Caroline McCullough Everhard facts for kids
Caroline McCullough Everhard (born September 14, 1843 – died April 14, 1902) was an amazing American woman. She was a successful banker and a strong supporter of women's right to vote. She even led the Ohio Suffrage Association for many years.
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Caroline Everhard's Early Life
Caroline McCullough was born in Massillon, Ohio. Her dad, Thomas McCullough, was in charge of a bank. One of her teachers was Betsy Mix Cowles, who worked to end slavery. When Caroline was a teenager, she heard Lucretia Mott speak. Lucretia Mott was a famous activist who fought for women's rights. These early experiences helped shape Caroline's own desire to make a difference.
A Pioneer in Banking and Activism
In 1885, something big happened. Caroline McCullough Everhard was chosen to join the board of directors at the Union Bank in Massillon. This was her late father's old job. This made her the very first woman bank director in Ohio!
Caroline also helped her town in many other ways. She started the local humane society, which helps animals. She also helped create the public library and a women's cemetery association.
Fighting for Women's Right to Vote
Caroline was a strong suffragist. This means she believed women should have the right to vote. In 1889, she went to a big meeting in Ohio to represent her local group.
From 1891 to 1900, Caroline was the president of the Ohio Suffrage Association. This was a very important job. In 1894, she led a successful effort to get Ohio women the right to vote in school elections. She also helped women gain the right to vote in local city elections.
Speaking Up in Washington D.C.
In 1896, Caroline was one of the suffrage leaders who spoke in Washington D.C. at a meeting with lawmakers. She was there with famous activist Susan B. Anthony. Caroline explained why she was fighting for women's voting rights. She said that women wanted to take better care of their homes and communities. She also pointed out that she paid a lot in taxes but had no say in how that money was used. She believed it was wrong to say women didn't want to vote. She saw that in Ohio, where women could vote in school elections, more and more women became interested in voting in all elections.
Caroline's Family Life
In 1865, Caroline McCullough married Henry Hewitt Everhard. Henry was a soldier who fought in the American Civil War. They had three children named Ethel, Marian, and Melville.
Caroline McCullough Everhard passed away in 1902 in Massillon. She was 58 years old. Her journals and other writings are kept at the Massillon Museum.
Her son, Melville Everhard, later loaned pictures of Caroline and her parents to the Massillon Museum. Caroline was also featured in a documentary film called Women in the Western Reserve. This film was made in the 1970s by Youngstown State University.