Mercer Girls facts for kids

The Mercer Girls were a group of brave women who traveled from the eastern United States to the Seattle area in the 1860s. They were invited by a man named Asa Mercer. He lived in Seattle and wanted more women to move to the Pacific Northwest. At that time, there were many more men than women in the area. These women were excited about moving to a growing town where many single men lived. This interesting story even inspired a TV show called Here Come the Brides.

Why Women Moved West

In the 1860s, Seattle was a busy place with many men working in the timber and fishing industries. However, there were very few single women living there. It was hard for women to travel across the country by themselves. Because of this, there was a big difference in the number of men and women.

Asa Mercer's First Plan

In 1864, Asa Mercer decided to travel east to find women who would move to Puget Sound. He first asked married couples in Seattle to help. These couples agreed to host the women when they arrived. This was important to make sure everything was proper and safe for the single women. The governor of Washington Territory also supported Mercer's idea, but the government could not give him any money.

The First Journey

Mercer went to Boston and then to a town called Lowell. He found eight young women from Lowell and two from a nearby town who were willing to make the long journey. They traveled back through the Isthmus of Panama. When they stopped in San Francisco, some people tried to convince the girls to stay there.

The women arrived in Seattle on May 16, 1864. The community gave them a big welcome at the Territorial University.

Who Were the First Mercer Girls?

Only eleven women made this first trip. Their names were Annie May Adams, Antoinette Josephine Baker, Sarah Cheney, Aurelia Coffin, Sarah Jane Gallagher, Maria Murphy, Elizabeth Ordway, Georgia Pearson, Josephine Pearson, Catherine Stevens, and Katherine Stickney. The fathers of three of the young women, Daniel Pearson and Rodolphus Stevens, also came along.

Most of these women quickly found husbands. Sadly, Josie Pearson died shortly after arriving. Lizzie Ordway, who was 35, was the oldest and did not marry right away. After this successful trip, Asa Mercer was elected to the Territorial Legislature.

The Second Trip to Seattle

Mercer decided to try again in 1865, but on a much larger scale. He collected money from men who wanted to find a wife. He asked for $300 to bring a suitable wife and received many requests.

Challenges of the Second Trip

Mercer's second trip east faced many problems. After Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, things became difficult. A businessman named Ben Holladay promised to help transport the women. However, a newspaper called the New York Herald found out about the plan. They published negative stories, saying the women would have a very hard life. Authorities in Massachusetts were also not supportive.

The Mercer Girls on deck aboard the Continental, sketched by A.R. Waud for Harper's Weekly, 1866.

Because of the bad publicity, Mercer had fewer than 100 women recruited when he was supposed to leave on January 16, 1866. He had promised to bring five times that many. His ship, the S.S. Continental, sailed for the West Coast around Cape Horn.

Arrival in San Francisco

Three months later, the ship stopped in San Francisco. The captain refused to go any further. Mercer tried to convince him, but he wouldn't change his mind. Mercer then sent a telegram to Washington governor Pickering asking for more money, but the governor could not afford it. Finally, Mercer convinced crewmen on lumber schooners to transport the women for free.

Some of the money for the trip came from Hiram Burnett, a lumber mill manager. He was bringing his sister and wanted wives for his employees. A few of the women decided to stay in California instead of continuing to Seattle.

Mercer's Return to Seattle

When Mercer returned to Seattle, people had many questions about how the trip went. At a meeting on May 23, the public's disappointment lessened. This was probably because the women were with him.

Mercer himself ended up marrying one of the women, Annie Stephens, a week later. Most of the other women also found husbands in Seattle.