DANNELLY, Mrs. Elizabeth Otis, poet, born in Monticello, Ga., 13th June, 1838. Her father, Jackson Marshall, is a native of Augusta, Ga. On her mother's side she is descended from an old Huguenot family named Grinnell.
ELIZABETH OTIS DANNELLY.
Her grand-father, Peter Grinnell, was closely connected with Henry Grinnell, of Arctic Expedition fame, and was also a first cousin to Oliver Hazard Perry. Her grandmother was a daughter of Anthony Dyer, uncle of Elisha Dyer, Governor of Rhode Island. While quite young, her father moved to Oxford, Ga., the seat of Emory College, where her early education was begun. At the age of twelve years she was sent to school in Charleston, S. C., and from that city she entered the Madison Female College, Madison, Ga., from which institution she was graduated 26th July, 1855. Immediately after receiving her diploma, Miss Otis went to New York City, where one year was spent in studying painting. Her father in the meantime had moved from Savannah to Madison, where she became the wife, 4th September, 1862, of Dr. F. Olin Dannelly, the son of Rev. James Dannelly, of South Carolina, the celebrated preacher-wit of that time. Dr. Dannelly was at the time of his marriage a surgeon in the Confederate army, stationed in Richmond, Va. Shortly after, he was ordered to Columbia, S. C., where they continued to reside until the close of the war. About that time Mrs. Dannelly wrote her famous poem, "The Burning of Columbia," which was especially prized in the South and added to the popularity of her volume of poems, "Cactus, or Thorns and Blossoms" (New York, 1879). Soon after the close of the war Dr. Dannelly removed to Baltimore, Md., where he resumed the practice of medicine, in which profession he had attained distinction. During the years of her residence in Baltimore Mrs. Dannelly occupied a leading social position. She was a frequent contributor to many of the leading periodicals and magazines of that day. After living five years in that city, the family removed to Texas, where they settled in Waxahachie. After a few years in Texas, they returned to Baltimore, where Dr. Dannelly died. Mrs. Dannelly has had a life of varying fortune, from affluence to a moderate competence. In 1882 she returned to Texas with her six boys, again locating in Waxahachie, where she has since lived, the center of a large circle of friends. Although a busy mother, a painstaking and thrifty housekeeper, and giving much time to religious, charitable and temperance work, she has found time to add many graceful poems to her first volume, and to write a second volume, "Wayside Flowers" (Chicago, 1892). Within the past few years she has resumed her brush as a recreation.