Married BF Brown in Iowa. The Browns were Oregon Trail pioneers of 1852.
Mary was an early Washington suffragist. She attempted to vote in 1869 but precinct workers refused her ballot because it might disqualify all voter returns from the precinct. Shortly after, Mary began writing editorials in favor of votes for women.
In the 1870 election suffragists including Brown attempted to vote. Brown's sister, Charlotte Olney French, organized women to vote at the Grand Mound WA schoolhouse on June 6 where seven women submitted ballots.
A messenger rode to nearby Black River [Littlerock] to inform people there that women in Grand Mound voted. Eight women at Black River cast their ballots as well.
However, when Mary Olney Brown and two other women attempted to vote in Olympia, the poll workers refused their ballots. Nevertheless, the fifteen votes cast by women from Grand Mound and Black River were included in the final election results.
Women won the right to vote in Washington Territory in 1883, but it was rescinded by the Territorial Supreme Court in 1888. Women of Washington did not regain the vote until 1910.
Sources:
-stories.washingtonhistory.org/suffrage/People/mbrown.aspx
-Bancroft, "History of Oregon" p763.
-Thurstoneer Pioneer Records
Mary was an early Washington suffragist. She attempted to vote in 1869 but precinct workers refused her ballot because it might disqualify all voter returns from the precinct. Shortly after, Mary began writing editorials in favor of votes for women.
In the 1870 election suffragists including Brown attempted to vote. Brown's sister, Charlotte Olney French, organized women to vote at the Grand Mound WA schoolhouse on June 6 where seven women submitted ballots.
A messenger rode to nearby Black River [Littlerock] to inform people there that women in Grand Mound voted. Eight women at Black River cast their ballots as well.
However, when Mary Olney Brown and two other women attempted to vote in Olympia, the poll workers refused their ballots. Nevertheless, the fifteen votes cast by women from Grand Mound and Black River were included in the final election results.
Women won the right to vote in Washington Territory in 1883, but it was rescinded by the Territorial Supreme Court in 1888. Women of Washington did not regain the vote until 1910.
Sources:
-stories.washingtonhistory.org/suffrage/People/mbrown.aspx
-Bancroft, "History of Oregon" p763.
-Thurstoneer Pioneer Records
Married BF Brown in Iowa. The Browns were Oregon Trail pioneers of 1852.
Mary was an early Washington suffragist. She attempted to vote in 1869 but precinct workers refused her ballot because it might disqualify all voter returns from the precinct. Shortly after, Mary began writing editorials in favor of votes for women.
In the 1870 election suffragists including Brown attempted to vote. Brown's sister, Charlotte Olney French, organized women to vote at the Grand Mound WA schoolhouse on June 6 where seven women submitted ballots.
A messenger rode to nearby Black River [Littlerock] to inform people there that women in Grand Mound voted. Eight women at Black River cast their ballots as well.
However, when Mary Olney Brown and two other women attempted to vote in Olympia, the poll workers refused their ballots. Nevertheless, the fifteen votes cast by women from Grand Mound and Black River were included in the final election results.
Women won the right to vote in Washington Territory in 1883, but it was rescinded by the Territorial Supreme Court in 1888. Women of Washington did not regain the vote until 1910.
Sources:
-stories.washingtonhistory.org/suffrage/People/mbrown.aspx
-Bancroft, "History of Oregon" p763.
-Thurstoneer Pioneer Records
Mary was an early Washington suffragist. She attempted to vote in 1869 but precinct workers refused her ballot because it might disqualify all voter returns from the precinct. Shortly after, Mary began writing editorials in favor of votes for women.
In the 1870 election suffragists including Brown attempted to vote. Brown's sister, Charlotte Olney French, organized women to vote at the Grand Mound WA schoolhouse on June 6 where seven women submitted ballots.
A messenger rode to nearby Black River [Littlerock] to inform people there that women in Grand Mound voted. Eight women at Black River cast their ballots as well.
However, when Mary Olney Brown and two other women attempted to vote in Olympia, the poll workers refused their ballots. Nevertheless, the fifteen votes cast by women from Grand Mound and Black River were included in the final election results.
Women won the right to vote in Washington Territory in 1883, but it was rescinded by the Territorial Supreme Court in 1888. Women of Washington did not regain the vote until 1910.
Sources:
-stories.washingtonhistory.org/suffrage/People/mbrown.aspx
-Bancroft, "History of Oregon" p763.
-Thurstoneer Pioneer Records
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"She was a faithful advocate of equal suffrage for woman" [sic]
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