Early life Madelon Louisa Stockwell was born to Louisa Peabody and Reverend Charles F. Stockwell, the first principal of Wesleyan Female Seminary (now
Albion College). In 1850, when Stockwell was four years old, he left Michigan in pursuit of a fortune in the
California Gold Rush. On his travels, he contracted a disease and died.
Education Stockwell studied at Albion College and
Kalamazoo College before applying to the University of Michigan under the encouragement of her mentor and teacher
Lucinda Stone. On February 2, 1870, Stockwell began her first semester at the University of Michigan in
Ann Arbor. She was the first woman to enroll at the school following a decision by the
Board of Regents to open the university to female students. and
Olive San Louie Anderson, enrolled at the University of Michigan. Stockwell's speech was reportedly attended by future University of Michigan student
Alice Freeman Palmer.
After graduation In 1873, Stockwell married Charles K. Turner, who had been her classmate at the University of Michigan. Their wedding ceremony was officiated by University of Michigan professor Benjamin F. Cocker, who reportedly joked that their relationship proved "the ill effects of
coeducation". Charles Turner died of
tuberculosis in 1880 at the age of 37. After her husband's death, Stockwell led a reclusive life. == Death and legacy ==