A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Horsford, Mary Gardiner
HORSFORD, MARY GARDINER,
Was born in the city of New York, 1824. Her father, Samuel S. Gardiner, soon after removed to the family mansion on Shelter Island, where her mother's ancestors had resided. Here, in this secluded and beautiful place. Miss Gardiner passed the greater portion of her youth, books and nature her chief companions. She soon became, from a reader of poetry, a writer; her father's library was her best means of education, although she had other good instructors. In 1840 she was placed in the Albany Female Seminary, where she continued three years with great advantage. Soon afterwards she began her contributions, by request, to the Knickerbocker; and also wrote for the Lady's Book, and other periodicals. In 1847 Miss Gardiner was married to Eben Norton Horsford, Rumford Professor in Harvard University at Cambridge. Since her marriage Mrs. Horsford has written some of her most beautiful poetry. There is an exquisite delicacy of fancy, united with power of thought in her verses, that, is rarely equalled by those who have established their fame.