The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-04
Was Born in England


! England to this country, an unknown
pioneer girl of four years and through
| her own efforts eventually became the
| president Of the National Women 5
! Suffrage Association. In hcr girlhood
| she lived with her parents immigrant
| family i'm Il Michigan wilderness forty
miles from postoitice and hundred
miles from a railroad, starting her
career as a school teacher who walked
eight miles a day ana received four
dollars a week Her home was u puv-
! crty stricken log cabin built by her
father who was compelled to leave his
wife and children at the mercy of
Indians and wild animals while he
earned a living for them.
From her Michigan home, Dr. Shaw
went to live with one of her married
sisters in northern town. After
studying at Albion College from 1872
to 1875, she was graduated from the
Boston School of Theology in 1875 pay
ing her way through school ana college
by preaching ana lccturing. she sui-
fered extreme poverty during this pc
riod living in an attic in Boston. ON
account of her sseN she was refused
ordination by the New England Con
ference and by the General Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but
in the same year had the honor Of be
ing the first woman ordained by the
Methodist Protestant Church I'm her
struggles to become a minister and
fought against ridiculc, dissensiuu and
lack Of the barcst necessities
Seven Years Pastor
After seven years service as Preacher
to a small flock at East Dennis, Mass,
Dr Shaw resigned from the pulpit to
take up the fight for temperance, for
suffrage and for social purity. Her
association through her preaching,
with such prominent women as Mary
y. Livcrmore and Julia Ward Howe
enlarged her view of life and aroused
enthusiasm for the cause of suffrage
and liberty.
Dr. Shaw first became a lecturer
for the Massachusetts Women's Suf-
fragc Association and from 1856 to
1892 was national superintendent of
franchise. ON the resignation of DR..
Shaw's most intimate friend Miss Su-
san Il. Anthony i'm 1900, the presidency
of the National Women's Suffrage As
socation rested between DR. Shaw and
Mrs. Carrie Il. Chapman, whom Miss
Anthony finally chose as the more
eXpcrienced.' while Dr Shaw was made
Vice-presideut-at-l large. However, ln
1904 Mrs. Chapman was compelled to
resign on account Of ill-health, and Dr.
shaw succeeded her as president of
the National Association from 1904 to
1915.
Her administration was marked with !
by unprecedented progress. The mum
Der of suffrage workers increased from !
1900 to 100000; one campaign in ten |
years was replaced by ten in one
year; the expenditures of the associa
ton increased from $4,000 and $50, 600 |
the number of states with |
full suffrage grew from four to twelve |
while the whole suffrage movement |
changed from an academic stage to
l vital political force arousing the at
tention Of the entire nation.
1912 Her Banner Year
The year 1912 was the banner year
for Dr. Shaw and the cause, when
Arizona, Kansas and Oregon received
'ul suffrage. During this year Dr.
Shaw spoke in the principal cities in
Zach of these states making four or
i've speeches a day and travelling in
my sort Of a conveyance from freight
;ars to automobiles.
Many times during her earlier ca
'eer. DR.. Shaw gave proof of her cour-
lgeous and determined nature. On
me occasion the free religious group
# which she was pastor, wished to
give a dance on the night of the an
lual church fair and the intrepid lit
le preacher was obliged to threaten the
Whole congregation with arrest to
maintain her authority. AS a country
chool teacher, she preached her first
ermon at the suggestion of friend
ehearsing it to the trees and stones
n advance.
While in Boston DIR. Shaw reached
he point where she had not a cent Of
money nor the prospect of earning
NY. Unexpectedly she was asked to
10 a weeks revival work and decided
hat if this brought her enough money
or cheap pair of shoes and a few
lays food, she would continue her
curse in theology. n shiftless woods
nan was once conducting her through
northern forest to a town where she
vas to preach and refused to drive
urther. whereupon the girl pulled cat
small revolver and held it at his back
ntil she reached her destination.
DR.. Shaw was born at Newcastle-on.
'yne. England. February Il, 1S47.
he was never married.