# Women of the West/Arizona

A Few of the Eminent WOMEN OF ARIZONA
1. C. Louise Boehringer, educational journalist; 2. Mattie L. Williams, Arizona State President, United Daughters of Confederacy; 3. Marie Bartlett Heard, active club and civic worker; 4. Margaret Wheeler Ross, writer; 5. Edith O. Kitt, secretary of Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society.
Women of Early Arizona
By Nellie von Gerichten Smith (Composer of “Montezuma”)
When Coyle asked for horned toads to be placed beneath a Seattle cornerstone a few weeks ago, he received a message from Arizona to this effect: “A toad raised in Arizona climate will have enough energy to carry him through a thirty-one year fast and come out frisky.” The Arizona horned toad was chosen in preference to those from other states. “Women of the West”—where were there more energetic women than the women of Arizona?
Coming here when this part of the United States was overrun by Apache Indians, who resented the white man's invasion, these women soon learned to handle a rifle. Sacrifices of all kinds were made; cooking utensils were crude; wood had to be gathered up; water for cooking and washing had to be carried often some distance, with, now and then, a stray shot from an Indian. Strange as it may seem, you talk to any pioneer out here and she will laughingly make light of their days of toil and hardships. The scenery, the air, the bigness and broadness of this wild region gave those pioneer men and women a touch of the same, no inclination for any smallness of spirit. Doctors were miles and miles away; these frontier women would act as nurses with their home remedies, generous and unselfish in every way.
In Prescott now, there are a few log cabins built from the trees which then grew in the present business street. At Miller Valley, a home is still standing where Mr. Miller then thought would be built the City of Prescott. Fort Whipple, now the Government Hospital for our late war veterans, was then the fort holding government soldiers to battle and protect these early settlers in all parts of Arizona. Imagine the vim, courage and energy of these women when their men would form troops for these nearby skirmishes. Left alone, seeing an Apache Indian sneaking up to steal a horse tethered near the house, is it any wonder we praise the bravery of the woman who thinks quickly enough to grab her rifle and either shoots—or scares him away? California has many noble pioneer women, but in Arizona, soil and air dry, climate warmer, water at long distance, the struggle for existence required independence, firmness, courage and energy.
​ Too much cannot be said for the real pioneer women of the West. Arizona is the only state in the Union that has a home built and maintained for its pioneers, both men and women. All credit to the publishers who are editing the book dedicated to the “Women of the West”!
Arizona Women
By C. Louise Boehringer (Editorial Writer)
Arizona women have played and are still playing a part on the stage of the great American frontier. Women in the very prime of social, professional and business life of Today's Arizona, recall exciting childhood days when their pioneer mothers helped build and defend the first homes in mining camps, on the ranges and in the fertile valleys. A number of these brave mothers and grandmothers now assemble annually for pioneers' reunions.
Their pioneer daughters have been joined by many others who have come from every part of the country, and who have lingered to play a part in the development of this scenic state—the last to add her star to the galaxy that represents the Union. With the admission to statehood on St. Valentine's Day in 1912, a larger stage opened to Arizona women. Executive educational offices opened for them, and they found a work to do in legislative halls. To date, the State Senate has enrolled one woman and the Assembly roll presents ten names of women. Two women have also filled state offices with credit to the womanhood of the state. Able teachers, lawyers, physicians and business women are all a part of Arizona's present development.
Now that the material frontier has practically disappeared, new frontiers loom above the horizon—social and spiritual frontiers—affording a stage for larger recognition for “human engineers,” for finer artisans and for those with creative ability in literature, in art and in music.
With the passing of Arizona's sixteenth birthday comes a new challenge to her women—one rich in spiritual values—leading from adolescent struggle into a rich flowering of opportunity for Arizona's womanhood.
The Making of the Arizona Flag
By Mattie L. Williams (President, Arizona State Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy)
Why didn't some woman like Betsy Ross arise to the occasion and design our Arizona Flag? Or why didn't the Legislature at some time offer a design for our Arizona Flag?
The Arizona Rifle Team to the National Matches met at Camp Perry in 1910. Adjutant General Chas. W. Harris felt very keenly the fact that Arizona was without an emblem. It was no easy matter to design a flag that would be both attractive and have historical value. Adjutant General Harris met the occasion and designed the flag that is known today as our Arizona State Flag.
In the making of the flag, he first considered the historical value of the flag. Then, he took into consideration the colors—Arizona State colors were blue and gold and so far as known, these colors had no history. The old Spanish colors were red and gold. The colors had a historical value, being the colors carried by the Coronado Column, which was the first expedition into the territory at present covered by the continental limits of the United States.
It was in the mind of Adjutant General Harris that Arizona had stood out distinctive in its copper industry—probably will always be the largest copper producing state in the Union—so he would have the yellow to represent the copper industry.
In our United States Flag, every star represents a certain state. As Arizona was the last state to be admitted in the continental limits of the United States, the last star in the United States Flag represents Arizona, and the fact that Arizona was a western state. Adjutant General Harris well considered to use the setting sun, and—from the original colors, he used thirteen rays, showing Arizona's relation to the Mother Flag.
In Adjutant General Harris' own words, he says: “The Flag represents the following—the setting sun, consisting of thirteen rays, alternate red and yellow, or red and gold, in the upper half of the flag, the lower half being plain blue field, superimposed upon the center of the flag. In the face of the setting sun is the copper colored star of Arizona. The flag in this way carries the state colors, the old Spanish colors and the distinctive copper colors of Arizona.”
​This flag has been adopted by the State of Arizona and, when first designed, had a bar entirely across the copper star indicating our Indian wars. Because this was thought by the legislature to detract from the symmetry or design of the flag, the bar was taken off, but it was otherwise left as originally designed. So, we of the Baby State, are indebted to Adjutant General Charles W. Harris for this beautiful, distinctive flag.
Woman's Supreme Achievement
By Rev. Nona L. Brooks (Denver, Colo.)
As the years pass I appreciate more and more the powerful influence women may have in the world affairs as well as in closer experiences. More and more do I see the power of motherhood to make the world what it should be. Therefore, the word I send in response to the request made of me, will be to the mothers of today. The welfare of the world depends upon mothers. Motherhood is the most important and intriguing work in which a woman can engage. It is also a business that requires the best in one: time, knowledge, love, wisdom, wide vision, consecration. Women potentially possess all of these qualities and are capable of developing them to high proficiency.
The withdrawal from outer demands in order to have time to give one's best to this most important activity, motherhood, pays full dividends. Only a few years are required, fifteen or twenty perhaps; and they should be the very richest period of a woman's life. Afterwards there may come much that is attractive and desirable in outside demands, but nothing so satisfying as the work done quietly at home in the training of children to become grown-ups of fine calibre, who take their place in the city and country as men and women of power.
There are many tragedies in the business and politics of our day which will not be righted until there come human beings of integrity, of altruistic outlook, of keen perception and consecration. The home is the place of training, of preparation for world service. The mother is the all-powerful influence in the child's life. The child's first eight or ten years are the most important. At this time his character is being formed, his tastes developed, his future power for good or ill determined.
As you mothers know, your influence begins before the child's birth. You are the molders of your child. From your example as well as from your work with him, he will come to ​understand that he is a member of the great human family; that he has his part to play, his service to render; that as he plays his part well, he is fulfilling the purpose of his existence. It is during these early years that the spiritual quality of the child is developed; he is thus led to richnesss of the inner life—in which alone is true satisfaction.
Although I have been in public life for thirty-eight years and realize the influence for good one may exercise when dealing with large bodies of people, yet my conviction steadily deepens that woman's highest service, her greatest influence for the future, is in the home. When I meet a woman who is a good wife and mother, something within me bows in reverence to her, for there is no greater work, no higher position, than to be a real homemaker; nothing that counts so effectively for the welfare of the future.
The world needs your children, Mothers—children trained by you to stand, in the midst of the world's turmoil, for principle and right; who among the self-seeking mass have a larger vision—the good of the whole. Through your children, the outcome of your consecration, love and wisdom, the tragedies of business and politics, the wrongs of the social life, may be overcome and the world become a fair and harmonious dwelling place for the children of men.
In motherhood and home-making lies woman's most effective world service, her most powerful influence for good, her richest, most satisfying life—her supreme achievement.
ARIZONA
BENSON, Minnie C., (Miss), R. N., born in Plymouth Hill, Massachusetts, May 22, 1888; former resident of Illinois, living in Arizona since 1922. Public Health Nurse; Director of Pima County Health Center. Chairman of Public Health Committee, Arizona State Nurse Ass'n.; member of National and State (Arizona) Nurses' Ass'n., American Red Cross Reserve Nurses' Corps. Member of Alumnae Ass'n. of The Chicago Hospital Training School. Active in Public Health work. Home: 421 N. Main St., Tucson, Arizona.
BENTLEY, Evalyn A. (Miss), born May 25, 1878, in Friend, Nebraska, daughter of Randall S. and Sarah E. Laycock Bentley, a former resident of Kansas, living in Arizona since 1914. Home Demonstration Agent. Active in all civic affairs. Holds a Bachelor's degree in Home Economics, Kansas State Agricultural College. Chairman, Music Committee, Rural Districts, Saturday Morning Musical Club. Member: Collegiate Club, Tucson Civic Club, W. C. T. U., Saturday Morning Musical Club. Home: 1220 N. Euclid Ave., Tucson, Arizona.
BOEHRINGER, C. Louise, (Miss), a native of Illinois, daughter of J. F. and Louise Boehringer, a resident of Arizona for 15 years. Educational Journalist. Studied and secured degrees from Columbia University and California State University at Berkeley. Has held several positions as instructor in Springfield, Ill., University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. and as County Superintendent of Schools. Yuma, Arizona. First woman to hold such an elective office in Arizona. For two sessions Member of State Legislature and Chairman of Committee on Education. Former National Vice-President (for Arizona) of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Vice-president for Arizona National League of American Pen Women. For twelve ​years, editor of The Arizona Teacher. Editor of the Arizona Parent-Teacher Bulletin. Free Lance Writer. State Chairman, Better Homes in America. Member: National League of American Pen Women, American Ass'n of University Women, National and State Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Arizona Federation of Women's Clubs, N. E. A. Present address: P. O. Box, 1006, Phoenix, Ariz. Home: Yuma, Arizona.
BOLLINGER, Helen Mar (Mrs.), born in Greenfield, Iowa, October 16, 1885, formerly located in Kansas City, Missouri, living for the last 14 years in Arizona. Married to E. Elmo Bollinger. Children: E. Elmo Bollinger, Jr. A. B., B. S. and A. M. degrees from the University of Missouri; Phi Beta Kappa (Alpha Chapter of Missouri); State president of the Arizona Congress of Parents and Teachers, 1925-28. Recording Secretary of National Congress P. T. A. Home: Kingman, Arizona.
BROWN, Estelle Aubrey (Mrs.), born in New York State, daughter of Nelson and Alta Hastings Aubrey, a former resident of Washington, D. C., living in Arizona for twelve years. Married to Lt. Col. H. T. Brown. Writer. Has published short stories and occasionally articles. Author of one-act plays for amateurs. Contributor to the following magazines: Sunset, Travel, Woman Citizen, People's Home Journal, Ladies' Home Journal, Today's Housewife, Psychology, Woman's Magazine; also London and Home, and Plain Talk, London, England. Series of stories in Century during 1927-28. Member: Woman's Club of Prescott, D. A. R., League of American Pen Women (past vice-president for Arizona). Home: Whipple Barracks, Prescott, Arizona.
BUSH, Nellie T., (Mrs.), born in Humansville, Missouri, November 29, 1889, daughter of William A. and Mary A. Trent, a resident of Arizona for thirty-one years. Married to Joseph Everett Bush. Children: Wesley A. Lawyer, Legislator, U. S. Commissioner, River Pilot. Legislative Chairman, State P.T.A.; member of State Legislative Commission, Federation of Women's Clubs; member of Arizona State Legislature for six years; as U. S. Commissioner hears Federal cases in the district in which she lives, also takes Homestead filings and proofs, etc. At present member of the Legislative Code Committee, helping on the Recodification of Arizona State Laws. Member: Arizona and California Bar Associations, Business and Professional Women's Club of America, Women's Athletic Club of Parker, Arizona. Home: Box 27, Parker, Arizona.
CARTRIGHT, Beulah E. (Mrs. J. M.), a native of Missouri, a resident of Arizona for 33 years. Married to Jackson Manford Cartwright. Children: Audra May, Jackson Manford, Jr. Social Service and Club Worker. Interested in all civic affairs. Member: Cartwright Club (one of the largest General Federated Clubs in the State). Home: R. F. D. 3, Phoenix, Arizona.
CORY, Kate T., (Miss), born in Waukegan, Illinois, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Y. Cory, former resident of New York City, living for 22 years in Arizona. Artist. Has painted western landscapes and Hopi Indians, among whom she has lived for many years; a collection of her Indian studies is in the Smithsonian Museum. Home: Prescott, Arizona.
DICKERMAN, Allie (Mrs.), born February 9, 1880 in Lampasas, Texas, a resident of Arizona for 32 years. Married to E. M. Dickerman. Entered the postal service in 1899, remained until 1904, purchased and managed a Confectionery and Ice Cream Plant in 1917 and sold out in 1921. Was appointed postmaster in July, 1922; at one time President of Arizona Postmasters' Ass'n. Active in all civic and women's affairs. Member: Women's Club, Old Glory Club, National Fed. of Business and Professional Women's Clubs and several fraternal organizations. Home: 715 E. 3rd St., Tucson, Arizona.
ELDER, Martha Marie, (Mrs.), born in San Bernardino, California, March 17, 1877. Formerly located in Oakland, California, a resident of Arizona for 22 years. Married to the late William Gilbert Elder. Children: William G. Jr., Alexander, Allan C., James A., Mrs. Henry A. Brush. Executive secretary of Social Service Center; secretary-treasurer of Phoenix Board of Public Charities; former executive secretary of Community Chest and ex-secretary of Service Section American Red Cross. Member: Phoenix Woman's Club, Phoenix Delphian Chapter, American Legion Auxiliary. Address: 300 East Adams St., Phoenix, Ariz.
FICKETT, Mary, (Miss), born in Galveston, Texas, November 24, 1897, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Fickett, Sr. Missionary. Was in China as a member of China Inland Mission ​in church work in Tucson, Arizona, for two years; at present time is active Chairman of Board of Directors of Tucson Baptist Mexican Christian Center; Baptist College Counsellor, University of Arizona, Tucson. Home: 62 Franklin Street, Tucson, Arizona.
HALL, Sharlot Mabridth, (Miss), a native of Prosser Creek, Kansas, resident of Arizona for 46 years. Literary work. Explorer of Southwest in historical research work; a student of Indian life and prehistoric remains. Manager of a cattle and fruit ranch; has had experience in mines and mining. State Historian of Arizona, 1909-12; former associate editor, “Out West Magazine”; Electoral delegate to Washington, 1925. Author of poems: “Cactus and Pine,” “Poems of a Ranchwoman,” “A Woman of the Old Frontier.” Member: Women's Clubs of Arizona. Home: Old Governor's House, Prescott, Arizona.
HEARD, Maie Bartlett, (Mrs. Dwight B.), born in Chicago, Illinois, June 11, 1868, for 30 years a resident of Arizona. Married to Dwight Bancroft Heard. Children: Bartlett Bradford. Very active in Social Service Center, Red Cross, Little Theatre, Phoenix Art Ass'n, Arizona Museum, Anti-Tuberculosis Ass'n, Y. W. C. A. Member: Woman's Club, Musician's Club, Phoenix Country Club, etc. Home: 2211 North Central Ave., Phoenix, Ariz.
IVY, Vernettie O., (Mrs. J. P.), a native of Missouri, resident of Arizona for 32 years. Married to Hon. James Pleasant Ivy. Children: Elizabeth Ivy McCreight. For six years a member of the House of Representatives; president, Central Arizona District Fed. of Women's Clubs; chairman of State Child Welfare Board; member of High School Board; delegate to the National Democratic Convention (New York City, 1924); very active and prominent in fraternal circles; past matron O. E. S. Member: Phoenix Woman's Club, Fowler Woman's Club. Home: R. F. D. 3, Phoenix, Ariz.
KITT, Edith O. (Mrs.), born in Florence, Arizona, December 15, 1878, daughter of Emerson Oliver and Carrie Crocker Ames Stratton, a life-long resident of the state. Married to George Farwell Kitt. Children: Edith Kitt Hutchison, George Roskruge Kitt. Secretary of Arizona Pioneers Historical Society. Has held important offices in various women's organizations. Member: Tucson Woman's Club (former president), Southern Arizona District Federation Women's Clubs (former president), Arizona State Federation Women's Clubs (present president), Tucson Fine Arts Association, one of organizers (serving on Board of Directors), University of Arizona Alumni Club, Tucson Collegiate Club, Pi Beta Phi Sorority, American Legion Auxiliary. Home: 305 East Third St., Tucson, Arizona.
McCREIGHT, Elizabeth Ivy, (Mrs.), born in Phoenix, Arizona, May 26, 1901, daughter of Hon. J. P. and Hon. Vernettie O. Ivy, a life-long resident of the state. Married to the late Robert Littleton McCreight. Children: Robert Ivy (graduate student. University of Southern California). Teacher and student. Graduate of Tempe Teachers' College; former president of Teachers College Y. W. C. A. Member: Zetitic Society. Home: Route No. 3, Phoenix, Arizona.
POST, Mary Elizabeth, (Miss), born June 17, 1841, in Elizabethtown, New York, daughter of Asa H. and Calneh R. Ames Post, a resident of Arizona for 56 years. Educator. Taught Latin, French and Higher Mathematics in several Iowa schools; taught in the Yuma public schools for 36 years; pension through Act of First State Legislature; at present gives private lessons, specializes in English to foreigners; has taught people of every race. Received Masters Degree, University of Arizona, many years ago. Helped to organize the first club in Yuma. Member: Delta Club. Home: 550 Second Ave., Yuma, Ariz.
ROCKWOOD, Edith Daggett (Mrs.), born in Klamath Falls, Oregon, 1884, daughter of M. H. and Rose Daggett (descendants of the colonial Putnam family). Married to G. H. Rockwood. Children: George Daggett, Hawley McGee. Writer. Has contributed to Arizona newspapers and is a magazine writer. Author of a collection of poems. Organizer, Yuma, Arizona, Business and Professional Women's Club.. Member: Woman's Athletic Club of Alameda County, Oakland, Calif., National League of American Penwomen. Organizer of Pioneer's Club of Arizona F. W. C. Present Address: 2236 Haste St., Berkeley, Calif. Home: Yuma, Arizona.
ROSS, Margaret Wheeler, (Mrs. H. D.), born in Vicksburg, Miss., daughter of Wm. S. and Margaret Price Wheeler. Resident of Arizona for 38 years. Married to Supreme Court Justice, Hon. Henry D. Ross. Children: Henry D. Jr., John Wheeler. Writer; interested ​in music, literature and civics. Former president Arizona Fed. Women's Clubs; first president and now honorary president State Fed. of Music Clubs; member of the Board of Education, Tempe State Teachers College; member of Carnegie Library Board, also member of the Committee of One Hundred and City Planning Commission. Regular contributor to The Etude, The Musical Observer, The Musical Courier. Author: “A Musical Message for Mothers.” Verses published in several magazines. Member: Woman's Club, Musician Club, College Club, Bookfellow, Author's League of America. Home: 1219 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Ariz.
SMITH, Nellie von Gerichten, (Mrs.), a native of Sierra County, California, a resident of Arizona for 35 years. Married to Barnaby Hathaway Smith. Pianist and composer. Published the following piano solos: “Calizona,” “Song of the Pines,” “Montezuma,” “A Storm in the Grand Canyon,” also the song, “Back to the West.” Member: Monday Club. Home: 519 W. Gurley Street, Prescott, Arizona.
SPARKES, Grace M., (Miss), a native of Lead, South Dakota; daughter of Thomas J. and Marian Martin Sparkes. Resident of Arizona since 1907. Executive Secretary, Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce. Editor and co-owner of “Yavapai Magazine”; president, Arizona State Chamber of Commerce Secretaries Organization; secretary and director of publicity campaign, Arizona-Blythe Bridge and Highway Ass'n.; secretary, Prescott Frontier Days. Active as newspaper correspondent. Member: National Association Commercial Organization Secretaries, Hassayampa Country Club, Monday Club, Business and Professional Women's Club, Arizona State Commercial Secretaries Organization. Home: 201 South Pleasant St., P. O. Box 618, Prescott, Arizona.
THOMAS, Vera Blanche, (Mrs.), born in Omaha, Nebraska, March 19, 1903, a former resident of Chicago, Illinois, living in Arizona for the last 7 years. Married to John Henry Thomas. Children: Mary Catherine. Graduate Registered Nurse. Confined exclusively to Professional Nursing; president District No. 2, Arizona State Nurses Ass'n., 1925-26; president, Arizona State Nurses' Ass'n., 1927-28. Member: D. A. R., Arizona State Nurses' Ass'n. Home: 1601 North Stone Ave., (P. O. Box 1161), Tucson, Arizona.
WESTOVER, J. H. (Mrs.), born in Williamstown, Kentucky, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Musselman, a former resident of Kentucky, living in Arizona for twenty years. Married to J. H. Westover. Children: William H., Harry C. Representative of County in Legislature of 1919-21, and in a special session when women of Arizona were given the ballot. Member: Delta Club, Business and Professional Women's Club. Home: 837 Orange Avenue, Yuma, Arizona.
WICART, Norma Lawson, (Mrs.), a native of Cleveland, Ohio, former resident of Florida and Mississippi, living in Arizona for 8 years. Children: Ward L., Carlton B. Writer of Western Verse. Past president, Tucson Woman's Club. Member of Executive Board, Tucson Community Chest; very active in Social Service work; chairman. Advisory Board of Campers Y. W. C. A. of State University. Member: Woman's Club, Saturday Morning Music Club, Rhymers Club, Scribblers Club, P. E. O. Sisterhood. Home: 645 E. Third Street, Tucson, Ariz.
WILLIAMS, Mattie L., (Mrs.), a native of Sweet Springs, Missouri, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Greene, a resident of Arizona for 29 years. Married to the late J. A. Banks (died August 28, 1910). Children: Robert W. Banks, A. Erie Banks, Ethel L. Banks, Mrs. M. D. Savoy, Mrs. A. Sims. State president, Arizona Division United Daughters of Confederacy. President, Phoenix Branch, Arizona Children's Home Ass'n.; member of Arizona State Children's Home Ass'n. at Tucson; former president of Woman's Board, Florence Crittenton Home; in 1922, was president of local Robert E. Lee Chapter, U. D. C.; former treasurer of Maricopa County Democratic Central Committee. Member; Woman's Club of Phoenix, Rebekah Lodge, O. E. S., Security Benefit Ass'n., W. C. T. U. Home: 341 N. 6th Ave., Phoenix, Ariz.