Mrs Mary Peebles Wick

Who was Mary Peebles Wick?

Mary Peebles Wick, born on October 12, 1866, was a 45 (forty-five) year-old American first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Known to friends and family as Mollie, she was a survivor of the tragic sinking and lived a life dedicated to community service in her hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

Early Life and Background

Mary Peebles Hitchcock was born into a prominent family in Youngstown, Ohio. Her parents were William James Hitchcock, a native of New York, and Mary Johnson Peebles from Pennsylvania. Mary had three known siblings:

• Almira (1859-1934, later Mrs Myron Arms)
• Frank (b. 1861)
• William James (1864-1936)

Educated in Farmington, Connecticut, Mary spent most of her life in Youngstown. On June 19, 1896, she married George Dennick Wick, a successful iron businessman. George was a widower with a daughter, Mary Natalie Wick, born in 1880. The couple had one child together, George Dennick Jr., born on March 19, 1897.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why did the Wicks embark on their European vacation?

George Wick had been suffering from ill health for several years, and the family decided that a European vacation might improve his wellbeing and prevent early retirement. In February 1912, Mary, along with her husband, stepdaughter Mary, and cousin Caroline Bonnell, departed from Youngstown for an extensive European tour.

Their itinerary included:

1. Naples
2. Venice
3. Paris
4. London

During their time in France, they met fellow Titanic passengers Washington Roebling and Stephen Weart Blackwell.

Titanic Boarding Details

The Wicks boarded the Titanic as first-class passengers, joined by Mary’s in-law, Elizabeth Bonnell.

The Night of the Disaster

When the Titanic collided with the iceberg, Mrs. Wick initially thought a boiler had exploded. The family was in their stateroom when Mary’s daughter and Caroline Bonnell informed them of the iceberg strike, which Mr. Wick initially dismissed.

How did Mary Wick survive the sinking?

As the situation became clear, the family was instructed to don life preservers and head to the deck. There, they reunited with Natalie and Caroline. The women of the party, including Mary, were placed into lifeboat 8. In a poignant moment, Mollie Wick looked up to see her husband standing at the rail, waving goodbye. The lifeboat drifted for five hours in the cold before being rescued by the Carpathia.

Aftermath and Later Life

The Uncertainty of Survival

Mrs. Wick’s name was initially absent from survivor lists, causing Ohio newspapers to speculate about her fate. Her son didn’t learn of her survival until days after the sinking. In New York, Mary refused to believe her husband was lost, remaining there for several days with her family awaiting news.

Although prostrated at the loss of her husband, she was reportedly stoical and did not break down whilst in the next fitting room a wealthy New York woman, reportedly also a survivor, was being fanned and had smelling salts held to her nose.

A Life of Service and Remembrance

After the tragedy, Mollie Wick:

• Never remarried
• Wore dark-colored clothing in mourning for the rest of her life
• Became president of the local YWCA
• Served on the Board of Supervisors of the Mahoning County Red Cross during World War I
• Presided over the Woman’s Workers Society of the First Presbyterian Church
• Sat on the board of the Youngstown City Hospital

Mary Peebles Wick passed away on January 30, 1920, at the age of 53 (fifty-three), succumbing to pneumonia. She is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Youngstown, where her husband is also commemorated.

Legacy

Mary Wick’s story is a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors. Her dedication to community service in the years following the disaster showcases how many survivors channeled their experiences into meaningful work. The Wick family’s journey on the Titanic remains a poignant chapter in the history of first-class passengers aboard the ill-fated ship.