File:Miss Sarah J Gallagher, probably between 1865 and 1875 (WARNER 106).jpg

Handwritten on verso: Mrs. Reynolds. This is the picture of Miss Sarah J. Gallagher, one of the Mercer Girls who became a school and music teacher in Seattle. Afterwards marrying Thomas Russell, a pioneer. There was born to them a son, George who is now (?) one of Seattle's ex-postmasters. ...

In 1864, Asa Mercer recruited and brought 11 women to Seattle from the East Coast, to balance the male/female population, serve as teachers, etc. In 1866 he recruited 34 more women for a second trip. Sarah Gallagher was one of the first 11 women.

Warner [3165]

Mrs. Sarah Jane Russell, who died Wednesday evening, at her home 215 Lenora street, from hemorrhage of the brain, after a brief illness, was one of that heroic band of New England women known to the pioneers of Puget sound as the "Mercer girls of 1864." This little band left New York in March, 1864, in company with Asa S. Mercer, who opened the territorial university in 1861. They went to San Francisco by steamer, from which place they came to Puget sound on the bark Torrent. There were eleven women in this party, most of whom were New England school teachers. Mrs. Russell was one of, if not the youngest in the party. Her maiden name was Sarah Jane Gallagher. She was born on Lowell, Mass., May 17, 1846 [sic]. Her parents are dead, her mother having died only two months ago at the old homestead in Lowell. After Mrs. Russell, then Miss Gallagher, arrived in Seattle, she became a teacher in the old territorial university. Later she was in charge of the school at Port Gamble. She married Thomas S. Russell, one of the best known of the old pioneers of Seattle, in 1865. Mr. Russell died in 1882. Mrs. Russell leaves three children, W. X. Russell, George F. Russell, and Mrs. John Suthoff. Mrs. Suthoff and W. X. Russell are in Seattle. George Russell is on his way to Dawson and was last heard of at Marsh lake. The Seattle post-intelligencer., December 31, 1897, Page 5

• Subjects (LCTGM): Portrait photographs
• Subjects (LCSH): Russell, Sarah Gallagher