Journal Notes

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No Place for a Woman: The Struggle for Suffrage in the Wild West

In 1911, actress, playwright, and suffragette Vida Sutton coined the term “suffragent.” A suffragent referred to a man who was big enough to see that women should be given the right to vote. “This type of man is one of the most powerful allies of the cause of women,” Vida explained to a reporter for the New York Times. “He not only does no hinder but does all that he can to help.”

From the time the woman suffrage movement was first launched in 1846, there were many prominent suffragents who played significant roles in helping women secure the right to vote.

At the urging of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, California Senator Aaron Augustus Sargent introduced the first federal woman suffrage amendment in 1878. The amendment was reintroduced in every succeeding Congress until adopted in 1920. “I believe the time is rapidly coming when all men will conclude that it is no longer wise or judicious to exclude one half of the intelligence and more than one half of the virtue of the people from the ballot box,” Sargent remarked in April 1878.

San Francisco mayor Adolph Sutro echoed those sentiments in March 1896. “I believe equality is the basic principle of our government – hence women should assume all the responsibilities that arise out of her moral and mental endowments as a citizen,” Sutro told the San Francisco Chronicle. “Woman’s advent as a voter will be the means through which the government may be perpetuated, as embodying justice, equality, and righteousness.”

Frederick Douglass, American abolitionist, orator and lecturer, was present at the Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention of 1848 and advocated for women’s rights along with abolition and the rights of African Americans. At a meeting of the National Council of Women in 1895, he reminded an enthusiastic crowd of what he had written about the issue in 1848. “A discussion of the rights of animals would be regarded with far more complacency by many of what are called the wise and the good of our land than would be a discussion of the rights of women… We hold women to be justly entitled to all we claim for man.”

To learn more about the suffragents read

No Place for a Woman: The Struggle for Suffrage in the Wild West

I’m slow on the uptake sometimes. I’m generally so focus on my job writing and telling others about the amazing work women of the American frontier did to settle the wild west, I miss when people are insulting me. Since January, I’ve participated in two speaking events with women who genuinely believe females are just a bit better off now than they we were before the 19^th Amendment was ratified in August 1920.

Prior to being introduced as the keynote speaker at one event, the host announced how she’d hoped the gathering would have been a celebration of the election of the first woman president of the United States. The audience groaned with sadness they weren’t celebrating that fact. The host then remarked how ashamed all women who did not vote for Kamala Harris should be. “We need a woman in office,” she insisted, “and women need to vote for the female candidate that is running.”

I am sure the gathering heard my eyes rolling. It was a ridiculous statement and one that took me by surprise. The notion that I’m supposed to vote for someone solely on the basis that they were a woman and ignore whether or not she was a worthy candidate is outrageous. I’d be happy to vote for a woman, but she has to be qualified. Could a woman act cooly and decisively in the event of a national crisis? It depends on the woman. Tulsi Gabbard, yes. Meryl Streep, no. And I like Meryl Streep.

Questions from the audience after my talk centered around what I thought about women in the America struggling to get ahead like they did between 1860 and 1900. I couldn’t produce a single example of women in 2025 NOT having the opportunity to pursue whatever they please in this country. In the early West, women’s choices were limited. They could be a teacher, laundress, or prostitute. How those upper middleclass women could think for a minute that they lacked opportunity today was staggering to me. Of course, none of them could provide any concrete examples to support their argument.

The most recent book panel I participated was just as silly. This time the moderator of the talk wanted to know from the authors on the panel about women who dared to speak. The implication was that in America in 2025, women are still shrinking violets with no voice and no one to hear them when they do speak out. Again, if we were in Afghanistan, I’d agree. But not here and not now. It’s difficult to have a discussion with women who honestly believe they have been objectified by men and then watch at least one of those women walk back to their booth at the book festival I was attending called “Hotties of History.”

I have come to this conclusion. It takes zero politically correct so-called victims to screw in a light bulb, because they are perpetually in the dark.

The women I write about in No Place for a Woman: The Struggle for Suffrage in the Wild West rose above their circumstances to fight for seventy years to gain the right to vote. Those women are the true heroines and worth admiring.

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1854 – Republican Party formally organized in Ripon, Wisconsin

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No Place for a Woman: The Struggle for Suffrage in the Wild West

The 19^thAmendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote in America, was first proposed and rejected in 1878 , then reintroduced every year for the next 41 years. In 1984, Mississippi became the last state to ratify it.

Wyoming was the first U.S. state to give women the right to vote. Women there had been voting since 1869 in Wyoming Territory, which only agreed to join the Union if this right was maintained. Congress threatened to deny statehood over the issue, but Wyoming wouldn’t back down.

The original 1776 constitution of New Jersey gave “all inhabitants” who were “worth 50 pounds” the right to vote. This was vague, so in 1797, women with 50 pounds or more to their names were explicitly allowed to vote. This right only applied to single women. Married women did not count since their husbands legally controlled all the property they owned. In 1807, the law was changed once again, restricting the vote to only free white male citizens.

Not all suffragists were women, and not all anti-suffragists were men. Numerous men were committed suffragists, and some were imprisoned and force-fed just like their female comrades. Many prominent women also proclaimed disapproval for the suffrage movement, arguing that women did not want to vote and that it would mean competition with men rather than cooperation.

Susan B. Anthony (and 15 other women) voted illegally in the presidential election of 1872.

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No Place for a Woman: The Struggle for Suffrage in the Wild West.

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Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier

People in the American West have been using the mail-order system to find a spouse since Russell, Majors, and Waddell created the Pony Express. Ads were placed in the newspaper Matrimonial News and interested parties would send a letter to the ad they found most appealing. The following are a few ads from the May 1873 edition of the publication.

“Young lady of good family and education would like to correspond with some gentleman of means, one who would be willing to take her without a dollar, as she has nothing to offer but herself.”

“I am 33 years of age and as regards looks can average with most men. I am looking for a lady to make her my wife as I am heartily tired of bachelor life. I desire a lady not over 28 or 30 years of age, not ugly, well educated and musical. Nationality makes no difference, only I prefer not to have a lady of Irish birth. She must have at least $20,000.

“A lady, 23, tall, fair and good looking, without means, would like to hear from a gentleman of position wanting a wife. She is well educated, accomplished, amiable, and affectionate.”

“A bachelor of 40, good appearance and substantial means, wants a wife. She must be under 30, amiable and musical.”

To learn more about the serious business of finding a husband or wife by mail in the wide-open days of the Old West read

Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier.

Visit www.chrisenss.com now for more information and to enter to win a copy of the book along with a $100 gift certificate from

David’s Bridals

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Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier

In the Old West, men and women in hopes of finding a companion placed advertisements in publications specifically designed for lonely hearts.  Here are a few of those inspired ads from 1887.

“A few lady correspondents wanted by a bashful man of 36, of fair complexion. 5 feet 5 inches tall, weight 130 pounds. Would prefer a brunette of fair form about five feet, between 18 and 25 years of age. Object, improvement, and if suited matrimony.”

“Wanted to correspond with a young lady matrimonially inclined who would make a young man a good wife: am of good standing and good family, strictly temperate, a professional man and will make a kind husband.”

“I am fond of fun, age 18, height 5 feet 5 inches, weight 140 pounds, have auburn hair, dark eyes; I want a gentleman correspondent from 20 to 25.”

“I am fat, fair, and plan on losing no weight. I’m 48 years old, 5 feet high. Am a No. 1 lady, well fixed with no encumbrances: am in business in city, but want a partner who lives in the West. Want an energetic man that has some means, not under 40 years of age and weight not less than 180. Of good habits. A Christian gentleman preferred.”

To learn more about the serious business of finding a husband or wife by mail in the wide-open days of the Old West read

Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier

Enter now to win a copy of the book along with a $100 gift certificate from

David’s Bridals

Enter now to win a copy of

Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier

Helping eligible men and women find one another, correspond, and marry was the main goal of the publication The New Plan. Published in Kansas City, Missouri, the magazine’s purpose was to unite lonely hearts, with various monetary and social backgrounds who were unable to find a desirable life partner. Here are few of those ads written in 1911 and 1912.

#2012:  “Would like to get married, because I’m lonesome. Am considered rather good looking and of a lovable disposition. Age, 35; 5 feet 5 inches; weight 145; hazel eyes; brown hair; American; occupation, stenographer and bookkeeper. Will inherit a few thousand. Will answer all letters.”

#1672:  “Society has no charms for me; prefer a quiet life. Am an American lady, with common school education; well thought of an respected; age, 25; height 5 feet 9 inches; weight, 155; blue eyes; light hair. Have means of $3,000. Wish correspondence with good natured, honest, industrious man.”

#2061:  “Dear old men, here is your chance to get a true loving companion. I am a widow by death; age 69 years, but don’t look or feel or act over 40; always in good humor, very loving and kind; a good housekeeper, weight 104, height 5 feet 2 inches, blue eyes, brown hair, nationality German; would like to meet some congenial gentlemen near my own age, with means enough to make a good home.”

To learn more about the serious business of finding a husband or wife by mail in the wide-open days of the Old West read

Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier

Enter now to win a copy of the book along with a $100 gift certificate from

David’s Bridals

Enter now to win a copy of

Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier

Contrary to popular belief, men who advertised for a wife in the publication Matrimonial News in 1859 were not looking for someone who could cook or clean they were looking for someone who was musically inclined. They missed their homes in the east and were longing for refinement. Women who played a musical instrument were most desirable.

I have a good friend who married a woman he met by answering an ad in newspaper. Her housekeeping technique could only be described as, “It appears as though there was a struggle.” She played a mean cello, however. They’ve been married for more than twenty years.

I hope these three sisters who advertised in Matrimonial News in 1892 were lucky enough to find the man of their dreams.

“We are three jolly and lively girls, all of us of the brunette order, having dark brown hair and dark eyes, we are all the same age and are quite good friends, 29 years old, of good form; would like to marry three friends or three brothers – we don’t want to be too far apart: want correspondence with gentlemen fond of riding horses and attending the theater.”

To learn more about the serious business of finding a husband or wife by mail in the wide-open days of the Old West read

Object Matrimony:

The Risky Business of Mail-Order Matchmaking on the Western Frontier

Enter now to win a copy of the book along with a $100 gift certificate from David’s Bridals