The Mary Brewster Chapter was organized December 6, 1904, in Humboldt, Iowa. The chapter is named after Mary Brewster, the wife of Elder William Brewster, who came to America on the Mayflower.
 

There is little known concerning the early history of Mary Brewster. Her maiden name is not known for sure, but it is thought to have been "Love," as one of her sons was called "Love Brewster." Her life after coming to America is the history of Plymouth Colony, where she lived, toiled, and suffered with that band of people who did so much to formulate the character of New England.

Humboldt College Remembered

Humboldt College was the vision of one man - Stephen H. Taft, the founder of the town of Humboldt. He started building the college just seven years after the town was established and had it completed in just two years. Only a few hundred people lived in the town - hardly enough to support a college. Enrollment ran from 150 to 200 students. Taft made several trips East to raise funds to help support Humboldt College  but finally was too exhausted to continue this effort and the college had to close just seven years after its start.  However, it was revived in 1895 by a Professor Peterson and continued as a commercial college until 1916, when it closed for good. The land was purchased in 1926, and the college buildings were torn down. The stately hill where the college was once located offered an inspiring view for Humboldt College students - the majestic wooded and wandering Des Moines River valley as far as the eye could see. The Mary Brewster Chapter, with help from the college alumni, marked the site in 1928.

The marker for Humboldt College is on the Taft School grounds at 612 2nd Avenue North. According to the printing on the plaque, the site of Humboldt College is "4026 feet north and 422 feet west of this marker" which places the former college on the north side of State Highway 3.