honored women
with positions of trust. The deputy recorder is a woman; Mrs.
Allen was notary public; Mrs. Patton was nominated for auditor by
the Greenback party in 1880, but was defeated with the rest of
the ticket. Women are book-keepers, merchants, clerks, teachers;
and, in fact, almost every avenue is open to them.

Of Fort Dodge, Mrs. Haviland writes: "The subject has never been
much agitated here. I have stood almost alone these long years,
watching the work done by my sisters in other parts of the State,
and hoping the time would soon come when some move could be made
in this place. Last spring the annual meeting of our State
Society was held here, but it was with difficulty that I found
places where the few who came could be entertained, people were
so afraid of woman's rights. After the refusal of the other
churches, the Baptists opened theirs; the crowd of curious ones
looked on and seemed surprised when they failed to discover the
'horns.'" Mrs. A.M. Swain also writes: "Miss Anthony came here
first in June, 1871, and has been here twice since. Mrs.
Swisshelm was here in 1874. Both were my guests when no other
doors were open to the advocates of woman suffrage. The late
convention of the State Society held here was a decided success;
the best class of ladies attended; the dignity and ability shown
in the management, and the many interesting and logical papers
read disarmed all criticism and awakened genuine interest. I have
handed in my ballot for several years, but it has never been
received or counted."

Societies were organized in 1869 and 1870, in Independence and
Monticello. Humboldt, Nevada, West Union, Corning, Osceola,
Muscatine, Sigourney, Garden Grove, Decorah, Hamburg, and scores
of other towns have their local societies. At West Liberty Mrs.
Mary V. Cowgill and her good husband are liberal contributors to
the work, both State and National.

At a convention held at Mt. Pleasant, June 17, 18, 1870,
different sections of the State being well represented, the Iowa
Woman Suffrage Society[405] was formed. Belle Mansfield,
president, Frank Hatton,[406] editor of the Mt. Pleasant
_Journal_, secretary. W.R. Cole opened the convention with
prayer. After many able addresses from various speakers,[407] in
response to an