Marietta Bones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marietta Bones
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| Born |
Marietta Matilda Wilkins
May 4, 1842 |
| Died | July 11, 1901 (aged 59) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Suffragist, social reformer and philanthropist |
| Years active | 1881-1901 |
Marietta Bones (May 4, 1842 – July 11, 1901) was an American woman who worked hard for important changes in society. She was a suffragist, which means she believed women should have the right to vote. She was also a social reformer, working to improve society, and a philanthropist, someone who gives money and time to help others.
From 1881 to 1890, Marietta was a vice-president of the National Woman Suffrage Association (NWSA). In 1890, this group joined with another to form the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). Marietta also spoke publicly and worked to promote temperance, which was a movement against alcohol.
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Early Life and School Days
Marietta Matilda Wilkins was born on May 4, 1842. Her family lived on a farm in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Her father, James A. Wilkins, was an Abolitionist. This meant he was against slavery. He even helped enslaved people escape to freedom. His home was a station on the Underground Railroad.
Marietta's mother, Jane Trumbull, came from Connecticut. She was related to Jonathan Trumbull. He was a close friend of George Washington. Marietta went to school at the Huidekoper Seminary. She also studied at the Washington Female Seminary in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Fighting for Women's Rights
After she got married, Marietta Matilda Wilkins became Marietta Bones. From 1881 to 1890, she was a vice-president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. She worked with famous suffragists like Susan B. Anthony. Marietta helped grow the number of members in the large Dakota Territory.
In 1883, she spoke to Dakota's State Constitutional Convention. She asked them to give women the right to vote. When they did not agree, she asked the U.S. Congress to stop Dakota from becoming a state. She wanted women's equality to be part of the state's laws.
Working for Temperance
Marietta was also very active in the temperance movement. This movement worked to reduce or stop the use of alcohol. In 1889, she was the secretary for a national meeting of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). This meeting was held in Chicago, Illinois.
Her local WCTU group in Webster, South Dakota, was not happy with her. They felt she was going against their state president. Because of this, they ended her membership.
Helping Her Community
Marietta was one of the first people to settle in her town. She helped get land donated for a courthouse and other county buildings. She also helped divide Day County, South Dakota. This made sure the county seat was in a central place.
Marietta also worked to have the state capital of South Dakota placed in the middle of the state. This caught the eye of leaders in Pierre. They invited her to be a special guest in their city. Marietta also helped Matilda Joslyn Gage start the Woman's National Liberal Union. She spoke at their meeting in Washington, D.C..
Family Life
Marietta married Kendall Parker in Iowa. This marriage later ended. She kept her children but did not receive money to support them. Later, in 1880 or 1881, she married Colonel Thomas Arthur Bones. He was in charge of building the Soldiers' Home in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Marietta Bones passed away on July 11, 1901, in Washington, D.C. She was buried at Glenwood Cemetery.
