Mary Frances Spencer Thayer

Class of 1867: First graduating class

Mary Frances Spencer was one of the four members of the first graduation class of 1867 at Ripon College.

She was born Aug. 28, 1842, in Fairfield, Ohio, and was listed as being from Poy Sippi, Wisconsin. She spent eight years at Ripon, as a pupil and teacher, and studied in the scientific course.

She married the Rev. Carmi Chandler Thayer on Oct. 8, 1867. From 1868-1873, they served as missionaries under the auspices of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, first in Antioch, Turkey, then in Aintab, Turkey, where her husband was instrumental in laying the foundation for its university.

They then resided in Greenwich, Massachusetts; Poy Sippi, Wisconsin; Maywood, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Clifton Springs, New York. She engaged in literary and missionary work and for many years was secretary of the International Missionary Union.

She died Sept. 9, 1904, at the age of 62.