Mary Arenz Merchant 1841 – 1921

Mary Arenz Merchant was born on February 28, 1841 in New Berlin, IL, the fourth of ten children born to Francis and Louisa Arenz of Arenzville, Cass County, Illinois. Her father Francis was a pioneer born in Blankenberg, Prussia who engaged in the mercantile business in his native country. He came to the United States in 1827 and spent the first two years in Kentucky. He then moved to Galena, IL, in 1829 to work in the lead trade. Following this, he became a naturalized citizen and went into merchandising and real estate in Beardstown, IL. In 1833, he bought land near Morgan County and moved his family there in 1839. This land later became known as Arenzville in 1852, named in honor of its owner. Arenzville became the center of a thrifty agricultural community composed largely of Germans, among whom Francis exercised large influence.

Mary went on to study at the Methodist Female College in Jacksonville, IL, now known as MacMurray College. On February 14, 1860, Mary married Ira Merchant, son of a prominent businessman of Cass County, and they had one daughter named Ella. Her husband Ira was born near Morristown, New Jersey, was raised on a farm and received a common school education. In 1869, he was the first “city engineer” of Bloomington and held that position for thirteen years. He improved the city greatly through repaving the streets and sidewalks, directing the first sewers, and overseeing the digging of the city well and the building of a pipe water system. Ira was also a friend and associate of Abraham Lincoln.

The Merchants lived in Bloomington for 35 years at their home located at 403 E. Front St. During this time, Mary joined Second Presbyterian Church and became a working member of the congregation.

In 1867, Mary was appointed to take charge as superintendent of the first temporary home of the Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home, later called the Illinois Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s School. The home was located at 1207 N. Main Street in North Bloomington (later, the Town of Normal). Mary came from Springfield and received the first children on August 5, 1867. The house was filled with 54 children who were housed and cared for under Mary’s supervision until the permanent home opened in June 1869 and was located on Beech Street in Normal. At one time, there were 63 children, prompting the opening of another temporary home at the corner of North (now Monroe) and Prairie Streets, where 40 children were housed.

Mary had no precedents to follow when she was appointed superintendent. She had to come up with her own methods in organization, but was helped by the resident trustee Jesse Wilson and Dr. N.B. Cole, the physician at the orphans’ home. At one time, there were fourteen children sick with the measles and two with scarlet fever. They all had to be cared for while simultaneously protecting the children who were not ill from succumbing to these illnesses. The house in which they all lived in was built for an ordinary family; four rooms above and below, a narrow hall on each floor and one kitchen. This was not an easy environment to care for so many children. However, each child was brought safely through their illness and turned over to the permanent home healthy, well-trained, and polite. Mary made all purchases of supplies and materials used, kept her accounts and made reports to the trustees. She was tireless in her efforts of running the home and personally saw that her instructions were carried out in relationship to the children’s welfare. The trustees unanimously tendered her the position of superintendent of the permanent home, but she declined because of her daughter’s health.

            On November 27, 1902, Ira suddenly died in bed when he started violently coughing and apparently choking after a hearty Thanksgiving dinner and having spent the day conversing with friends and family. The convulsions were apparently the result of apoplexy, a term historically used to describe any sudden death that began with a sudden loss of consciousness, especially one where the victim died within a matter of seconds after losing consciousness. After the death of her husband, Mary moved to California and lived with her daughter, Ella.

Mary passed away on April 5, 1921, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Ella McWharton, in Los Angeles, California. Ella accompanied her remains to Bloomington, where she was buried in the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.