Two Rivers "Sandbar Histories"
Texas Women Could Vote in 1836?? Written by BETTY DUNN For ten years, women in the Republic of Texas had the right to vote and probably didn't know it. They lost it in 1846 when the Republic became a State. Article VI, section 11, of the 1836 Constitution read: "Every citizen of the republic who has attained the age of twenty-one years, and shall have resided six months within the district or county where the election is helad, shall be entitled to vote for members of the general congress." Under section 10, of that Article VI, the lawmakers defined citizens without reference to sex as "All persons (Africans, the descendants of Africans, and Indians excepted) who were residing in Texas on the day of the declaration in independence..." It leads one to believe, in that era, in view of all the other rights denied women, it might never occur to a woman that she could vote, nor was she a 'citizen'. Mary L. Scheer, in the book, Women and the Texas Revolution, writes: "Did this mean that qualified white women in Texas could vote after 1836? No evidence exists that women claimed or exercised that right. Either through oversight, emergency constraints, or imprecise language, lawmakers never intended it, society never expected it, and women never asked for it." Women's right to vote came up after statehood during the Constitutional Convention of 1868-69, when Titus H. Mundine of Burleson County proposed the franshise be extended to qualified persons without distinction of sex. It was rejected by a 52 to 13 vote. The issue was again brought up in the 1875 Constitutional Convention but did not make it out of committee. A Galveston woman, Rebecca Henry Hays, organized the Texas Equal Rights Association, in May 1893. Auxiliaries quickly set up in Denison, Dallas, Fort Worth, Tyler, Granger, San Antonio, Belton, and Beaumont. It aroused interest in the women's suffrage and Texas newspapers picked up on the movement. This Texas Equal Rights Association in 1895 managed to get a bill introduced to the Texas House of Representatives to enfranchise women. The bill was referred to the constitutional amendment committee but never introduced. That sapped the TERA's strength. Internal dissension and the group's effectiveness declined. After only three years TERA ceased. Over the next two decades several other efforts also failed. From 1914 to 1918, legislator and rancher Charles B. Metcaffe of San Angelo, pushed for women's sufferage. In 1918 Metcaffe introduced a bill allowing women to vote, but, only in primaries. It was approved by the House 84-34 and the Senate 18-4 and signed into law. At last, the following year of 1919, the national push to ratify the 19th Amendment allowing women the right to vote swept through Texas. The Legislature, meeting in a special June session, was the first state in the South to approve the amendment. And so, for ten years, women in Texas legally had the right to vote, but then disenfranchised with statehood in 1846. It would be another eight decades before Texas women could vote. ___________________________________________________ To above is from the "Two Rivers Sandbar Histories" on sale from Two Rivers Heritage Foundation. There are 134 articles in the book offering an incite into the early years of Grimes County. Contact Betty Dunn at blhd83@gmail.com or Lynn Hildebrandt at rendezvous120@gmail.com to reserve copies. (Mail orders will be $23.50 each.) Each week we will endeavor to showcase excerpts from each of the writings from the book. So check back often to see portions of the 'treasures' it contains. 
NOTICE: BEST MUSEUM at the Horlock House
1215 Washington, Navasota, Texas 77868. Any organization or individuals who would like to visit the newly organized Best Museum by the Two Rivers Heritage Foundation are welcome. Exhibits, at this time, include the City of Navasota’s historical collection of the Horlocks, Christian Becker, Jesse and Herbert Youens, Schumachers, and Texas Rangers; as well as the Two Rivers’ exhibit of the ”Railroads that built Navasota.” Mance Lipscomb exhibit, Navasota's world known blues singer, guitarist, songster. Those wishing to see the Best Museum please contact E-Mail: tworiversheritagefoundation@gmail.com. Two Rivers Heritage Foundation
Officers & Board of Directors Chairman: Kathy Cave Wells Vice-Chairman: Betty Dunn Secretary: Lynn Hildebrandt Treasurer: Judy Reynolds Directors John Henry Botkin Margaret Van Wagner Eppler Joyce Boatright Baker Goodwin Cheryl Tardiff Honorary Director: Mildred Edwards MEMBERSHIP Two Rivers Heritage Foundation c/o Judy Reynolds P.O. Box 66, Navasota, TX. 77868 E-Mail: tworiversheritagefoundation@gmail.com |
HISTORY MIXERS
December 8th
Historian Jeff Carroll will pick up on the early Republic of Texas history at the Two Rivers Heritage Foundation’s ‘history mixer’ this Tuesday, December 1st at the VFW Post meeting hall on West Washington Avenue in Navasota. Carroll, at his last appearance at Two Rivers, left off with Stephen F. Austin telling the November 1st, 1835 “consultation” at San Felipe to “prepare for war.” Don’t miss!! The ‘mixer’ starts at 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Enter the Post at the right entrance from the parking lot. Please wear a mask into the club until all social distance seating. Please adhere to all the Covid -19 safety requirements. The Post is a non-smoking facility. _______________________________________________________ December 15th: Please make a note that the December 15th Two Rivers ‘history mixer’ will feature Janice Scheve, who with her husband, Stephen, are preserving the historic P. A. Smith hotel on Navasota’s Historic Railroad Street. Janice will bring us up to date on the progress of the work and anticipated opening of the P. A. Smith as an upscale hotel. December 12th: Award winning artist Bob Goldstein will present an art reception---Faces of Grimes County---on Saturday, December 12th from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Navasota Public Library, 1411 E. Washington Avenue, Navasota. Sandbar books will be available for purchase for Christmas gifts at all our ‘mixers’. If you don't have a copy, get them before they're gone! Copies of Jeff Carroll's book are available, too. _______________________________________________________ For the time being the Two Rivers ‘mixers’ are being held at the VFW Post every month on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 6:45. There is adequate space to meet the present protocol regarding the Covid-19 pandemic. Revisit the video section of the www.tworiversheritagefoundation.org website. The Wendy Watriss and Fred Baldwin presentation “Grimes County, A Journey in Time” this past February, is first up under the video tab of the website along with many others that can give you a look back in history. _______________________________________________________ Betty Dunn, Newsletter Coordinator, 281-507-1671, (Please leave a voicemail) Two Rivers Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit _______________________________________________________ Membership in our Two Rivers Heritage Foundation is appreciated in the support of helping Two Rivers’ mission of preserving history. Click the button below to see our membership form. Print the form, fill it out, and mail it along with your payments to: TWO RIVERS HERITAGE FOUNDATION P. O. Box 66, Navasota, TX 77868-0066 🌎 🔔 We are now accepting dues for the 2021 year. Dues are $20 each adult. Mail dues to P. O. Box 66, Navasota, Tx. 77868. We are preparing to update the Membership Book. We appreciate your being a part of Two Rivers Heritage Foundation in support of our mission to preserve our history. If you are a new member, please fill out the membership form and mail. Thanks!
🎅 Remember that we are trying to raise money 💲 for our Development Fund by selling our Sandbar books... $20/each... they make great gifts! 🌝 The cover art is by local artist Nikki Sullivan. Contact Betty Dunn at blhd83@gmail.com or Lynn Hildebrandt at rendezvous120@gmail.com to reserve copies. (Mail orders are $23.50 each.)
TWO RIVERS “SANDBAR HISTORIES” BOOKS
Two Rivers Heritage Foundation’s “Sandbar Histories” books are available for purchase. If you are looking for a fascinating gift idea these historical books will make a great gift!! The books contain over two years of the “Grains from the Sandbar” columns that have been complimentarily offered to the Navasota Examiner weekly newspaper since August 2015 through the years 2016 and 2017. The price is $20. This is a fund-raising project for the Two Rivers Heritage Foundation’s Development Fund. The cover art is by local artist Nikki Sullivan. Contact Betty Dunn at blhd83@gmail.com or Lynn Hildebrandt at rendezvous120@gmail.com to reserve copies. (Mail orders are $23.50 each.) Check out our website: www.tworiversheritagefoundation.org E-mail: tworiversheritagefoundation@gmail.com Betty Dunn, Newsletter Coordinator, 281-507-1671 |