me we were
availing ourselves of it. So, nothing daunted, I determined to
repair to the polling place, the district school-house,
accompanied by my husband, my daughter (Mrs. Axtell) and her
husband--a little band of four--looked upon with pity and
contempt for what was called our "fanaticism."

For several days before the election the excitement in the
neighborhood and other settlements along the river was intense.
Many gentlemen called on me and tried to persuade me to stay at
home and save myself from insult. I thanked them for their
kindness, and told them I fully appreciated their good
intentions, but that I had associated with men all my life, and
had always been treated as a lady; that the men I should meet at
the polls were the same that I met in church and social
gatherings, and I knew they would treat me with respect. Then
they begged my husband not to allow me to go; but he told them
his wife had as good a right to vote as he had; and that no
citizen can legally deprive another of the right to vote.

On the morning of the election, just before we reached the
school-house, a man met us and said, "Mr. Brown, look here now!
If Mrs. Brown goes up to vote she will be insulted! If I was in
your place I wouldn't let her go any farther. She had better go
back." My husband answered, "Mr. Brannan, my wife has as good a
right to vote as I have, and I would not prevent her if I could.
She has a mind of her own and will do as she thinks best, and I
shall stand by her and see that she is well treated! Besides
[speaking with emphasis], she will not be insulted either!"
"Well," said the man, "if she was my wife she shouldn't go!
She'll be sure to be insulted!" I looked him full in the face,
and said with decision, "Mr. Brannan, a gentleman will be a
gentleman under all circumstances, and will always treat a lady
with respect." I said this because I knew the man, and knew that
if anyone offered any annoyance, it would be he, and so it
proved.

As we drove up to the school-house and alighted, a man in an
angry voice snapped out, "Well! if the women are coming to vote,
I'm going home!" But he did not go; he had too much curiosity; he
wanted to see the fun. He stayed and was converted. After
watching the sovereign "white male citizen" per