The History of Woman Suffrage Volume III Part 89

Babbitt, Chicago; Third, Mrs. Chas. E. Brown. Evanston; Fourth, Mrs. Carrie A. Potter, Rockford; Fifth, Mrs. F. A. W. Shimer, Mt.

Carroll; Sixth, Mrs. Sarah C. McIntosh, Joliet; Thirteenth, Mrs. B.

M. Prince, Bloomington; Fourteenth, Mrs. C. B. Bostwick, Mattoon; Sixteenth, Mrs. J. W. Seymour, Centralia; Nineteenth, Mrs. J. H.

Oberly, Cairo.

[371] _President_, Mrs. Fernando Jones; _Vice-Presidents_, Mrs.

Robert Collyer, Mrs. Richard Somers, Rev. C. D. Helmer; _Corresponding-Secretary_, Mrs. C. B. Waite; _Recording-Secretary_, Mrs. S. H. Pierce; _Treasurer_, Mrs. J. W. Loomis; _Executive Committee_, Mrs. Rebecca Mott, Mrs. H. W. Fuller, Mrs. Dr. C. D. R.

Levanway, Fernando Jones, Miss Thayer, Rev. J. M. Reid, Mrs. Jno.

Jones, Mrs. Wm. c.o.ker, Dr. S. C. Blake.

[372] The officers of the Illinois State a.s.sociation are now, 1885; _President_, Mrs. Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, Evanston; _Vice-President-at-large_, Mrs. M. E. Holmes, Galva; _Secretary_, Rev. Florence Kollock, Englewood; _Treasurer_, Dr. L. C. Bedell, 354 N. La Salle street, Chicago; _Executive Committee_, Hon. M. B.

Castle, Sandwich: Mrs. E. J. Loomis, 2,939 Wabash avenue, Chicago; Mrs. Clara L. Peters, Watseka; Mrs. L. R. Wardner, Anna; Mrs. Julia Mills Dunn, Moline; Mrs. Helen E. Starrett, Lake Side Building, Chicago; Capt. W. S. Harbert, Evanston; Rev. C. C. Harrah, Galva.

[373] From time to time we have had for president, Mrs. Eunice G.

Sayles, Mrs. Anna M. J. Dow, Mrs. Flora N. Candee, Mrs. Julia Mills Dunn, Mrs. Nettie H. Wheelock; for secretaries, Mrs. C. W. Heald, Mrs. Lucy Anderson, Mrs. Kate Anderson; among those who have been active members of the society from its formation are, Harriet B. G.

Lester, Ida Peyton, L. F. M'Clennan, Catharine H. Calkins, Dr. Jane H. Miller, Margaret Osborne, Harriet M. Gillette, Laoti Gates, Mary F. Barnes, Mary Wright, M. M. Hubbard, Emma Jones, Mary A. Stewart, Kate S. Holt, Mary A. Stephens, Abbie A. Gould, Mrs. M'Cord, Lydia Wheelock, Mrs. E. P. Reynolds, J. A. Tallman, Ann Eliza Reator, Dr.

S. E. Bailey, Dr. E. A. Taylor, Lucy Ainsworth, Jerome B. Wheelock, M. A. Young, Mary Knowles, M. E. Abbot, Lois Forward, Mrs. Young.

[374] Mrs. Clara Lyon Peters of Watseka, furnished the largest pet.i.tion ever sent from Illinois; W. B. Wright of Greenview, Mrs.

S. Eliza Lyon of Toulon, Mrs. Hannah J. Coffee of Orion, Mrs. Eva Edwards of Plymouth, Mrs. C. E. Larned of Champaign, Mrs. Barbara M. Prince of Bloomington, Mrs. F. B. Rowe of Freedom, Mrs. Jane Barnett, Mrs. E. H. Blacfan, and Mrs. E. T. Lippincott of Orion, Mrs. Julia Dunn of Moline, Mrs. Clara P. Bourland of Peoria, Sybilla Leek Browne of Odell, Mrs. Jacob Martin, Cairo, Mary E.

Higbee, Kirkland Grove, Mary Thompson, LaSalle, Emily Z. Hall of Savoy, Elizabeth J. Loomis of Chicago, have all done worthy work in circulating pet.i.tions, both to congress and the State legislature.

[375] Mrs. Archibald is the daughter of Betsey Hawks, of Genesee county, N. Y. I well remember the brave-hearted mother in the early days of the movement, when in 1852 I made my first stammering speech in the town-hall at Batavia. She arranged the meeting, and entertained the speakers, and was indeed "the cause" in that conservative village.--[S. B. A.

[376] When at Durand, near Davis, in 1877, Mrs. Davis and her husband drove over, and at the close of my lecture, she gave me her maiden name and said, "Do you not remember me? I sat by your side and fairly pushed you up in that teachers' convention at Rochester, in 1853, when you made that first speech you told about; and I have been most earnestly hoping and working for the enfranchis.e.m.e.nt of women ever since."--[S.B.A.

CHAPTER XLIV.

MISSOURI.

Missouri the First State to Open Colleges of Law and Medicine to Woman--Liberal Legislation--Eight Causes for Divorce--Harriet Hosmer--Wayman Crow--Works of Art--Women in the War--Adeline Couzins--Virginia L. Minor--Pet.i.tions--Woman Suffrage a.s.sociation, May 8, 1867--First Woman Suffrage Convention, Oct.

6, 1869--Able Resolutions by Francis Minor--Action Asked for in the Methodist Church--Const.i.tutional Convention--Mrs. Hazard's Report--National Suffrage a.s.sociation, 1879--Virginia L. Minor Before the Committee on Const.i.tutional Amendments--Mrs. Minor Tries to Vote--Her Case in the Supreme Court--Miss Phoebe Couzins Graduated from the Law School, 1871--Reception by Members of the Bar--Speeches--Dr. Walker--Judge Krum--Hon. Albert Todd--Ex-Governor E. O. Stanard--Ex-Senator Henderson--Judge Reber--George M. Stewart--Mrs. Minor--Miss Couzins--Mrs. Annie R.

Irvine--"Oregon Woman's Union."

It has often been a subject for speculation why it was that a slave State like Missouri should have been the first to open her medical and law schools to women, and why the suffrage movement from the beginning should there have enlisted so large a number of men[377]

and women of wealth and position, who promptly took an active interest in the inauguration of the work. A little research into history shows that there must have been some liberal statesmen, some men endowed with wisdom and a sense of justice, who influenced the early legislation in Missouri.

By the const.i.tution, imprisonment for debt is forbidden, except for fines and penalties imposed for violation of law. A homestead not exceeding $3,000 in value in cities of 40,000 inhabitants or more, and not exceeding $1,500 in smaller cities and in the country, is exempt from levy on execution. The real estate of a married woman is not liable for the debts of her husband. There are eight causes for divorce, so many doors of escape for unfortunate wives from the bondage of a joyless union.

The memory of the unjust treatment of Miss Hosmer will always be a reproach to Ma.s.sachusetts. That she enjoyed the privileges of education in Missouri denied her in Ma.s.sachusetts was due in no small measure to the generosity and public spirit of Wayman Crow.

Speaking of the gifted sculptor, a correspondent says:

Harriet Hosmer was born in 1830. She studied sculpture in the studio of Mr. Stephenson, in Boston, and also with her father. In 1830, after being denied admission to anatomical lectures in Harvard and many other colleges at the East, she went to St.

Louis, where, through the spirited determination of Wayman Crow, a most liberal benefactor of Washington University, she was admitted to the Missouri Medical College through the kindness and courtesy of Dr. Joseph N. McDowell, its founder and head. Here for a whole winter she pursued her studies under the instruction of Dr. McDowell and Dr. Louis T. Pim, the able demonstrator of anatomy of the college, who gave her the benefit of their constant and unremitting aid; also Dr. B. Gratz Moses and Dr. J.

B. Johnson were particularly kind in inviting her to be present when important cases were before them. The names of these men are gratefully mentioned, now that the doors of hundreds of colleges have opened to women. While in St. Louis Miss Hosmer had a constant companion and friend in Miss Jane Peck, a lady well known in society circles, and together they daily attended at the college; indeed, Miss Peck informed the writer, that on no occasion did Miss Hosmer go to the college without her. So quietly was this done, it was not until the month of February that the students became aware of their attending, and when informed of it the entire cla.s.s, numbering about one hundred and thirty, gave them a most cordial and hearty endors.e.m.e.nt, and from that time on until the day of graduation they were treated by the young gentlemen with marked attention. The students were not aware of their attending in the earlier part of the course, because it had been the custom for the ladies to attend in the amphitheater after the cla.s.s had left to go to the various hospitals. On one occasion while on their way to the college, a number of the students being behind them, they heard the gentlemen say to some men they met, "These ladies are under our charge, and if you offer them an insult we will shoot you down."

They did not hear the language of the men, only the reply of the students. At the close of the session the students gave a ball and not only were Miss Hosmer and Miss Peck invited, but a carriage was specially sent to take them to it.

In March, 1869, Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony again visited St.

Louis. In a letter to _The Revolution_ the former said:

We went to the Mercantile Library to see Miss Hosmer's works of art, and there read the following letter to Wayman Crow, who had been a generous friend to her through all those early days of trial and disappointment. One of the best of her productions is an admirable bust of her n.o.ble benefactor:

BOSTON, October 18, 1857.

DEAR MR. CROW: Will you allow me to convey through you to the Mercantile Library a.s.sociation "The Beatrice Cenci."

This statue is in execution of a commission I received three years ago from a friend who requested me not only to make a piece of statuary for that inst.i.tution, but to present it in my own name. I have finished the work, but cannot offer it as my own gift--but of one who, with a most liberal hand, has largely ministered to the growth of the arts and sciences in your beautiful city. For your sake, and for mine, I would have made a better statue if I could. The will was not wanting, but the power--but such as it is, I rejoice sincerely that it is destined for St. Louis, a city I love, not only because it was there I first began my studies, but because of the many generous and indulgent friends who dwell therein--of whom I number you most generous and indulgent of all, whose increasing kindness I can only repay by striving to become more and more worthy of all your friendship and confidence, and so I am ever affectionately and gratefully yours,

_Wayman Crow, Esq._ H.G. HOSMER.

The very active part that the women of Missouri had taken in the civil war, in the hospitals and sanitary department, had aroused their enthusiasm in the preservation of the Union and their sense of responsibility in national affairs. The great ma.s.s-meetings of the Loyal Women's Leagues, too, did an immense educational work in broadening their sympathies and the horizon of their sphere of action. So wholly absorbed had they been in the intense excitement of that period, that when peace came their hands and hearts, unoccupied, naturally turned to new fields of achievement. While in some States it was the temperance question, in St. Louis it was specifically woman suffrage.

We are indebted for the main facts of this chapter to Mr. Francis Minor, Mrs. Rebecca N. Hazard, Miss Couzins and Miss Arathusa Forbes, who have kindly sent us what information they had or could hastily glean from the journals of the time or the imperfect records of the a.s.sociation.

The labors of Mrs. Minor and Mrs. Couzins were exceptionally protracted and severe. The latter offered her services as nurse at the very opening of the war. The letters received from men in authority show how highly their services were appreciated. Dr.

Pope who writes the following, was the leading surgeon in St.

Louis:

ST. LOUIS, April 26, 1861.

Mrs. J. E. D. COUZINS--_Dear Madam_: Your note in which, in case of collision here, you generously offer your services in the capacity of nurse, is just received. Should so dire a calamity befall us (which G.o.d forbid), I shall, in case of need, most a.s.suredly remember your n.o.ble offer. With high regard and sincere thanks, I am,

Yours very truly, CHAS. A. POPE.

HEADQUARTERS 2D BRIG., MO. VOL., ST. LOUIS, MO., Aug. 23, 1861.

Mrs. J. E. D. COUZINS, _present--Madam_: I received your kind letter, dated Aug. 17. Accept my heartfelt thanks for your generous offer. I regard the nursing of our wounded soldiers by the tender hands of patriotic ladies as a most effectual means of easing their condition and encouraging them to new efforts in defense of our glorious cause. You will please confer with Mrs. von Wackerbarth, corner Seventh and Elm streets, in regard to the steps to be taken in this matter.

Your obedient servant, F. SIGEL, _Brig.-Gen. Com._

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI, February 18th, 1862.

The commanding officers at Cairo, Paducah, or vicinity, are hereby requested to grant any facilities consistent with the public interests that may be desired by the bearers of this note. They are Mrs. Couzins and Crawshaw, of the Ladies'

Union Aid Society, who wish to administer relief to our sick and wounded. By order of

J. T. PRICE, _A. D. C._ Maj.-Gen'l HALLECK.

ROOMS WESTERN SANITARY COMMISSION, ST. LOUIS, Oct, 6th, 1862.

MY DEAR MRS. COUZINS: The surgeon-general has notified me that he may want me to send nurses and surgeons to Columbus and Corinth. I look to you, my dear madam, as one ever ready to volunteer when you can be of real service. In case it should become necessary, may I rely on your valuable services? Such other names as you may suggest I would be pleased to have.

Very respectfully, JAS. E. YEATMAN.