Sarah Brown Ingersoll

12 December 1836–11 December 1896

Born 12 Dec. 1836 at Cazenovia, Madison Co., New York.[1] Daughter of Samuel Clark Ingersoll and Laura Case Hopkins.[2] Published her first article in the Madison County Whig at age twelve.[3] Taught Bible class in her community, 1849.[4] Graduated from Cazenovia Seminary, 1853.[5]  Engaged as a governess to the Schley family, in Augusta, Richmond Co., Georgia, and taught scriptures to enslaved people, 1855.[6] Married Halsey Fenimore Cooper, 4 Sept. 1844, in Augusta; four children.[7] Moved to Chattanooga, White Co., Tennessee, and worked as an assistant editor for her husband’s newspaper, the Advertiser.[8] President of the Society to the Aid of the Refugees, in Memphis, Shelby Co., Tennessee, 1861.[9] Moved to San Francisco, 1869.[10] Writer for the San Francisco Bulletin and Overland Monthly, 1869–1891.[11] Formed the first kindergarten in San Francisco, which evolved into fifty kindergartens of the Golden Gate Association, 1879–1896.[12] Civic involvement included vice president of the Century Club, president and vice president of the Woman’s Press Association, treasurer of the World’s Federation of Woman’s Club, and director of the Associated Charities.[13] Articles published in the Woman’s Exponent by EBW occasionally included Sarah B. Cooper of California, early 1890s.[14] Formed the Golden Gate Kindergarten Free Normal Training School to prepare kindergarten teachers, 1891.[15] Elected as one of five women to the Pan-Republican Congress, 1892.[16] Gave an address at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893.[17] First president of the Committee for Woman’s Suffrage Reform in California, 1895.[18] Died 11 Dec. 1896 in San Francisco.[19]

 

[1] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 457. “Tragic Death of Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper and Her Daughter Hattie,” San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Dec. 1896, 9, 10. “Family Tree,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org, accessed 8 Dec. 2020), Sarah Brown Ingersoll (KHVV-RQW). 

[2] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 457.

[3] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 457. William Reddy, First Fifty Years of Cazenovia Seminary (Cazenovia, NY: Nelson and Phillips, 1877), 235.

[4] Sarah Brown Ingersoll Cooper, Papers, 1813–1921, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library (https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM06543.html, accessed 29 Dec. 2020).

[5] William Reddy, First Fifty Years of Cazenovia Seminary (Cazenovia, NY: Nelson and Phillips, 1877), 235.

[6] Sarah Brown Ingersoll Cooper, Papers, 1813–1921, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library (https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM06543.html, accessed 29 Dec. 2020).

[7] Georgia Court of Ordinary, Marriages, 1806–1901, vols. A–C, 1809–1863, p. 373, microfilm 158602, DGS 4848895, image 428/876, FHL. Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 457.

[8] Sarah Brown Ingersoll Cooper, Papers, 1813–1921, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library (https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM06543.html, accessed 29 Dec. 2020).

[9] William Reddy, First Fifty Years of Cazenovia Seminary (Cazenovia, NY: Nelson and Phillips, 1877), 236.

[10] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 457. William Reddy, First Fifty Years of Cazenovia Seminary (Cazenovia, NY: Nelson and Phillips, 1877), 236.

[11] “Women in Literature,” Sunday Call (San Francisco), 15 Mar. 1891, 4. Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 457.

[12] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 457. “Double Tragedy at San Francisco,” Record-Union (Sacramento), 12 Dec. 1896, 1. “Programme of the International Council at Washington D. C.,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Mar. 1888, 150.

[13] “Tragic Death of Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper and Her Daughter Hattie,” San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Dec. 1896, 9, 10. “Woman’s News,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Nov. 1892, 72. “Notes and News,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Oct. 1895, 62–63. “Woman Suffrage Column,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Nov. 1894, 203.

[14] “Woman Suffrage Column,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Nov. 1894, 203. “Woman’s News,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Nov. 1892, 72. “Programme of the International Council at Washington D. C.,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Mar. 1888, 150. “Notes and News,” Woman’s Exponent, 1 Oct. 1895, 62–63.

[15] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 458.

[16] “Mrs. Cooper Honored,” Morning Call (San Francisco), 24 May 1892, 1.

[17] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 458. Sarah Brown Ingersoll Cooper, Papers, 1813–1921, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library (https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM06543.html, accessed 29 Dec. 2020).

[18] Geoffrey Gneuhs, John Arthur Garraty, and Mark C. Carnes, eds., American National Biography, vol. 5 (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999), 458.

[19] “Tragic Death of Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper and Her Daughter Hattie,” San Francisco Chronicle, 12 Dec. 1896, 9, 10. “Double Tragedy at San Francisco,” Record-Union (Sacramento), 12 Dec. 1896, 1.