KYBIOGRAPHIES-L Archives

From: Sandi Gorin <>
Subject: [KYBIOS] BIO #11288 - MRS. MARY F. GILMOUR - DAVIESS CO
Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 07:26:18 -0500

NOTE: I have no connection, no further
information and am not seeking additional information.

11288 DAVIESS CO – MRS. MARY F. GILMOUR –
Gilmour, Kennedy, Feland, Petree, Hammill, Blair, Martin

12288 Kentucky Genealogy and Biography Volume III
– Battle – Perrin – Kniffin, 2nd ed., 1885.
Daviess Co. Mrs. Mary F. Gilmour, a member of one
of the old and prominent families of Kentucky, is
the efficient postmaster of Owensboro and the
first woman appointed to that office in this
city. She is also active in club work and in
civic, religious and social affairs. She was born
November 15, 1872, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and
her parents were John and Sarah (Kennedy) Feland.
Their son, General Logan Feland, is a
distinguished officer of the United States
Marines and is stationed at Quintico, Virginia.
The mother was a native of Illinois and passed
away in Hopkinsville. She was a daughter of
Sylvester and Mary (Petree) Kennedy, the former
of whom was born in South Carrollton, Kentucky,
and died in Illinois, while the latter’s demise
occurred at Elkton, Kentucky, her native town.

John Feland was a native of Glasgow, Kentucky,
and died in Hopkinsville. He was educated in
Centre College and after his admission to the bar
opened a law office in Hopkinsville. He was an
able attorney and built up a large and
remunerative practice. He served for several
terms in the Kentucky Senate, working ever for
the best interests of his state, and at one time
was collector of internal revenue for the second
district of Kentucky. As a young man he enlisted
in the Union army and was made quartermaster. He
was affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal
church South, and gave his political support to
the republican party. He was a lawyer of high
standing and a citizen of worth to the community.
His father, Samuel Feland, was born in Barren
county, Kentucky, and died in Hopkinsville. He
was a well known building contractor and a
capable business man of strict honesty. He was a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church and cast
his ballot for the candidates of the republican
party. He married Miss Nancy Hammill, who was a
native of Kentucky and passed away at Hopkinsville.

The public schools of her native town afforded
Miss Mary Feland her early educational advantages
and she afterward attended the South Kentucky
College at Hopkinsville. She was next a student
at Oxford College and was graduated in 1892 with
the degree of Bachelor of Science, winning second
honors in her class, of which she was
salutatorian. She became acting postmaster of
Owensboro August 1, 1921, and on January 23,
1922, was made postmaster. She was reappointed
January 28, 1926, and is the only woman first
class postmaster in this district, which
comprises the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana
and Kentucky. She has thoroughly demonstrated her
qualifications for the office and her work has been highly satisfactory.

During the World war Mrs. Gilmour was very active
in the affairs of the Red Cross Society and as
vice chairman had charge of the work of the
organization in Daviess county, while she now
acts as chairman of the committee supervising
disaster relief work. She enjoys the distinction
of being the first woman appointed regent of a
normal school in Kentucky and was the third
president of the Woman’s Club of Owensboro. She
is a director of the Business and Professional
Women’s Club and also belongs to the Owensboro
Country Club. She is a member of the Chamber of
Commerce and an earnest and untiring worker for
the good of her city. Mrs. Gilmour is an
enthusiastic pedestrian and enjoys fishing and
other outdoor sports. She exercises her right of
franchise in support of the candidates and
measures of the republican party and previous to
her appointment as postmaster was very active in
state and local politics, making many addresses
in support of the principles she espoused. Her
religious affiliation is with the First
Presbyterian church. She takes a deep interest in
its work and has been president of the Missionary
Society and superintendent of the Sunday school.
She has a keen sense of her responsibilities to
her Creator, to society and to her family and
represents an ideal type of womanhood.

On September 25, 1894, was solemnized the
marriage of Miss Mary Feland and John Gilmour. He
was born July 25, 1866, in Owensboro, of which
his mother, Susan (Blair) Gilmour, was also a
native. Her demise occurred in Bradentown,
Florida, but her home was in Owensboro. Her
husband, Allan Gilmour, was born at Beithe, near
Brown Hills, in Ayrshire, Scotland, and passed
away in Owensboro. He was a well known
tobacconist and occupied a high place in the
regard of his fellow citizens. He was a
Presbyterian in religious faith and a democrat in
his political views. His son, John Gilmour,
attended college at Richmond, Kentucky, and was
afterward a cadet at the Knoxville (Tenn.)
Military Institute. He was also engaged in the
tobacco business in Owensboro and is now a
successful stock broker. He is an adherent of the
republican party and confirms his life to the
teachings of the Presbyterian church.

Mr. and Mrs. Gilmour became the parents of three
children, of whom John, Jr., was the eldest. He
was born May 2, 1896, and his career was abruptly
terminated December 18, 1919, when he was
twenty-three years of age, from disease
contracted while in military service during the
World war. He was graduated from the Owensboro
high school in 1915 and then matriculated in
Center College, which he attended until the call
to the colors. He served for nearly two years in
the medical corps of the United States army and
in May, 1919, was honorably discharged. Mary was
born June 16, 1899, and in 1917 was graduated
from the Owensboro high school, standing at the
head of her class. She received the Bachelor of
Arts degree from the University of Louisville in
1921 and is now the wife of Benjamin C. Martin,
manager of the Hodge Tobacco Company of
Owensboro. Sarah was born August 20, 1900, and in
1920 completed a course in the local high school.
She is also a graduate of the Louisville
Conservatory of Music and a talented singer.


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• [KYBIOS] BIO #11288 - MRS. MARY F. GILMOUR - DAVIESS CO by Sandi Gorin <>