Mary Gordon Duffee was born in Tuscaloosa, AL, the only daughter of Matthew and Martha Duffee. She was educated at the Tuscaloosa Female Seminary and in New York. At an early age she began writing verses and short articles, which were accepted for publication in local newspapers. She moved to Blount Springs before the Civil War when her father sold his business in Tuscaloosa and moved there to establish the Duffee House at the springs. She was appointed postmistress during the Civil War. This lead to an interesting occurrence, as reported by the New York Times on June 24, 1889. According to the article, $100,000 in Confederate money was being shipped to Nashville from Montgomery. She allegedly intercepted the shipment and used the money to support the wives, widows, and orphans of Confederate soldiers. She was arrested and taken to Mobile. When it was revealed that she had not spent any of the money on herself, an appeal was made to Jefferson Davis who issued a pardon. She then returned to Blount Springs.
There are also stories that she served as a spy for the Confederacy during visits to family friends living near present-day Birmingham. It was also reported that she travelled to Kentucky on a spying mission. Other published sources vary these stories in some important details.
She is most famous for her Sketches of Alabama, which appeared in 59 parts in the Birmingham Weekly Iron Age in 1886 and 1887.
There are also stories that she served as a spy for the Confederacy during visits to family friends living near present-day Birmingham. It was also reported that she travelled to Kentucky on a spying mission. Other published sources vary these stories in some important details.
She is most famous for her Sketches of Alabama, which appeared in 59 parts in the Birmingham Weekly Iron Age in 1886 and 1887.
Mary Gordon Duffee was born in Tuscaloosa, AL, the only daughter of Matthew and Martha Duffee. She was educated at the Tuscaloosa Female Seminary and in New York. At an early age she began writing verses and short articles, which were accepted for publication in local newspapers. She moved to Blount Springs before the Civil War when her father sold his business in Tuscaloosa and moved there to establish the Duffee House at the springs. She was appointed postmistress during the Civil War. This lead to an interesting occurrence, as reported by the New York Times on June 24, 1889. According to the article, $100,000 in Confederate money was being shipped to Nashville from Montgomery. She allegedly intercepted the shipment and used the money to support the wives, widows, and orphans of Confederate soldiers. She was arrested and taken to Mobile. When it was revealed that she had not spent any of the money on herself, an appeal was made to Jefferson Davis who issued a pardon. She then returned to Blount Springs.
There are also stories that she served as a spy for the Confederacy during visits to family friends living near present-day Birmingham. It was also reported that she travelled to Kentucky on a spying mission. Other published sources vary these stories in some important details.
She is most famous for her Sketches of Alabama, which appeared in 59 parts in the Birmingham Weekly Iron Age in 1886 and 1887.
There are also stories that she served as a spy for the Confederacy during visits to family friends living near present-day Birmingham. It was also reported that she travelled to Kentucky on a spying mission. Other published sources vary these stories in some important details.
She is most famous for her Sketches of Alabama, which appeared in 59 parts in the Birmingham Weekly Iron Age in 1886 and 1887.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
