Sibling Saturday, Harriet’s Sister, Mary Jane Ogden

Mary Jane (Ogden) Merritt True

1838-1916

Meet Mary Jane Ogden, my 2nd Great Aunt. Mary Jane was the 13th child born to Gilbert Ogden and Mary Hazen as well as my 2nd Great Grandmother Harriet (Ogden) Clark's sister. Mary Jane was the closest sister in age to my 2nd great grandmother being 4 years old when Harriet was born. When their father died in 1848, Mary Jane would have been about 10 years old.

Mary Jane married Jeremiah Merritt in Wurtsboro, Sullivan Co., New York April 2, 1854 when she was just 15 years old. Three children were born—Cornelius about 1856, Harriet ca 1859, and Joseph O. about 1861. I wonder if Harriet Merritt was named for my 2nd Great Grandmother. By 1870, Mary Jane and Jeremiah had separated.  Each wed another with Mary Jane marrying Solomon True, a widower and carpenter, from Maine Nov. 12, 1870 settling in Old Orchard, Maine. After Solomon True passed away, Mary Jane remained in Maine employed as a housekeeper for Eben Davis, a nephew of Solomon. On May 11, 1916 she died from chronic bronchitis.