Mary Amelia Wannop Tolerton Dorsey was born on the Bradford mountain property above the Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg, Sonoma, California. Mary's mother was Emma Bradford who married Christopher Thomas Wannop. During her lifetime Mary frequently stated she was a descendant of Governor William Bradford. Another relative, Dorothy M. Bradford used her materials and worked with her to produce a family history, which still exists. Her earliest years were spent on the Bradford Mountain property where she developed a love of the outdoors. She remembered meeting Luther Burbank on their property. She told family that a photo of Joaquin Miller with her as a child, hung in a museum the Oakland area. Later the family moved into the developed portion of Healdsburg. For a short time her father owned a saloon in the town. Her father was friends with Jack London and she met him in her home. After this they moved to Alameda county, California. She met and married Ray Elmer Tolerton. Ray was an inventor and designer and worked for early Magnavox in the Oakland area. Magnavox moved him to areas in Ohio and Indiana. One daughter was born in California and then a son was born in Indiana. The company was reduced in size down to three people in Indiana and so Mary and Ray moved back to California. They first stayed about a year with his family in Dinuba and then moved to Burbank, around 1938, where Ray worked with Lockheed designing aircraft. They lived in Burbank 32 years and another son was born. Many inventors and engineers frequented their home during these years. After Ray's death, she married Ellis Jesse Dorsey. Together, they moved to Ojai, Ventura, California. Ellis preceded her in death. Mary lived to be 96 and loved her time in Ojai. One son preceded her in death, Herbert Franklin Tolerton. Her obituary was written by her son-in-law Charles Mozley who was an editor for the Fillmore Herald. The photo in the obituary was taken by this poster. Her obituary indicates that she was buried at Ivy Lawn and family members have photos from that event. There are many photos from her lifetime and she owned photos and letters from her Bradford and Wannop ancestors. Some originals and some scans of these have been donated to NEHGS and some to museums and libraries in the appropriate areas.