Mary Cheney Greeley
Encyclopedia
Mary Cheney Greeley - wife of Horace Greeley
(1811-1872) - the American newspaper editor. Early in their marriage he used her $5000 in savings to fund a newspaper. The marriage was not a happy one and although Horace Greeley avoided his wife and their house, he kept her almost constantly pregnant. Five of their seven children died quite young, at least some of them of neglect.
Greeley was an advocate of the Graham Diet and a Spiritualist. It's likely that she was clinically depressed
and a sufferer of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
. She believed one of their children, a 4 or 5 year old boy, was a spirit medium and constantly demanded that he relay communications from the afterlife. After his death, she hired the 11-year-old Margaret Fox
to stay at her house and contact him. Little is known of her early life and her oppressive relationship with her husband colored her life.
She died in 1872. Horace Greeley, who at the time was running for President of the United States
, died soon after.
Other Powers, The Life of Victoria Woodhull contains a chapter on the life and beliefs of Mary Greeley.
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley was an American newspaper editor, a founder of the Liberal Republican Party, a reformer, a politician, and an outspoken opponent of slavery...
(1811-1872) - the American newspaper editor. Early in their marriage he used her $5000 in savings to fund a newspaper. The marriage was not a happy one and although Horace Greeley avoided his wife and their house, he kept her almost constantly pregnant. Five of their seven children died quite young, at least some of them of neglect.
Greeley was an advocate of the Graham Diet and a Spiritualist. It's likely that she was clinically depressed
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and a sufferer of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
. She believed one of their children, a 4 or 5 year old boy, was a spirit medium and constantly demanded that he relay communications from the afterlife. After his death, she hired the 11-year-old Margaret Fox
Margaret Fox
Margaret Fox was an American Spiritualist, born in Bath, Canada. In approximately 1848, in Hydesville, Wayne, County, NY, the Foxes claimed to hear rapping noises, which appeared to emit from the walls and furniture, in their residence...
to stay at her house and contact him. Little is known of her early life and her oppressive relationship with her husband colored her life.
She died in 1872. Horace Greeley, who at the time was running for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, died soon after.
Other Powers, The Life of Victoria Woodhull contains a chapter on the life and beliefs of Mary Greeley.