in study abroad, and, returning, commenced practice
in Milwaukee, where she has been ever since.

By an act of Congress approved May 29, 1848, Wisconsin was
admitted to the Union. Its diversity of soil and timber, the
healthfulness of its climate and the purity of its waters,
attracted people from the New England and Middle States, who
brought with them fixed notions as to moral conduct and political
action, and no little repugnance to many of the features of the
old common law. Hence in Wisconsin's territorial conventions and
legislative assemblies many of the progressive ideas of the East
were incorporated into her statutes. Failing to lift married
women into any solid position of independence, the laws yet gave
them certain protective rights concerning the redemption of lands
sold for taxes, and the right to dispose of any estate less than
a fee without the husband's consent. In case of divorce the wife
was entitled to her personal estate, dower and alimony, and with
the consent of her husband she could devise her real estate. She
was entitled to dower in any lands of which the husband was
seized during marriage. Gen. A. W. Randall was active in making
the first digest and compilation of the laws of Wisconsin.

The legislature of 1850 was composed of notably intelligent men.
Nelson Dewey was governor, Moses M. Strong, a leading lawyer,
speaker of the Assembly, and the late Col. Samuel W. Beal,
lieutenant-governor. Early in the session a bill was introduced,
entitled "An act to provide for the protection of married women
in the enjoyment of their own property," which provoked a stormy
debate. Some saw the dissolution of marriage ties in the
destruction of the old common-law doctrine that "husband and wife
are one, and that one the husband"; while arguments were made in
its favor by Hon. David Noggle, George Crasey, and others.
Conservative judges held that the right to own property did not
entitle married women to convey it; therefore in 1858 the law was
amended, giving further security to the wife to transact business
in her own name, if her husband was profligate and failed to
support her; but not until 1872 did the law protect a married
woman in her right to transact business, make contracts, possess
her separate earnings, and sue and be sue