After returning to Cleveland, she edited a monthly publication devoted to charitable work, and served on the board of the Woman's Christian Association.

While he was studying for the ministry, his older brothers engaged in extensive business enterprises, but suffered financially due to poor crop yields and the War of 1812.

John Grannis left his studies to assist in his brothers' business, with limited financial success.

[3] When she was five years old, the family moved to Stanstead, Lower Canada, and located at Hatley, a small town on Lake Magog.

At the close of this time, her father gathered his family together at a home in Oberlin, Ohio,[2] where he afterwards held offices of trust under the United States Government.

[4] Arey joined him at that town, and entered Oberlin College, class of 1837,[2] becoming one of the earliest young women who pursued a liberal course of education in a co-educational environment.

[3] It was sold to a firm in Boston, coming under the editorship of the William Makepeace Thayer, with her name for two or three years more as associate editor.

Her youngest child being then old enough to go with her into the school room, she had decided that in her husband's uncertain state of health her place was at his side.

The responsibilities of a large and constantly growing school left no time for literary effort,[2] but as the preceptress occupation suited her, for nine or ten years, she continued in the work.

A few years later, she found herself back in Cleveland, her husband having received a call to take charge of the normal school in that city.

[2] In 1884, Arey published a small volume entitled: "Home and School Training," (Lippincott & Co., Philadelphia), and soon after, undertook the editing of The Earnest Worker, the organ of the Women's Charitable Association of Cleveland.