Background
Mary O'Connell was born in 1814 in Kerry, Ireland, the daughter of William O'Connell and Catherine Murphy. The family came to the United States in Mary's early childhood.
Mary O'Connell was born in 1814 in Kerry, Ireland, the daughter of William O'Connell and Catherine Murphy. The family came to the United States in Mary's early childhood.
She was educated at the Ursuline Academy in Charlestown, Massachussets.
In 1835 she entered the novitiate of the American Sisters of Charity at St. Joseph's Valley. In 1837 she was transferred to Cincinnati, where her work as a Sister of Charity was carried on for forty-five years. In 1852 the Sisters organized the first modern hospital established in the city. It was called St. John's Hotel for Invalids, and Sister Anthony was placed in charge.
The hospital was begun in a building previously used by Harriet Beecher Stowe for a private school. The hospital staff was formed from the faculty of the Ohio Medical College. Sister Anthony was brought into relation with Dr. George C. Blackman, president of the Ohio Medical College, and Dr. John Shaw Billings, then an interne in the hospital. Both Dr. Blackman and Dr. Billings achieved unusual distinction as surgeons during and following the Civil War.
Their friendship for Sister Anthony and appreciation of her character and services are significant features of the recognition which she earned in the medical history of the state. She and other members of her community served as nurses in Civil War camps and battlefields at Camp Dennison, Winchester, Cumberland, Nashville, Richmond, New Creek, Gallipolis, Culpeper Court House, Murfreesboro, Pittsburg Landing, Lynchburg, and Stone River. They brought boat-loads of wounded soldiers up the Ohio River, and St. John's Hospital was given over entirely to the care of them. The Sisters also accompanied wounded soldiers on flat cars from Cumberland to Washington. In their field nursing they faced every difficulty with the greatest courage and performed services reserved to the supreme reaches of sympathy and spiritual consecration.
The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion refers to their services "in terms of highest praise. " In recognition of the work of Sister Anthony, two citizens of Cincinnati, neither a member of the Catholic Church, purchased the United States Marine Hospital and presented it to her to be used as a hospital under the direction of the Community.
In 1873 one of the donors presented to Sister Anthony property to be used as a maternity hospital. The records of the Hebrew Southern Relief Board contain a tribute to her for her work during the outbreak of the yellow fever in 1877.
In 1880 she retired from active service. She celebrated her golden jubilee in 1885 and died in 1897.
Her death brought forth extraordinary tributes of appreciation and affection from the press and public.
The fundamental qualities in her character were self-effacement, profound human sympathy, quick understanding, resourcefulness, and fearless devotion. She had a remarkable gift for inspiring general confidence.
She never married.