Women’s Suffrage WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020 STAR BEACON C1 Celebrating 100 years of having the right to vote Much of history of women’s suffrage occurred in Ashtabula County

BY SHELLEY TERRY successfully ran for [email protected] political office as soon as the 19th Amendment Women’s suffrage was adopted. is the right of women “Having the right to to vote in elections. vote meant women had Beginning in the mid- input into laws that 1800s, women sought affected their lives,” to change voting laws to said Meghan Davis, allow them to vote, gar- chair of the Committee nering a right already to Preserve the Wom- SUBMITTED PHOTO given to men. en’s Suffrage History in Esther Blevins, 91, of Jefferson, remains active in Their activism Ashtabula County. the Ashtabula County League of Women Voters. spans more than 70 “Without the right to years, from the mid- WARREN DILLAWAY | STAR BEACON vote, laws favored the 1800s to 1920, when A plaque commemorating an 1859 women’s suf- husband in divorces 91-year-old Esther Blevins — the 19th Amendment frage convention is bolted to a rock outside the and gave custody of to the Constitution Jefferson Congregational Church. children to their fa- an activist for women’s rights and was adopted into law. thers,” she said. “When lifelong member of the In Ashtabula County, women married, their the suffrage movement Historians research assets transferred to Ashtabula County took form even before potential first meeting their husbands. Women the 1848 Seneca Falls had to pay taxes with- League of Women Voters Convention in New BY BRIAN HAYTCHER out the right to vote on York, according to the [email protected] tax laws.” BY SHELLEY TERRY Committee to Preserve Several of the suf- [email protected] the Women’s Suffrage There may have been a women’s suffrage fragists from Ashtabula History of Ashtabula conference in Ashtabula County, years before County moved to other JEFFERSON — Jefferson area resident Esther County. the Seneca Falls, N.Y., convention that is parts of the nation Blevins is celebrating more than 50 years as Five years ago, when widely accepted as the first women’s suffrage and were influential a founding member of the Ashtabula County Richard Dana’s wife, event. in Washington D.C., League of Women Voters. Marianne Sezon, was A marker at the First Congregational Michigan and California, The 91-year-old said the league’s mission elected Ashtabula Coun- Church in Jefferson states that a suffrage Davis said. has evolved since the early 20th century and ty Common Pleas judge, Locally, women women’s suffrage, when the first league was the first woman in ‘There’s no question that established the Wom- founded to ensure women would have an Ashtabula County elect- an’s Club and Zonta, equal voice in the democratic process. ed to this particular Ashtabula County was in and were members of “I didn’t have much input in ‘getting the seat, the couple decided the mix here with respect to national organizations, vote,’” she said. “But I have been given a to pay homage to those all of which promoted lifetime membership in the League of Women who won women the women’s suffrage.’ women’s rights. The Voters of the United States.” vote, and paved the trail county’s esteemed Blevins joined the Geauga County league for Sezon’s election. Richard Dana schools, the New Lyme after moving to the area with her husband. “We made a pilgrim- Professor at Kent State Ashtabula and local historian Institute and Grand In October 1968, she moved to Ashtabu- age to New York State River Institute, opened la County, and she and three other women and the location of the convention was held in 1844, said Richard their doors to women formed the Ashtabula County chapter affiliate, First Women’s Suffrage Dana, a professor at Kent State Ashtabula and who earned an educa- said Mary Howe, the league’s current presi- Convention at Seneca local historian. tional foundation. dent. Falls,” Dana said. “We “There’s no question that Ashtabula County “The Ashtabula “She’s been very active in the local organiza- enjoyed the museum was in the mix here with respect to women’s County suffragists tion and at one time, was on the state League and the surrounding suffrage,” Dana said. were smart, strong- of Women Voters Board,” Howe said. “Until area thoroughly, as a Betsy Mix Cowles led a suffrage convention willed, dedicated and early this year, she forwarded all emails to tour of Seneca Falls in Salem, Dana said. accomplished,” Davis local members that I, as president, received has several impressive “That would have been the second women’s said. “They endured the and thought it should be passed on to mem- historical locations.” suffrage convention after Seneca Falls,” he hardships of traveling bership.” They visited the said. “And it was our own Betsy Mix Cowles throughout the state After Blevins helped start the league, one of home of Elizabeth from Austinburg, that led that conven- and nation to commu- the first issues it focused on was the youth Cady Stanton, the main tion in Salem, Ohio.” nicate about women’s detention center, which at the time was a resi- organizer of the 1848 Dana said there is growing evidence that the issues and voting. dential home. After years of work and appeal- Convention. A short meeting mentioned on the marker at the First They were faced with ing to county leaders, the existing Donahoe distance away from the Congregational Church happened, though not backlash at speaking Center was established. Stanton home stands necessarily in 1844. engagements and laws The league also helped improve the condi- the M’Clintock House “This is something I’ve been spending quite that prohibited gather- tions of the Ashtabula County jail in Jefferson. where the convention a bit of time here researching,” Dana said. “I ings to discuss political Blevins was instrumental in getting the first was planned, and the think we have an argument from which to say issues. But through recycling program in Jefferson Village, Howe Declaration of Senti- that Betsy Mix Cowles did hold a women’s their perseverance, they said. Though it was eventually disbanded, ments were drafted, a suffrage convention in 1846, which would be were integral to the recycling remains in the village today. She was document largely cred- two years before Seneca Falls.” women’s right-to-vote also a founding member of the Jefferson Co- ited to Lucretia Mott. Letters from a woman named Abby Kel- movement.” Op Preschool, a daycare. “The highlight of the ley Foster cited Cowles as the leader of the Allowing women to “She’s always been a huge proponent of tour was the Wesleyan suffrage movement, Dana said. An abolition- cast a ballot was not an voting and the process of government, while Chapel,” Dana said. “In ist newspaper, dated in 1847 and credited entirely new idea. Some remaining non-partisan, as the League of need of repairs at the Native American women Women Voters is,” Howe said. time of our visit, this SEE POTENTIAL, C4 voted in their tribes She also had a seat on the state’s emergency chapel was the location before the Europeans board. It was her idea to start printing com- of the 1848 Convention arrived on this conti- mon emergency procedures at the front of the at Seneca Falls where Wesleyan Chapel and an Many of the first nent. state’s phone books, she said. the Declaration of adjacent visitor’s cen- county suffragists, Some western states Nowadays, Blevins keeps up with league Sentiments was signed ter, provided a poignant including Betsey Mix granted women the activities as much as she can, Howe said. by more than 100 peo- end to your visit with a Cowles, were women right to vote in the “She stays up-to-date by getting our min- ple,” he said. chance to reflect upon who were active aboli- 1800’s. For example, utes,” she said. “She signed on to one of our “A reading of this why our nation’s ideals tionists. Later suffrag- Utah allowed women Zoom meetings this spring [because of the document, conveniently upon our founding were ists, including Judge to vote until it became coronavirus] but it was hard for her hear.” written on a large wall limited only to white Florence Allen and in a park between the males of privilege.” Mayor Amy Kaukonen, SEE COUNTY, C4

Several local leaders took part in Women’s Suffrage Movement

BY SHELLEY TERRY for African-Americans’ • Mary Howell Miller [email protected] rights, as well as the Battels (1860-1927) women’s right to vote. was a physician who Throughout Ashtabu- • An Ohio native, advocated for women’s la County’s history, Carolyn Ransom rights, suffrage and community leaders (1826- 1910) was a community health. from different profes- 19th Century pioneer Her family moved sions fought for equal Giddings Wade by breaking out of the to Ashtabula County rights and participated artist limitations im- where she graduated in the women’s suffrage in Ashtabula County, posed on women. Her from the Grand River movement, accord- and Jefferson attorneys works included many Institute in Austinburg. ing to the Northeast Joshua R. Giddings and historical portraits. Her She entered one of the Ohio Suffrage and the Benjamin Wade, sought portrait of Alexander few schools that would Committee to Preserve equality by practicing Hamilton was used on train women in medi- the Women’s Suffrage law. Allen became the the $10 bill. cine, the University of History of Ashtabula first woman to sit on The Hubbard House Michigan, where she County. Ohio Supreme Court. Underground Railroad earned her medical Here is a sample of Giddings served in the Museum in Ashtabula degree in 1888. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS just a few: U.S. House of Represen- displays her portraits In 1890, she moved In a photo from 1912, Florence Allen can be seen hold- • Florence Ellinwood tatives, and was an ar- of Katherine H. and to Detroit where she ing a flag in front of the Euclid Avenue Woman Suffrage Allen (18884-1966) dent abolitionist. Wade William Hubbard. The worked with Dr. Lucy M. Headquarters in . Allen, who became the who graduated from served in the U.S. Senate oil paintings are hung first female judge on the Ohio Supreme Court, went to the New Lyme Institute and fought strongly in the main hallway. SEE LOCAL, C4 school at the New Lyme Institute in Ashtabula County. C2 STAR BEACON WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020 WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE STAR BEACON C3

Richard Dana, in conjunction with One of country’s first female the Ashtabula County Women’s Suffrage Preservation Society and judges attended school others, honors the women from Northeast Ohio who played pivotal in Ashtabula County roles in the ratifi cation of the BY SHELLEY TERRY 19th Amendment. [email protected] One of the first female judges in the United States, Florence E. Allen was the first woman to serve as a Ohio Su- preme Court justice and she went to school at the New Lyme Institute in Ashtabula County. Allen was born March 23, 1884, in Salt Lake City, Utah — 36 years before the 19th Amend- ment to the U.S. Con- stitution was ratified, giving women the right to vote. According to the Committee to Preserve the Women’s Suffrage History of Ashtabula County, Allen’s family were early settlers and educators in Ashtabula County. By age 7, Al- Learn more at len’s father had taught PHOTO COURTESY OF KENT STATE ASHTABULA LIBRARY AND OPEN ACCESS KENT STATE her Greek and Latin, Florence Allen participates in a march for women’s www.neohiosuffrage.org and she was educated in right to vote. the classics and music. Allen took a liking ern Reserve, according discrimination against to music in her early to the Western Reserve women. childhood, and attend- Historical Society. In 1919 she was ed New Lyme Institute After receiving her appointed assistant (later known as Deming degree in 1908, Allen prosecutor of Cuyahoga Photo Credit: Library of Congress “Women Suffrage Headquarters “/ Kent State University High School), where her was heavily involved in County and when it be- Libraries / the Committee to Preserve the History of Suffrage in Ashtabula County. maternal grandfather the women’s suffrage came evident the wom- was president. She then movement. She partic- en’s suffrage amend- continued her education ipated in the Ohio and ment would pass in at Western Reserve Uni- New York women’s 1920, her friends urged versity in Cleveland. suffrage groups and at- her to run for judge of After graduating with tended many meetings the Court of Common honors from Western and rallies. Pleas for Cuyahoga Reserve, Allen went to Allen then moved to County. She won the Germany to advance New York, where she most votes in a field of her music studies, but worked for the New 10 candidates, becom- a nerve injury cut short York League for the Pro- ing the first woman to her plans, and she tection of Immigrants. sit on a court of gen- returned to the United She earned a law degree eral jurisdiction, legal States in 1906. from the New York Uni- and equitable, civil and She found an outlet versity School of Law in criminal, according to for her music back- 1913. the Western Reserve ground as a critic for With law degree in Historical Society. the Cleveland Plain hand, Allen returned Her win was hailed as Dealer while pursuing a to Ohio, was admitted a victory for women’s Learn more at www.danaforohio.com graduate degree in po- to the bar and set up a suffrage. Paid for by Committee to Elect Richard Dana. Nancy Patterson, Treasurer litical science and con- private law practice that Two years later, stitutional law at West- focused on challenging when Allen won a seat BUILDING A STRONGER ASHTABULA COUNTY SUSAN HAGAN DEMOCRAT FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER PLEASE VOTE! So many worked so hard to give us this right.

Paid for by Friends of Susan Hagan. Lucas McDaniel, Treasurer WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020 WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE STAR BEACON C3 New Lyme Institute boasts several successful alumni

ROME TOWNSHIP In 1910, the alumni including — Judge William S. New Lyme Institute Dr. Leroy Waterman, a Deming, a prominent almost became Kent scholar who worked New Lyme Township State University’s main on the Revised Stan- resident, donated the campus in Ashtabula dard Version of the land and $3,000 in County. Bible; E.C. Lampson, matching funds to start The institute was a dean of northeast the New Lyme Institute candidate for the Ohio Ohio newspaper in 1878. State Normal College, a editors; Benjamin S. When the Northern preparatory school for Chapin, author of Ohio Collegiate and teachers. “The Son of Democ- Business Institute was The institute lost racy” and a Lincoln dedicated on Aug. 21, out to Kent, where the impersonator; Louis 1879, more students normal college later Sperry Chafer, founder STAR BEACON FILE PHOTO than it had dormitory became a university, ac- of Dallas Theological Florence E. Allen, the first woman to serve as a Ohio Supreme Court justice, space to accommodate cording to KSU histori- Seminary, and Delo was a graduate of the New Lyme Institute in Ashtabula County. In 1919, she was enrolled, and residents cal archives. C. Grover, president appointed assistant prosecutor of Cuyahoga County and elected a common opened their homes to In addition to emeritus, Baldwin pleas judge in November 1920. Her win was hailed as a victory for women’s the scholars. Florence E. Allen, New Wallace, according to suffrage; the election came less than three months after the 19th Amendment to the It was the pride of Lyme Institute boasts the Ashtabula County U.S. Constitution was ratified. New Lyme. several successful Historical Society.

FROM PAGE C2 In the year of the 100th anniversary of on the Ohio Supreme Court, making her the the 19th amendment, we owe first woman ever elected to a state supreme it to the suffragettes to vote. court. She served as a justice until 1934, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Request your her to the Sixth Circuit of the United States absentee ballot. Make an informed Court of Appeals — an- other first for a female. Vote early at decision. Learn why Eleanor Roosevelt each candidate decided wrote, “If a president of the Board of the United States should to run for offi ce. decide to nominate a Elections. woman for the Supreme Find out what Court, it should be Go to the polls experience they have judge Allen.” Allen went on to on election day. that qualifi es them become chief judge of for the position. Read the court and remained However you there until her retire- about their ties to ment in 1959, at the age decide is best of 75. Ashtabula County. You Allen is a member of for you, can learn more about the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame. She died Sept. VOTE! me on my Facebook 12, 1966 at home. page Cecilia Cooper The Kent State data- base, which holds pho- for Ashtabula County tographs and informa- tion about Allen, was a Prosecutor. I humbly source for this story, as ask for your vote. well as the photographs. For more information, go to www.oaks.kent. Paid for by Committee to Elect Cecilia Cooper. edu. Celebrating 100th Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote Angel McVoy: for County Commissioner Angel is serving her second term as Council- at-Large on City of Conneaut council. Angel has been the chair of Economic Development, as well as the city's liaison for the Health Department and Conneaut Convention & Visitor Bureau. Angel McVoy has recently announced her candidacy for Ashtabula County Commissioner. Angel is currently the treasurer for the Conneaut Lions Club, Vice President for the Ashtabula Kiwanis Club, Sergeant - at - Arms for the American Legion Unit 151, board member of the Ashtabula County YMCA, co-creator of the local podcast What's Happening Ashtabula County, and the founder of #bebetterhumans2020. Angel is married to Sean and has three step-daughters. Tammy Ledord: Newly Elected to City of Conneaut Council At Large Newly elected to City of Conneaut as Council-at- Large. Tammy chairs the Utilities committee, as well as liaison to the Conneaut Area City Schools for the City of Conneaut. Tammy recently was appointed to the Executive Committee for the Ashtabula County Dems. Tammy has been the Director of the Right Track program at the Conneaut Human Resource Center for 9 years. Tammy has previously served as President of the Ashtabula County Womens Dems, as well as past board member of the Conneaut Arts Center. Tammy has been married to her husband Scott for 30 years and they have two children.

*Paid for by Committe to Elect Angel McVoy* C4 STAR BEACON WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020

COUNTY: Much of history of women’s suffrage occurred locally

FROM PAGE C1 when women began to abolitionists, who didn’t served in the U.S. House in the U.S. they picketed there were some tem- really push for their agree with excluding of Representatives from the White House during perance factions to the a state and then they rights, there was activi- African-Americans, 1838-1859, and was World War 1, she said. suffrage movement. Of were no longer allowed ty in Ashtabula County, including: an ardent abolition- “President Wilson was the two branches of the to vote, said Mary although Seneca Falls, • Betsey Mix Cowles, ist. Giddings believed opposed to women hav- movement, one main Howe, president of N.Y. is recognized as (1810-1876), served as all persons should ing the vote until the difference was that one the Ashtabula Coun- hosting the first wom- the first dean of women have the right to vote, end of the movement,” group wanted to get ty League of Women en’s rights meeting, at Grand River Institute. which resulted in some Howe said. “Yes, some the vote state by state Voters. according to Howe. She dedicated her life threats on his life. He women, and Alice Paul and the other group “Jeannette Rankin of “Unfortunately, Afri- to fighting slavery and later supported wom- was one, were jailed wanted it passed as a Montana was a member can-American women improving the status of en’s suffrage. and force-fed when U.S. Amendment for the of Congress when the were not allowed the women. “There were at least they went on a hunger entire country. U.S. decided to enter voice they should have •Benjamin Wade, two main arms of the strike.” “Unfortunately, World War I and she had in the suffrage (1800-1878), an attor- suffrage movement; one Howe suggests any- most of the history of voted ‘no’— this was be- movement,” she said. “I ney from Jefferson, was a bit more militant one interested in the the Women’s Suffrage fore women were grant- understand that some served in the U.S. Sen- than the other,” Howe history of women’s suf- Movement is not ed the right to vote in of this was from strictly ate from 1851 to 1869. said. “Alice Paul was frage, watch the movie really taught in our the entire country,” she prejudice, but some of A fervent abolitionist, one of those women. “Iron-jawed Angels.” schools,” Howe said. said. “Some European it was because people in Wade fought against She trained in England The film details instanc- “I learned most of countries allowed wom- the southern states said slavery and publicly for where they were called es when women were this reading several en to vote before the they would only vote both African-Americans suffragettes. I prefer beaten by crowds for books.” U.S. and some states for women’s suffrage if and women to gain the suffragists — less mili- their stances. The League of allowed women to vote African-American wom- right to vote. tant and not a diminu- Not all women were in Women Voters came for local races like en were excluded.” • Joshua Giddings, tive form.” favor of voting and the directly out of the school boards.” Ashtabula County (1795-1864), also an In England, they tried liquor establishments suffrage movement, she In the mid-1800s, was home to many attorney from Jefferson, to bomb Parliament and were opposed because said. POTENTIAL: Historians research first meeting

FROM PAGE C1 suffrage movement calling for people three, Dana said. where we could prove in here the past year, that were also present to come to Jefferson “Somewhere out this beyond a reason- from which to find out to Cowles and Foster in Seneca Falls, Dana and see what was going there, there’s additional able doubt.” additional information,” called for universal said. on, he said. In the arti- papers, here, that were Dana is one of a Dana said. “It’s a matter suffrage, he said. “The key kind of doc- cle, Cowles called for an written [in this number of people here now of connect- During a tour of the ument that I found here abolitionist and suf- newspaper],” Dana studying the history of ing the dots and just area, Frederick is from 1846,” Dana frage convention, Dana said. “So probably in suffrage in northeast finding some additional Douglass and William said. said. someone’s attic. Ohio. work. It’s like, you find Lloyd Garrison met Cowles wrote a news- The newspaper article They probably have “This has been a a letter and you learn significant figures in the paper article in 1846, is marked as volume some old documents collaborative effort more.” LOCAL: Several leaders took part in Women’s Suffrage Movement

FROM PAGE C1 president of the first Born in Elyria, the Kau- 19th Amendment was corresponding secretary independent, forward women’s rights conven- konen family moved adopted, she was asked for the Ohio chapter thinking and informed Arnold, one of the first tion in Salem and the to Conneaut, where to run for mayor on the of the National of current events. female doctors in Mich- following year wrote Walsh finished first in reform ticket. At age 22, American Woman Robert S. Morrison igan. Both of these early a treatise on equal her high school class. she beat her opponent Suffrage Association for went on to doctors became out- pay for working urban She entered the Wom- by 75 votes, thanks to many years, beginning become a successful spoken voices in favor women. en’s Medical College of women exercising their at age 15. author, economic of Women’s Suffrage She served as the Philadelphia, Pa., where right to vote. Susan B. Anthony advisor and manufac- Rights. first dean of women at she graduated with high Walsh is buried in wrote to her, address- turing entrepreneur, • Betsey Mix Cowles Grand River Institute honors in 1915. She was Edgewood Cemetery in ing the letter to “Dear founding Molded (1810-1876) promoted in Austinburg and later the youngest student Ashtabula Township. Little Miss Root” as Fiber Glass in 1948 in higher education for became one of the first to graduate from the • Edith Root Morrison stood less Ashtabula. women and was an ab- women public school college. Morrison (1878 - 1959) than five feet tall. A plaque honoring olitionist who wrote for superintendents in In 1920, she opened was born in Kinsman In 1906 she married Edith Morrison is dis- the Anti-Slavery Bugle. Painesville. a medical practice in and graduated with a Frederick Morrison in played in the genealogy Her desire for higher • Amy Kaukonen Fairport Harbor and be- bachelor’s of science Ashtabula. Her son, section of the Ashtabu- education led her to Walsh (1891-1984) was came an outspoken op- degree from New Lyme Robert S. Morrison, said la Public Library. , where the first woman mayor ponent of alcohol and Institute in Ashtabula his mother “had a mind She is buried in Chest- she studied for two elected and one of the corrupt government. County. as sharp as a sword.” nut Grove Cemetery in years. Cowles served as first in the country. Immediately after the Morrison was the She was considered Ashtabula.