The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-15

Arnold. The negspr aeO ID ma eazins
Temperance reforms lose one OF their most
able and faithful WORKERS. she was born
Toynshend, Win6hsm Co., VT. Jan. 25, ISiO
Her earliest public work was in the interest
of education, becoming teacher OF public
and private schools. and founding a young
ladies' seminary AZ Herkimer n. Y. From
1S43 70 1858. inclusive. she edited the Wind
ham County Democrat published by her
husband, George W. NIchols,at BratElsboro
VT, at a msde il leader OF the New England
press IN Behalf of education. equality OF
wen en before the law and othei Reforms 81
The cay. Early IN IS47 she wrote series Of
editorials presentiDg tbe injustice and hard
shiIs resulting from the property disabilities
OF n arried women. Public continent was
so stirred that the Legislature thatsame year
passed Dill securing to the vile the r3al es-
tate owrtd by her NJ marriage or acquired
by gift or inheritance afterward. with the IN
come thereof, and enabling her to dispose OF
II by will the same as II sole. nls,
says Mrs Nichols. in her "reminiscences 10
the woman Suffrage History" vas the
first breath OF legal existence to Vermont
wives
Through her earnest endeavors several
other statutes we're enected extending the
rights OF wives ard of widowg. In 1852 she
wrote and circulated q petition asking the
Legislature TO enable women 70 vote ar dis
trict school meetings. BY invitation she adj
ing favorable impression that was regarded
as q great triumph for w0EnaH's cause, though
the petition failed.
As agent OF the Woman's State Temper
snce Society Mrs. Nichols canvassed Wiscon-
SIN iii the fall of 1858, speaking in forty three
towns to audiences estimated at 10000 in
the sggregate. and in the face of the preju-
dices against women speaking in public. A
law enacted st the next session of the Legis-
lature securing to the wives of drunkards
the earnings CT their husbands and the Gus
toty and earnings OF their minor children
was claimed IS a result OF the agitation of
the question by a woman from the stand.
point Of the homo.
In the winter of 1854 Mrs. Nichols went
to Kansas with her two sons TO new home.
The following year she moved there.
constitutional convention was held at To-
pesa that year, and Governor Robinson,
who, with six others, voted TO exclude ths
word male from the qualification for cleo
tor, invited Mrs. Nichols to attend and TO
plead for vomans equality, bat she wBs pre-
vented by her husbands fatal illness. Wild
owed and broken in health she returned
TO Vermont III January, 1856. Prevented by
the border rCffiian warfare from returning.
and appealed to by the Kansas National Aid
Society, she presented the claims aud needs
Of Bleeding Kansas" in a series of lectures
during the fail and winter months in the
States OF Vermont, New Hampshire. Mssss-
chusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania. and
New York, and occasionally speaking on the
legal and political disabilities Of women,
Returning TO Kansas in 1857, and taking
residence at Wyandotte, Mrs. Nichols re-
sumed the irreprs ssible conflict for the rights
oil her sex, attending and speaking before the
constitutional convention held in 1889. aud
laboriDg from the adjournment until the
constitution was submitted TO the popular
vote Thro9gh her efforts equal rights IN ali
matters pertaining to the organization add
conduct of the public schools, equal rights
and privileges in al institutions of learning
fcstered by the State, and recognition OF the
mothers equal right with the father to the
control and custody of their mutual of
spring, were made a part OF the fundamental
law If Kansas.
The autumn and winter Of 186O-G1 she
spent In visiting and ltctus a Wise m
cir, and in holding meetings ana circulating
voman's rights petitions IN Ohio.
From December, 1868, to March, 1866,
SIZE wss in Wsshir gton writing in tbs Mili-
tsry or Revenue Departments, or occupying
the position OF matron in the Home for Col
tred Orph ans.
In 1867 she gave several weeks to the can
vass for woman suffrage amendment TO
the constitution of Kansas, working with
Lucy Stone, Mrs. Stanton, Miss Anthony
and others.
Emigrating to California in 1871, she re-
manned there until her death, Jan. IL, 1855.
Although nearly seventy-fve years of age,
she retained her mental vigor to the last,
and was keenly interested II everything per.
tanning to the advancement of womanhood.
OF her last years the Ukiah City (Csl.)
Press says: Her life work was resumed
here through articles in the Rural Press, but
i'll health and family cares prevented her
from taking an active part in psblic. For
five years past she has been practically con-
fined to the house and often TO bed. but new
er for moment lost tight of her controlling
motive in life-the good OF her fellow beings.
Loving her fellow beings, strangers in good
part to her, one can immagine her tenderness
as q mother and personal friend. Selfsacri-
icing, earnest. sympathiszing, believing
the best preparation for the future life was
duty fnlly discharged in the present, she en-
deared to her all with whom she met, aud
gained the veDeration and esteem of those
who differed with her IN views. Her end
was peaceful and painless, fully conscious
that il was coming, even to the hour almost.
A life we'll spent was her crown of glory"
The Women Who Write.
Could Miss Hannah Adams marerislizs
and resume her literary labors she would
not find herself as one set apart from the rest
of womankind. The woman who has writ
fop a honk IL M ior 0ey q curiositv PAGEANT