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The Blue Book of Iowa Women A History of Contemporary Women

Compiled by Winona Evans Reeves, 1914.

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Mrs. G. W. Sturdivant

Mrs. Mary Lord Drake Sturdivant, during her father's term of office as Governor of Iowa, assumed the social duties devolving upon the first lady of the commonwealth, with charm and dignity, making her one of the most popular Iowa women who have had that honor.  She was born at Centerville, Iowa, the youngest of six children, and to her was given her mother's maiden name, Mary Lord.  She attended the Centerville schools in her childhood, later attending the Grant Collegiate Institute at Chicago, and finishing at Miss Reed's school in New York City.  Her education has been supplemented by travel in many lands.  On March 28, 1896, she had the honor of Christening the U. S. Battleship, "Iowa," at Cramp's ship yard, Philadelphia.  She was one of the charter members of the Society of Sponsors of the U. S. Navy, and served on the Board of Control.  She is a P. E. O. and is a member of the Central Church of Christ in Centerville, of which denomination her father was one of the most liberal supporters.  His gifts to the various denominational schools and colleges, and to the advancement of Christian civilization, through its mission boards won for him the title of "first philanthropist among a million disciples."  He gave most generously to philanthropies and charities of many kinds.  For more than twenty years he made a gift to the building fund of every church of his denomination in Iowa.  Drake University is named in his honor.  To this institution alone he gave more than a hundred thousand dollars.  On Oct. 18, 1896, Mary Lord Drake was married to George Wood Sturdivant, a prominent merchant of Centerville.  They have one daughter, Mary Drake Sturdivant.

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