Women -- Suffrage -- History; Women -- Suffrage -- United States -- History; Women's rights -- History; Women's rights -- United States -- History
It is not, however, for Ohio men to interfere in this matter.
Ohio women have shown themselves abundantly able to take care of
themselves and the General too.
LETTERS FROM FRIENDS IN OHIO.
Mrs. R. A. S. Janney, in reply to our request for a chapter of her
recollections, said:
The agitation of "Woman's Rights" began in Ohio in 1843 and '44,
after Abby Kelly lectured through the State on Anti-slavery.
The status of the public mind at that time is best illustrated by
the fact that Catharine Beecher, in 1846, gave an address in
Columbus on education, by sitting on the platform and getting her
brother Edward to read it for her.
In 1849, Lucy Stone and Antoinette L. Brown, then students at
Oberlin College, lectured at different places in the State on
"Woman's Rights."
In 1850 a Convention was held at Salem; Mariana Johnson presented
a memorial, which was numerously signed and sent to the
Constitutional Convention. The same week Mrs. F. D. Gage called a
meeting in Masonic Hall, McConnellsville, and drew up a memorial,
which was also largely signed, and presented to the
Constitutional Convention. Memorials were sent from other parts
of the State, and other county conventions held.
The signatures to the petition for "Equal Rights," numbered
7,901, and for the Right of Suffrage, 2,106.
The discussions in the Constitutional Convention were voted to be
dropped from the records, because they were so low and obscene.
Dr. Townsend, of Lorain, and William Hawkins, of McConnellsville,
were our friends in the Convention.
MRS. CORNER'S LETTER.
CLEVELAND, O., _Nov. 14, 1876_.
DEAR MRS. BLOOMER:--Your postal recalls to mind an event which
occurred before the women of Ohio had in any sense broken the
cords which bound them. A wife was not then entitled to her own
earnings, and if a husband were a drunkard, or a gambler, no
portion of his wages could she take, without his consent, for the
maintenance of herself and family.
Some small gain has been attained in the letter of the law, and
much in public opinion. Less stigma rests upon one who chooses an
avocation suited to her own taste and ability. We have struggled
for little; but it is well for us to remember that the world was
not made in a day.
The meeting to which you allude was held in Chesterfield, Morgan
County, Ohio. I went in company with Mrs. Gage, and remember well
what a spirited meeting it was. When it was found that the church
could not be had, the ladies of the place secured a barn, made it
nice and clean, had a platform built at one end of the large
floor for the speakers and invited guests, and seats arranged in
every available place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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