Mary A. Ahrens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary A. Ahrens
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| Born |
Mary A. Jones
December 29, 1836 Staffordshire, England
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| Died | after 1907 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Union College of Law |
| Occupation | Teacher, Lawyer |
| Spouse(s) |
Philip Fellows
(m. 1857)Louis Ahrens
(m. 1886) |
Mary A. Ahrens (born Mary A. Jones on December 29, 1836 – died February 17, 1921) was an amazing woman who was born in England and became an American teacher, lawyer, and social reformer. She worked hard to help others, especially women and children, and fought for women's right to vote.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Mary A. Jones was born in Staffordshire, England. Her father, William H. Jones, was a clergyman, and her mother was Ann (Brown) Jones. When Mary was fifteen, her family moved to America. They made their new home in Southern Illinois.
Mary was married two times. In 1857, she married Philip Fellows. They had two sons and one daughter together. After her children grew up, Mary Ahrens became a teacher. She taught African Americans who had recently gained their freedom. In 1886, she married Louis Ahrens, who was a lawyer and an artist.
Becoming a Lawyer
Not long after her second marriage, Mary Ahrens decided to study law. She joined the Chicago Union College of Law. She graduated with high honors in 1889.
Helping Women and Children
Mary mainly helped women, children, and people who were poor. She became well-known across the country. She was one of a growing group of women who became lawyers.
When the federal court of appeals was created in 1891, Mary Ahrens was the only woman. She was among the first 33 lawyers allowed to practice there. This was for the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. A newspaper called her a "shining light" in Chicago. They said she had "unquestioned legal learning and ability." She was also known for her powerful speaking skills.
Mary even risked her health for her work. She got a serious case of pneumonia after going through a snowstorm. She was trying to file important court papers on time. People in the news watched and reported on her recovery.
Fighting for Women's Rights
Mary Ahrens strongly believed that women should have the right to vote. This is called women's suffrage. She worked for this goal in many ways. She gave lectures, filed lawsuits, and took part in community activities.
School Elections
Mary was the head of the Woman's School Suffrage Association of Cook County. She helped open school elections to women in Illinois. On June 19, 1891, the state government allowed women to vote in school elections. This was seen as a first step toward full voting rights.
However, just before the November election, a group in Chicago said the law did not apply to all offices. Mary Ahrens sued for the right to vote for the Cook County superintendent of schools. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled against her. They said the state government could not give women the right to vote. This was because the state's constitution said only male citizens over 21 could vote.
Later, the Illinois Supreme Court made it clear that women could vote in school elections. This was true for offices not listed in the state constitution. In 1894, Mary ran for University Trustee. But she lost to Lucy Flower. Lucy Flower became the first Illinois woman to hold a statewide office.
Women's Legal Challenges
Mary Ahrens kept fighting for women's rights. She traveled and gave talks called "Women's Disability Before the Law." This talk was based on a paper she wrote in 1892. It explained a old legal idea called coverture. This idea meant that a husband had legal power over his wife. For example, he could sell her belongings. He could also take children away from her or stop her from leaving the home. Mary told her audiences that new laws were needed to protect women.
Community Work
Besides law and voting rights, Mary Ahrens was active in social services. In 1890, she became the first president of the Chicago Immediate Aid Society. This group opened a place that offered meals and beds to homeless men. It also helped them find jobs.
Mary saw a similar need for women. In early 1894, she started the Mary A. Ahrens Mission. This was a home for women in need in Chicago. It later moved to a new location. She was also a vice-president of the Protective Agency for Women and Children. And she was a vice-president of the Illinois Woman's Press Association.
Mary Ahrens was still alive when her husband Louis died in October 1907. Her exact date of death is not known.
See also
In Spanish: Mary A. Ahrens para niños
