Mary Virginia Ellet Cabell (January 24, 1839 – July 4, 1930) was Vice President Presiding of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Personal life
Mary Virginia Ellet was born on 24 January 1839 in Lynchburg, Virginia, the daughter of Charles Ellet Jr. and Elvira Augusta Daniel. She married William Daniel Cabell (1834-1904) on 9 July 1867 and became step-mother to his two daughters. Together, the couple had six children: three boys and three girls. William opened Norwood School for boys in Nelson County, Virginia from 1865 to 1879. After the school's closure, the Cabells moved to Washington, D.C., where, in 1881, the couple created and directed the Norwood Institute for Girls and Young Ladies. In 1897 the couple left education and returned to Nelson County. She died on 4 July 1930 in Michigan City, Indiana at the age of 91.
DAR membership
Mary Cabell was one of 18 organizing members of the Daughters of the American Revolution on 11 October 1890. She presided over the first meeting and would continue to chair additional meetings and the 1st and 2nd Continental Congresses. The newly formed Society elected the First Lady of the United States, Caroline Scott Harrison as their inaugural President General and Harrison accepted on the condition that she would be more of a figurehead. Cabell was given the title Vice President Presiding and was charged with the practical running and administration of the DAR. When Harrison died in office on 25 Oct 1892, Cabell took over all responsibilities of the President General's office but did not take on the title. During the next election, Cabell turned down the nomination of DAR President General in favor of nominees with more prominent social standing.
