History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 83

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649

USA > New York > Chautauqua County > History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I > Part 83

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The third annual convention was held in Dunkirk, October 31 and November 1, 1890, this being the first meeting ever held in the Woman's Union building. Mrs. Elnora M. Babcock was elected president ; Miss Lotta G. Cheney, Jamestown, recording secretary ; Mrs. C. C. Parker, Dunkirk, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Lois M. Lott, Mayville, treasurer; Mrs. E. R. Clarke, South Stockton, chairman of executive committee ; and Martha T. Henderson, chairman of Chautauqua com- mittee.

In the summer of 1890 the desirability of having

an address upon woman suffrage from the Chautauqua platform was suggested, and Mrs. Henderson, then president of the County Club, began a correspondence with the Chautauqua management, which resulted in the request being granted. The following year witnessed a large attendance at Chautauqua from clubs all over the county, over one hundred driving to Chautauqua from Lily Dale. Elnora M. Babcock, president of the county organization, presided. Bishop Vincent wel- comed the clubs in a happy manner. The speakers of the day were Susan B. Anthony, Zerelda G. Wallace, Rev. Anna H. Shaw and Kate O. Peate. A song en- titled "Welcome Wyoming," written by Amanda T. Cheney, of Poland Center, was sung. Frances Willard, in writing Susan B. Anthony from the Assembly Grounds a few days later, said : "Dearest Susan, I could sing hallelujah over you and our Anna Shaw and 'Deborah' Wallace! It was the best and biggest day Chautauqua ever saw." From that day to the present, Political Equality Day has been on the Chautauqua program. Some of the ablest speakers in the country have been heard there upon this question. Among them may be mentioned Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, Rev. Anna H. Shaw, Zerelda G. Wallace, Rev. Ida C. Hultin, Henry B. Blackwell, Rev. Annis Ford Eastman, Alice Freeman Palmer, Rev. C. C. Albertson, Kate O. Peate and others. It would be difficult to esti- mate the amount of sentiment that has been made for woman suffrage at this famous educational institution.

On August 8-9, 1892, the management at Chautauqua arranged for addresses upon the pro and con of woman suffrage by Rev. Anna H. Shaw and Dr. J. T. Buckley respectively. Each address was prepared upon the merits of the question, irrespective of what the other might say. The enthusiasm that followed the address of Miss Shaw and the absence of the same at the close of Dr. Buckley's address, told plainly on which side the audience stood.

The same year that the Chautauqua management in- corporated woman suffrage as one of the subjects to be discussed from their platform, the management at Cas- sadaga Camp set apart a whole day for the discussion of the same subject. In describing this day in her biography Miss Anthony says: "People came from far and near. Fully three thousand were assembled in that beautiful amphitheatre decorated with the yellow and the red, white and blue. There, hanging by itself, was our national flag, ten by fourteen feet, with its regulation red and white stripes, and in the center of its blue corner just one great golden star, Wyoming, blazing out all alone. Every cottage in the camp was festooned with yellow, and when at night the Chinese lanterns on the piazzas were lighted, Lily Dale was as gorgeous as any Fourth of July, all in honor of Woman's Day and her coming freedom and equality." They, too, have had the best speakers to be found and Woman's Day has become a fixture upon their program. Among the speakers at Lily Dale on Woman's Day have been Susan B. Anthony, Carrie Chapman Catt, Rev. Anna H. Shaw, Rev. Ida C. Hultin, Mary Seymour Howell, Kate O. Peate, Clara B. Colby, Isabella Beecher Hooker, Jean Brooks Greenleaf, Mary Ellen Lease, Gail Laughlin and many others from their regular pro- gram speakers.

These courtesies on the part of the management of both these summer assemblies were the direct result of the Political Equality movement in Chautauqua county.

At Lily Dale it was directly through the efforts of Mrs. Marion T. Skidmore, that staunch advocate and

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supporter of woman suffrage, that a permanent place was made for woman suffrage on the Cassadaga Camp program.

The third annual convention was held in Sinclair- ville, October 8-9, 1891, delegates being present from twenty clubs, and a membership of one thousand re- ported. Elnora M. Babcock was unanimously re-elected president. It was voted at this convention to become auxiliary to the State Suffrage Association. For sev- eral years Chautauqua county was the largest club in the United States, and when it united with the State organization it infused new life and energy into that body.

During the year 1891 the executive committee of the Chautauqua County Club made a strong effort to secure the passage of a bill giving women the right to vote for County School Commissioners. This bill was drawn up by Dr. J. T. Williams, of Dunkirk, at the re- quest of the county president. Senator Vedder in- troduced it in the Senate and succeeded in passing it with a good majority. Hon. W. C. Gifford, then mem- ber of the Assembly from Jamestown, worked faith- fully for its passage in the House, but owing to the rush of business, together with a party wrangle, the bill did not come to a vote that year. The following year, 1892, however, it became a law through the efforts of Hon. W. C. Gifford in the House, and Hon. J. T. Edwards in the Senate.

The following year, 1893, the County Club put in the field Mrs. Martha R. Almy, of Jamestown, as their candidate for county school commissioner in the Third Commissioner District. An effort was made to secure the endorsement of their candidate by the various po- litical parties, but without avail, except by the Prohibi- tion party. Mrs. Babcock, of Dunkirk, and Mrs. B. B. Lord, of Sinclairville, appeared before the Democratic County Convention in behalf of their candidate. While there was a strong feeling among some of the delegates in favor of endorsing the women's candidate, the ma- jority were opposed. This resulted in the defeat of Mrs. Almy at the polls. Furthermore, just previous to the election three judges in various portions of the State had declared the law unconstitutional which frightened many women from offering their votes, nevertheless, 1,875 women voted in the rural districts for county school commissioner. Later the Court of Appeals pro- nounced the law unconstitutional, and thus ended the three years of hard labor for this one little crumb from the great political loaf. The inconsistency of not allow- ing a person to vote for an office which they can and do fill, is clearly manifest to any thinking person.

The County Club worked for many other bills affect- ing women, among which was one providing for the representation of women in the Constitutional Conven- tion, and also to allow them to vote upon the amended constitution when it came before the people.

Mayville entertained the fifth annual convention of the County Political Equality Club, October 13-14, 1892. Twenty-three clubs sent delegates, and fraternal delegates were welcomed from Cattaraugus Political Equality Club, from Pomona Grange and Pennsylvania State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Judge Albion W. Tourgee welcomed the delegates, Mrs. Elnora M. Bab- cock presided, and the meetings were conducted with dignity and grace. Mrs. Babcock was re-elected presi- dent.

The sixth annual convention was held at Kennedy, October 18, 1893, with fifty-two delegates present. Mrs. Babcock positively declining re-election, Mrs. Eveline R. Clarke was chosen president; Mrs. Elnora M. Bab- cock, vice-president ; Mrs. Ella C. Barmore, recording

secretary ; Mrs. Hannah D. Love, corresponding secre- tary ; Mrs. Z. E. Bronson, treasurer. 652 members were reported in membership in the county. That year 814 voted at a school election in Dunkirk, a like proportion voting in other towns of the county.

A semi-annual meeting of the Club was held in Dun- kirk, April 5-6, 1894, in connection with a two days' mass meeting under the auspices of the State Political Equality Association, to arouse interest in the coming Constitutional Convention. Over one hundred delegates and visitors were entertained by the Dunkirk Club. The speakers were Rev. Anna H. Shaw, Mary G. Hay, Louis Mckinstry and Dr. J. T. Williams. Strenuous efforts were made that year to have the word "male" stricken from the revised constitution ; 600,000 names were secured to a petition asking that that word be omitted. The suffrage women of Chautauqua county securing 13,993 names to their petition, in addition to 1,500 secured by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. The canvass for these names revealed the fact that there were 4,627 women in the county paying taxes on $4,618,655 of real estate and on $532,912 personal property. At a mass meeting held in Jamestown, March 20, 1894, speeches were made in favor of the amend- ment by Mayor O. F. Price, F. W. Stevens, Rev. L. H. Squires, J. L. Weeks, F. S. Thorpe, W. C. Lindsey, John Woodward, Frank H. Mott and A. C. Pickard, but all in vain. The Constitutional Convention refused to sub- mit the amendment, totally ignoring the mammoth peti- tion secured by the women, the arbitrary vote of ninety- seven delegates overruling the expressed wish of 600,000 petitioners. It is recorded that not only did Chautau- qua's delegates-Louis Mckinstry, Benjamin S. Dean- vote for the amendment, but worked and spoke in be- half of the women citizens of their State.

On September 17-18, 1894, the sixth annual convention was held at Lily Dale. The defeat in the convention had seemingly disheartened the women, and but twelve clubs were represented. The membership fell from 652 to 432. Mrs. Ellen Cheney was elected president ; Lotta G. Cheney, recording secretary ; Laura M. Bur- gess, corresponding secretary ; Harriet M. Chase, treasurer.

On the evening of October 29, 1894, the first Political Equality Club of Jamestown tendered a reception in G. A. R. Hall to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Mckinstry and Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin S. Dean, in grateful recognition of the valiant service rendered by these gentlemen in the Constitutional Convention.

Mrs. A. S. Prather, of Jamestown, made her first ap- pearance in arduous physical work for the suffrage cause in 1894 in circulating a petition for the amend- ment. She writes :

"Perhaps this is an appropriate time to express the gratitude that is and always will he in our hearts for the many, many men ** * who unhesitatingly en- dorsed resolutions and petitions. * * * We do not recall an instance when we could not enter the city building at Jamestown and secure the endorsement of our resolutions and petition from any and all city officers therein. Our representatives in the State Legislature with few exceptions were ever ready and faithfully championed the cause of woman suffrage. Speaker S. Frederick Nixon, W. C. Gifford, Judge E. E. Woodbury, A. M. Cheney, H. L. Ames never disap- pointed our expectations. Fred W. Hyde much in Albany during legislative sessions, kept the suffrage workers at home well informed on the progress of measures pending and rendered valued service."

The convention of 1895 was held in Jamestown, Octo- ber 17-18. Mrs. Ellen Cheney was re-elected president. Mrs. Elnora M. Babcock, of Dunkirk, had been called the year previous into State work as Superintendent of

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Press Work, and held that office many years. In 1899 she was appointed National Superintendent of Press Work by the National Women's Suffrage Association and held that office several years. Mrs. Kate S. Thomp- son, of Jamestown, was elected treasurer of the State Association in 1895, serving until 1897 and then another year as auditor.

In 1896 the ninth annual meeting was held in Fal- coner, October 22, 1896, thirty-four delegates in at- tendance, representing eight clubs. The clubs reported practically the same number of women voting at school elections as in 1895. Mrs. Babcock made an address dealing with her success as Superintendent of Press Work; 250 papers, she said, published all material sent them, and some papers which had refused to give her space, later asked for suffrage literature. Mrs. Ellen Cheney was again elected president. Other officers chosen were: Vice-president, Mrs. E. R. Clark ; record- ing secretary, Miss Jennie Prescott ; corresponding sec- retary, Miss Lydia R. Myers, re-elected ; treasurer, Mrs. Harriet M. Chase, re-elected.

Four meetings of the executive committee of the club were held during the year 1897, and as in former years a great deal of work was done for the cause. The tenth annual convention was held in Fredonia, October 17, 1897, with twenty-three delegates present. Mrs. Babcock suggested a discussion on "What shall 1 do to be saved." Louis Mckinstry, always a friend to the cause, addressed the club and urged the ladies to keep up their work. Reports from the local clubs were discouraging, but officers were elected and a pro- gram of work for the coming year outlined. Officers elected : President, Mrs. Jennie Allen; vice-president, Mrs. Ellen Cheney ; recording secretary, Miss Jennie Prescott; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Jennie Tucker ; treasurer, Mrs. Harriet M. Chase, re-elected.

The annual meeting of 1898 was held at the home of Mrs. Elnora M. Babcock, in Dunkirk; fourteen dele- gates present. The report of clubs showed a general falling off in membership and interest despite the earnestness of the ever faithful ones. But plans for work were continued, and it was voted that Chautauqua county invite the State Suffrage Association to meet with them in Dunkirk in 1899. Mrs. Chapman Catt was secured as speaker for Woman's Day at Chautauqua. Officers elected : President, Mrs. Ellen Cheney ; vice- president, Mrs. E. M. Babcock; recording secretary, Miss Jennie Prescott, re-elected ; corresponding secre- tary, Mrs. Kate S. Thompson; treasurer, Mrs. Martha Fuller Prather.

Jamestown was the scene of the annual meeting of the County Political Equality Club in 1899 (October 12-13) with twenty-eight delegates, representing 159 members. A great deal of aggressive work was planned, and the public meetings were full of interest, speeches and papers being of a high order. Officers elected: Mrs. Ellen Cheney, president, re-elected; Mrs. Martha T. Henderson, vice-president : Miss Grace Strunk, record- ing secretary ; Miss Lydia E. Myers, corresponding sec- retary ; Mrs. Martha Fuller Prather, treasurer, re- elected.

The New York State Political Equality Association met in annual convention in Dunkirk, November 1-4. 1899, the local club making all preparations possible for the reception and entertainment of delegates. The sessions were well attended and very interesting, Rev. Anna Shaw at one session answering twenty-seven ques- tions from the Question Box. Mrs. Mariana Chapman, president of the New York City Woman Suffrage League, said in her address that "Our census of 1890 showed 56,000 more native born white women in the

State than native born white men," and that "The enfranchisement of women would therefore give a larger proportion of native-born voters at the polls- voters who have had the advantage of our public schools." The Woman Taxpayers bill passed the As- sembly at the 1899-1900 session but failed in the Senate. It was again introduced in 1901, Speaker S. Fred Nixon supporting the bill in a speech to the Assembly declaring it "simple justice" and hoping it would be kept before the Legislature until it became a law. The bill became a law April 23, 1901, and was approved by Governor Odell.

The annual convention of the County Club was held at Kennedy, October 10-11, 1900, Dunkirk, Fluvanna, Fre- donia, Frewsburg, Jamestown, Kennedy and South Stockton having delegates present. The report of Mrs. Henderson showed that Woman's Day at Chautauqua had been duly observed; the speakers on that day, Susan B. Anthony, Rev. Anna Shaw and Carrie Chap- man Catt. Routine business was transacted, and the following officers elected : President, Mrs. Martha Fuller Prather; vice-president, Mrs. Ellen Cheney; recording secretary, Mrs. Estella White; corresponding secretary, Miss Lydia E. Myers ; treasurer, Mrs. Rose Waterhouse.

The convention of 1901 was held in Jamestown, Octo- ber 17-18. Good work was reported by all clubs, and interesting sessions were held during two days. Officers elected : President, Mrs. Agnes Williams; vice-presi- dent, Mrs. Ellen Cheney ; recording secretary, Estelle A. White ; corresponding secretary, Miss Eloise M. Ely ; treasurer, Mrs. Rose Waterhouse.

On September 25, 1902, at the home of Mrs. Carrie Hanson Fluvanna, the fifteenth annual convention of the Chautauqua County Political Equality Club was called to order by the president, Mrs. Agnes Williams, six clubs having delegates present : Jamestown, Kennedy, South Stockton, Fluvanna, Dunkirk and Fredonia. Dur- ing the year, two ladies of the club, Mrs. Alice E. Bargar and Mrs. Martha Fuller Prather, made a list of the women taxpayers of Jamestown, their self-appointed task occupying two full days. It was found that one- third of the taxpayers were women, and that one-third of the taxes were paid by women, exclusive of those paid by stock companies, etc. Miss Vida Goldstein, of Australia, who came to the United States to attend the first International Woman's Suffrage Conference at Washington in February, 1902, lectured before an audi- ence in Jamestown City Hall May 21, 1902, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Political Equality Club joining in presenting this lecture.

The officers of the County Club for 1901 were all re-elected except two-the corresponding secretary, who was succeeded by Mrs. Anna Nichols ; and the treasurer by Mrs. M. F. Prather.

The sixteenth annual session of the County Political Equality Club was held in Jamestown, June 13, 1903. Rev. Anna H. Shaw and Miss Harriet M. Mills were the guests of honor. Miss Shaw conducting the Ques- tion Box in her usually able manner at the afternoon session, and in the evening delivering a masterly address on "Suffrage the Basis of a True Republic." Miss

Mills, State organizer, gave a stirring address on or- ganization. Memorials were read eulogizing fallen com- rades by Martha Tiffany Henderson, and words of es- teem and appreciation were spoken by Miss Mills and others. Mrs. Henderson was the moving spirit in or- ganizing the first club for the crystalization of the woman suffrage sentiment in Chautauqua county and her influence was State wide. Officers elected: Presi- dent, Mrs. Martha Fuller Prather ; vice-president, Mrs. Agnes Williams; recording secretary, Mrs. Mattie

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Young; corresponding secretary, Miss Eloise Ely ; treasurer, Mrs. Marietta Rhodes.

The seventeenth annual convention of the county society was held in Kennedy June 2, 1904, Mrs. Prather presiding, with State President Mrs. Ella Hawley Cros- sett in attendance. The holding officers were all re- elected, Mrs. Prather also being elected a delegate to the National Convention to be held in June, 1905, at Portland, Oregon. In 1904 she had attended the Wash- ington convention as a State delegate.

The eighteenth convention met at Grange Hall, Chau- tauqua, May 17, 1905, reports being received from clubs at Fluvanna, Jamestown, Chautauqua, Kennedy and South Stockton. The holding officers were again re- elected, save the vice-president who was succeeded by Ada B. Falley. The meeting was voted a success in every particular.

"Martha's Vineyard," the home of Miss Ophelia Griffith, was thrown open for the Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the County Society on May 23, 1906. The officers of the previous year were re-elected except re- cording secretary, Mrs. Adella M. Vought being chosen for that office. Mrs. Rena Soule, chairman on school suffrage, read a communication from the State chairman which showed increased attendance of women at school meetings and more interest in suffrage work. Mrs. Babcock's paper on the life of Susan B. Anthony was read, and on February 12, 1907, a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. C. G. Waller, of Jamestown, in Miss Anthony's memory.

May 3, 1907, was the date of the twentieth annual con- vention of the County Society, Y. M. C. A. Hall, James- town, the place. The officers elected: Mrs. Prather, president ; Mrs. Mary Saxton, vice-president ; Mrs. Mat- tie Young, recording secretary ; Mrs. Marietta Rhodes, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. E. C. Gifford, treasurer.

On June 28, 1908, the faithful few who clung to principles which originally bound them together, met in twenty-first annual convention at Grange Hall, Chau- tauqua, and held a very profitable and successful ses- sion. Mrs. Prather was again elected president ; Mrs. Ada B. Falley, vice-president ; Mrs. Mattie Young, re- cording secretary; Mrs. Sarah Bentley, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Marietta Rhodes, treasurer.

Grange Hall, Chautauqua, was also the scene of the twenty-second annual convention, September 21, 1909. The former officers were continued in office except the vice-president, Mrs. Falley, who had removed from the county. Mrs. Martha Beaujean was chosen her suc- cessor. The convention ordered a memorial prepared on the death of Mrs. Martha T. Griswold, a much be- loved member who had passed to her reward.

The twenty-third annual convention was held Sep- tember 10, 1910, in Y. W. C. A. Hall, Jamestown. Re- ports were received from four clubs-Jamestown, Flu- vanna, Chautauqua and Westfield. Resolutions of re- spect to the memory of Mrs. Carrie E. S. Twing, Mrs. Ada B. Falley and Miss Martha Bortel were read. Officers elected : Mrs. Prather, president : Mrs. Sey- mour, of Westfield, vice-president ; Mrs. Mattie Young, recording secretary ; Mrs. Bertha E. S. Phillips, corre- sponding secretary ; Mrs. Marietta Rhodes, treasurer.

Chautauqua, beautiful in autumn, was again a favorite choice for the annual meeting, and again the use of Grange Hall was cordially granted for the twenty- fourth annual convention. Mrs. Prather, discerning gleams that predict a favorable change in the atmos- phere for woman suffrage and feeling that the future work in the county would be more interesting because more hopeful, kept her promise to her family and asked for a release from all official positions. She had attended every State convention, 1898 to 1910 inclusive, save one ;

had been county president nine terms; and was fre- quently in attendance at national conventions. She was made honorary president, as a graceful compliment to a faithful untiring worker. Officers elected : Mrs. Het- tie Sherwin, president; Mrs. Martha Beaujean, vice- president ; Mrs. Bertha E. S. Phillips, recording secre- tary ; Mrs. Mattie Young, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. Marietta Rhodes, treasurer. A memorial service was held sacred to the inemory of Miss Louise Falley, Mrs. Thompson, of Westfield, and Mrs. Eliza C. Gifford.

The act of the New York Legislature of 1912 in con- sidering a bill, a constitutional amendment extending the franchise to women, roused the dormant hope of suffragists, and again set in motion campaign prepara- tions, but by March 19th it was known that all hope for such an amendment was gone for the session. The twenty-fifth annual convention of the County Political Equality Club was held in the Methodist Church at Chautauqua, August 27, 1912. At this meeting the name of the organization was changed to Chautauqua County Woman Suffrage Party. The holding officers were all re-elected.

The twenty-sixth annual convention of the Chau- tauqua County Woman Suffrage Party was held at Lily Dale, August 12, 1913. Clubs reporting were Chautauqua, Cassadaga, Fluvanna, Jamestown, Silver Creek, and Lily Dale. Officers elected : President, Mrs. Hettie Sherwin (unanimously ) ; vice-president, Mrs. Nellie Erb; cor- responding secretary, Mrs. Edith Cheney; recording secretary, Mrs. Myrtle Nelson ; treasurer, Mrs. Marietta Rhodes. A special meeting of the executive committee was held in Jamestown, November 14, 1913, to consider the campaign, a district assembly plan of organization recommended by the State Association. This plan, which would secure enrollment of all men and women over twenty-one. was adopted. Mrs. Hettie B. Sher- win was chosen leader of the First Assembly District of Chautauqua county ; Mrs. Nellie Erb, leader of the Second Assembly District.

The winter of 1913-14 was one of unusual activity in preparation for the suffrage campaign expected in 1915. A conference of leaders and workers was held in Buf- falo, January 1, 1914, Mrs. Hettie Sherwin and several other Chautauqua county women attending. The First Political Equality Club of Jamestown in February, set in motion the proceedings which finally resulted in the appointment of Mrs. Margaret F. Jackson as a police woman in Jamestown, she beginning her service July 1, 191.4.

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History of Chautauqua County, New York, and its people, Volume I, Part 83

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc. Number of Pages: 649

Author: Downs, John Phillips, 1853- ed. [from old catalog]; Hedley, Fenwick, Y., joint ed. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Boston, New York [etc.] American historical society, inc.
Number of Pages: 649