.A. Brattland, Richard P. Condon, Jr., Emily Swenson, W.J. Newman, George T. Pickett, Raymond DeFausell, S.E. Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Molenar, Earl L. Bosch, Guy F. Rogers, Ora E. Newman, James J. Miller, Bert Busick, Mabel D. Busick, Ole Synoground, C.C. Mickey, Fred A. Jensen, Katie Mickey, F. Rahn and Isaac H. Keyes.

In 1931 she reported on a "Children's Reception" attended by Raymond, Archie and Bill Ogden. At the meeting, their father, Archibald, spoke about the matter of discipline and responsibilities of teachers and parents. Mrs. Atworth was of the opinion that parents who refused to cooperate should be asked to leave, along with their progeny, "to battle with conditions out in the wide, wide world and [she] knew the colony would be better off."  

Post-Colony History: In 1940 she was living alone in a home in the unincorporated New Llano, Louisiana (site of the old colony) while Theodore was listed as a lodger with Samuel and Warren Irwin.  

Death: She died in 1946 at Alameda, California and was buried near her parents at White Hall Cemetery in Illinois.  

Sources: US Census: 1930, 1940; "Llano Colonist": September 15, 1928, September 22, 1928, January 5, 1929, March 2, 1929, July 25, 1931, September 26, 1931, February 24, 1934; California Death Index; FindAGrave.com