Martha Jane Mifflin

Martha Jane Mifflin was a cousin of Lloyd and Houston. We know this much because she’s mentioned in some correspondence snippets and historical notes. Indeed, the primary reason she is included in the various Mifflin bios offered here is due to her appearing in a number of Lloyd’s photographs. By extension, her likeness is probably included in some of Lloyd’s paintings.

 

She was born, interestingly enough, in Cumberland County—likely Shippensburg. Most of the Mifflins in our scope of interest was in Columbia, Hellam, or the Philadelphia area. So, what made her family locate to Shippensburg, of all places? Without offering too unique a supposition, we can attest that her grandfather, Alexander Stewart, appeared in Cumberland County some time around 1800. Perhaps, the availability of land drew Alexander there? We learn, then, that Martha’s mother, Julia Duncan Stewart, was born in Lowther Manor, Cumberland County, so there was certainly a family presence well-established by the time Joseph Mifflin III met Julia Duncan Stewart.  

 

At some point in her younger years, Martha Jane Mifflin felt drawn to her extended family, many of whom called Columbia home. So, she often visited. Indeed, she lived there off-and-on over the years—even sharing the Norwood estate with Lloyd and Houston, much to their dismay, it turns out. It would have been difficult to have denied her presence. She was family. On the Mifflin side, Martha and Lloyd shared the same grandfather, Joseph Mifflin, Jr. and, so it goes, the same grandmother, Martha Houston. 

 

Martha Jane was a tall, austere, stand-offish person, emulating some of the straight-laced ideals of the Quakers. When Dr. Houston Mifflin played records from his fine collection, Miss Martha would quickly slink off to her room and close the door. She had her quirks. Martha was terribly afraid of storms—lightning in particular. She had—at the ready— pieces of black silk she’d quickly place over any stray piece of exposed metal, including lamps, at the first rumblings of thunder and lightning. No one was quite sure what that would do to protect her, but she never offered an explanation.

 

Although she was most certainly a lady of refinement and culture, at times she became very annoying to Lloyd and, especially, Dr. Houston. The good doctor wasn’t shy to mention that he and Martha cared little for one another, openly admitting, “Martha has an unfortunate disposition.” So, Lloyd, true to his gallantry, would take Miss Martha with him on trips into town, allowing periods of emotional rest for his brother. Town folk would often see Lloyd and Martha in shops or walking down Locust Street. But, he became tired of her constant keeping after details and her self-proclaimed duty as his personal artistic critic. Lloyd expressed Martha’s attitude when he’d proclaim: “Martha would chase an adverb around the house for a week.”

 

When Lloyd ran out of reasons to visit town with Martha in tow, he schemed to take advantage of the situation and, in turn, help his brother out. He began asking Martha to accompany him on his photographic excursions around the area. He quickly learned that if Martha posed in the photos, her demeanor calmed. There exists a number of photos featuring Miss Martha, dressed beautifully, complete with parasol, walking amongst the trees at Norwood, or wandering the countryside under Lloyd’s direction.

 

Yet, there were plenty of times Martha led her own life without annoying her cousins. She constantly appeared in newspaper society articles and seemed to know everyone in the region worth knowing—accompanying members of such families as: Hiestand, Atlee, Griel, Evans, Armstrong, Wickersham, Detwiler, Schroeder, Witmer, Rohrer, Brenneman, Strickler, Slaymaker, Grubb, Landis, Welsh, Given, Purple, Bruner, and the list goes on. “Miss Mary Knight, Miss Martha Mifflin, Miss Grace Griel, and Edward Griel, motored to Philadelphia on Saturday to view the Mummers’ Parade,” is a typical example. If there was a recital in someone’s home, or a speaker appearing at some event, she’d be there amongst her many acquaintances. 

 

There was also a serious, passionate side to Miss Martha. At 16 years of age, while still in Shippensburg, she began a sort of pre-college program in hopes of becoming a teacher. Indeed, she eventually succeeded. Around 1890, she founded a Young Ladies’ Seminary in York, Pennsylvania which eventually moved to Columbia. Years later, she was awarded a Permanent Teacher’s Certificate to teach in Lancaster, eventually becoming Principal at The New Street Public School. Suffice to say, she was highly regarded.

 

Martha Jane Mifflin was deeply proud of her heritage and of her country. Since the 1890s, she was intimately involved in the Daughters of the American Revolution, joining the Witness Tree Chapter and sharing a respectful friendship with the founder, Columbia’s own Lillian Slaymaker Evans. Martha even recited one of Lloyd’s poems during a ceremonial meeting—obviously showing the pride she held for Lloyd. She was an active member of Colonial Dames, an organization which required members to prove their lineage to patriots before 1750. However one might define her, Martha was a true American, in every sense of the word.

 

In 1923, Martha began to feel unwell. Having always been a strong, self-sufficient, and active woman, she ignored the signs, despite her being in her late 70s. Eventually, she concluded that she was indeed slowing and decided to return to her beginnings in Cumberland County. She reluctantly left Norwood, and her cousin, Houston (Lloyd having passed a few years earlier) and moved into the home of her sister, Julia Mifflin Shapley. After 81 years, 8 months, and 17 days, Miss Martha finally found rest from an exceptionally active life. She is buried in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. 

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