Mary Niven Converse (second wife of Dr. Sylvester Bemis Prentiss) (1825-1865)was born in Coventry, New York. She taught school before her marriage to Dr. Prentiss. Mrs. Prentiss and her children came to Lawrence in October of 1855, six months after Dr. Prentiss arrived.

When the Free State Hotel was burned May 21, 1856 by Sam Jones, the ruffians surrounded the Prentiss home and demanded whatever arms they might have. Mary and the doctor presented guns at the windows and threatened to use them, then the marauders fled.

When Lawrence was besieged by the border ruffians in 1856, Mrs. Prentiss, with Mrs. Nettie Allen, twice rode through the enemy's lines at Lecompton and brought ammunition from Topeka to the Free State forces in Lawrence. Once they sewed the gunpowder in their riding skirts and the other time concealed the keg of powder under the seat of their buggy.

Mary Prentiss was a woman of great refinement as well as great force of character. She had the courage and spirit of the true pioneer.

Dr. Prentiss was married three times. He married Miss Louisa Brooks Oct. 25, 1839 at Norwich, New York. She died leaving two children, Joseph Lyman and Louisa Brooks. On April 14, 1847, he married Mary N. Converse at Coventry, New York. She died May 22, 1865, leaving two children, Ella Allis and Frank. Dr. Prentiss married Annie J. Soule on June 21, 1866. They had two children, Hattie May, who died in infancy and Charles Addison.

These pictures were given to Spencer Research Library in October of 1939 by Miss Anne Neill. She gave them for her mother Mrs. Ella Allis Neill, who was the daughter of Mary N. Converse Prentiss.