Woman of the Century/Mary Ingram Stille

STILLE, Miss Mary Ingram, temperance worker, born in West Chester, Pa., 1st July, 1854, and has always lived within a few squares of her present home. She is the oldest of the three daughters of Abram and Hannah Jefferis Stille. She represents on the father's side the fifth generation of the Philips family, who came to this country from Wales in 1755. and the members of which were noted for intellectual vigor. On her mother's side she is the seventh in descent from George and Jane Chandler, who came to America in 1687 from England. Her ancestors served with distinction in the Revolution, and her grandfather, Josiah Philips, was called out by President Washington to aid in the suppression of the Whisky Insurrection. MARY INGRAM STILLE Miss Stille's education was begun in Pine Hall Seminary, in the Borough, and was continued in Lewisburg Institute, now Bucknell University. From childhood she was associated with Sunday-school work, and for years was prominent in the primary department She is a warm advocate of equal suffrage. She was the first woman appointed by the Pennsylvania Agricultural Society as superintendent of woman's work. In 1889 she had charge of the fine art display in their fair in Philadelphia. Without instructions from her predecessor, and under unfavorable circumstances, she worked the department up to such a condition as to win the commendation of the officers. Her systematic arrangements and business ability greatly contributed to the success of the exposition. By virtue of her ancestry Miss Stille is a member of the Washington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The organization has been reconstructed recently, and she was made a charter member. In May, 1884, the first organization of the Woman's Christian Temparance Union was effected in West Chester, and, having ever had the cause of temperance at heart, she at once identified herself with the work and has always been a useful member. She has ably filled positions in the State and national divisions of the temperance work. In 1889 and 1890 she was actively engaged in the State headquarters, assisting in the great work of the State organization, and when the new State organ was published, she held the position of treasurer as long as that office existed. The early success of the venture was largely due to her efforts. She possesses a natural ability and special taste for journalism, but her home duties prevent her from devoting her time solely to that profession.