The Women of Edgerton, Kansas
In 1890, the small and quiet town of Edgerton became the backdrop for an unusual political event. Setting the stage three years earlier, the state of Kansas made it legal for women to vote and hold offices at the municipal level.
In 1889, the election for mayor was very close. The two candidates were Nathan Ross, the local schoolteacher, and H.G. Brown, a grain and lumber dealer. On Election Day, Mr. Ross was behind by three votes. He rounded up the mothers of eight of his students and brought them in to vote. Mr. Brown responded quickly but did not get any women to the polls before they closed. Mr. Ross won by 5 votes. Mr. Brown planned revenge upon the women who had caused his defeat.
In 1890, a few days before the election, H.G. Brown set in motion his plans for revenge against the women of Edgerton. He formed a ticket nominating several women and the town loafer, Mr. Strong. If he were elected as the only man on the “woman ticket”, the women would be humiliated.
However, the political intrigue took a turn. Another ticket was formed with the same women that Mr. Brown nominated but instead of Mr. Strong as the final candidate, Mrs. H.G. Brown was included. On Election Day, out of 65 voters only 14 were women. Despite this, the women won all of the offices. Mr. Brown certainly lost his bid for revenge. The new mayor was Mrs. W.H. Kelly, a 23-year-old mother. The police, judge as well as the council members were women.
This was not the end of the story, however. Another twist to this event occurred a month later. All of the women resigned from their positions after becoming offended by restrictions placed on proposed reforms. Although only serving a month, these women created an interesting moment in history.
--ALBUM vol. 15, no. 4 (fall 2002)