Search

 
Essex County Suffrage 1910s
by Sandra Weber
Picture
Lewis Supports Suffrage and Inez Milholland in 1911
 
The Lewis Suffrage Association formed in 1911 with Mrs. Olive Hudson as president. The association soon held a public meeting featuring Miss Inez Milholland as the speaker. Milholland strongly advocated for extending suffrage to women and then made a final appeal. She urged the senator and assemblyman from the district to pass a bill that gave the voters of New York State the say as to whether women shall or shall not be voters in the state.
 
The Elizabethtown Post stated:
“The consensus of opinion is that Miss Milholland is a wonderfully well developed and exceptionally attractive young lady, possessing an entirely simple and unaffected manner, and that her delivery is easy and effective, her supply of the choicest of choice language being well nigh exhaustless. We who have known her matchless career at world-renowned Vassar, are eminently well pleased with her early platform efforts and predict for her a brilliant future.”
 
Later in the month, the “grand old town” of Lewis made history. Women, mostly members of the suffrage association, attended both the Republican and Democratic caucus and urged delegates to push for passage of the “Woman Suffrage Bill” pending before the New York Assembly. Those in attendance seemed to agree: “Let this long-talked of question come fairly and squarely to the serious consideration of our intelligent, fair-minded voter.”

A suggestion: “Let every town in Essex County follow the good example for “A Square Deal” that Lewis has so early and generously shown.” 

Essex County Suffrage Activities in 1914-1915

In 1914, Mrs. Katherine Notman began organizing suffrage campaigns in Essex County and local sentiment in favor of the suffrage movement grew rapidly. In mid-July, Mrs. Notman spoke at the Methodist Church in Elizabethtown, then other suffragists spoke from the steps of the drugstore in the center of the village. People gathered about in the street to listen to the speakers, particularly Miss Taylor, who was summering in Keene Valley.

Miss Elsie Vandergrift, a famous suffragist from Colorado, toured Essex County on behalf of Woman Suffrage in August. She was scheduled to speak in Keene, August 5; Ticonderoga, Aug. 6; Westport, Aug. 7; Elizabethtown, Aug. 8; Schroon Lake, Aug. 9; Keeseville, Aug. 10; Lake Placid, Aug. 11; Essex, Aug. 12; Ausable Forks, Aug. 13, Port Henry, Aug. 14; and Saranac Lake, Aug. 15. Quite a schedule!
Despite the efforts of  suffrage workers, the voters of NYS failed to pass woman suffrage in 1915. Essex County voted AGAINST suffrage, 2852 to 3433. Yet the suffragists of Essex County continued their campaign in 1916.
PictureWestport Inn
​Essex County Suffrage Conventions at Westport in 1916 and at Lake Placid in 1917

About 100 people attended the annual convention of Essex County suffragists on Saturday, June 24, 1916, in the music room of the Westport Inn at Westport, NY. Mrs. Notman of Keene Valley, county leader and campaign district chairman, presided and the chief speaker was Mrs. Frank J. Schuler of Buffalo, former president of the State Federation of Women's Clubs. Miss Alice Lee of Westport and Commodore A. V. Wadhams of Wadhams also addressed the convention. Mrs. W. E. A. Cummings of Ticonderoga and Miss Mary E. Eddy, Westport assisted with arrangements.

Officers elected in 1916:
  • County Leader, Mrs. Notman
  • Vice-Leaders, Mrs. Eugene De La Mater, Mrs. W. W. Richards, Mrs. A. V. Wadhams and Mrs. Joseph W. Wilson
  • Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Bonnet Gaithy of Lewis
 
“One result of the enthusiastic convention of Essex County suffragists  . . . will be that Westport will become a center of the campaign to be waged throughout the resort section of the Adirondacks this summer.”
 
The woman suffrage proposition was put before the voters of New York State again in 1917. The prospect of passage looked promising for several reasons:   
  • Woman suffrage was endorsed by all political parties: Democratic, Republican, Progressive, Prohibition, and Socialist.
  • The NYS Grange Committee resolved to work aggressively for suffrage.
  • Suffragists continued to campaign and hold street meetings in Essex County.
  • The Essex County “Committee of 100” grew to almost 200 men.
  • The Essex County Suffrage Association had over 5,000 members.
 
The major event for 1917 was the Fourth Annual Convention of the Essex County Woman Suffrage party on June 30 at the Lake Placid Club. The speakers included Mrs. Raymond Brown, Mrs. Katherine Notman, and Melvil Dewey, founder of the Club. There were also tributes to Inez Milholland, who had died in November 1916.
 
In November of 1917, the women of NYS won the right to vote. Essex County voted FOR suffrage by 15 votes: 2838 to 2823.