William Watts Folwell was the first President of the University of Minnesota (1869-1884). He met his wife Sarah Heywood at Hobart College in Geneva, New York. They were married on March 13, 1863 while Dr. Folwell was on a 10-day leave of absence from his Civil War unit. They had three children: Mary Heywood, William Bainbridge and Russell Heywood. William B. Folwell served as a Captain in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War, while his sister Mary traveled with him keeping his house in Cuba and Trinidad. Mary also attended the University of Minnesota during her father's tenure. Both Mary and William resided in Minneapolis, while Russell moved on to Chicago. After the death of Dr. Folwell in 1929, Mary and William B. moved into the family home in Minneapolis to care for their mother Sarah until her death in 1931. Mary continued to live in the family home until she passed away in 1946.
From the guide to the Folwell family papers, 1898-1944, (University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc])
