Mary Jane Megquier

In January 1849, Winthrop, Maine, resident Dr. Thomas L. Megquier and a few of his associates were planning to try their fortunes in California. Having had limited success in Winthrop, Dr. Megquier hoped to open a medical practice and drug store in the boom town of San Francisco. Noting that his long days of labor in Winthrop had not provided adequate compensation to redress his accumulated debts, Megquier's wife, Mary Jane, was supportive of the venture.

At the last minute, Dr. Megquier and his associates elected to take Mary Jane with them. With "women's work" being difficult to fill in a growing city like San Francisco, the men believed that she would be compensated well there. Mary Jane was more than willing to go on the venture, but her enthusiasm was somewhat tempered by the necessity that she...