Mary Elizabeth Bartlett was born in Philadelphia, Jefferson County, New York on January 24, 1871, one of nine children, of Reuben and Betsy Cross Deuel. She came from a long line of illustrious ancestors who were school teachers and doctors. She came West when she was 18 to attend Milton College for two years, then taught at Magnolia for one year and one year in Newark Township.

She received pre-medical training at Valparaiso, Indiana and graduated in 1899, with her sister Edith, from Hahnemann Medical College at Cottage Avenue, Chicago. This was the first medical institution to confer diplomas to women in 1870-71. It closed in 1922 becoming the General Medical College. In 1901 her brother John and sister Lillie bought the limestone Hanchett Home on St. Lawrence Avenue and moved to Beloit. Dr. Mary taught school at Eagle in 1901 and Honey Creek in 1903 before practicing medicine.

Her first office in Beloit was on East Grand Avenue from 1902 to 1929, then moved to 428½ State Street. She had medical certificates from specified boards and from the Federal Government giving her permission to practice Pharmacy, Surgical and Medicine. One story is that during Prohibition she had difficulty securing alcohol, so she beseeched the local police to give her confiscated bootleg alcohol for her practice. Doctors com-pounded much of their own medicine and always carried a black medical bag and their stethoscope. One could see petite Dr. Mary in the winter with her boots, long fur coat, hat and gloves walking along the street. At the end of the day she’d be home at St. Lawrence Avenue to tend her cow and her sisters, Lillie, Dr. Edith from Janesville and later Etta.

Dr. Mary devoted her medical talents to the poor and all races and creeds. She belonged to the Rock County, State and American Medical Societies, Order of Eastern Star and First Methodist Church. Her genial and pleasant manner was highly regarded by her colleagues and the community. Dr. Mary died on March 11, 1959 at her home. Services were conducted by the Reverend Dale Strong at the Methodist Church. She was buried in Newark Cemetery by her parents and sisters.