Amanda Way
| Amanda M. Way | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 10th, 1828 Randolph, Winchester County, IN |
| Died |
1914 Whittier, California |
| Movement | Temperance, Women's Suffrage, Abolition |
Amanda M. Way (Born July 10, 1828 in Randolph County, IN) was an Indiana suffragette, coined “Indiana’s Mother of Women’s Rights.”[1]
Amanda M. Way was one of eight children born into a Quaker family. Her father migrated to Indiana from North Carolina as part of the Great Quaker Migration. As a young woman, Way spent time as a teacher, milliner and seamstress. The cholera epidemic took the life of her father and fiancee in 1849, leaving her as the sole breadwinner of the household.[2]
Career
Early career (1840-1860)
Way’s early activism was with the involvement of issues on temperance, due to the Quaker belief that drunkenness should be abolished.[2] In 1844, Way joined Winchester’s Total Abstinence Society.[2] During her time with this movement, Way remained a schoolteacher by profession.
Whiskey riots
In 1847, Way led a group of Winchester woman in what is known as the "whiskey riots". Way, armed, and around 80 other women entered saloons and drugstores, forcing owners to dump their barrels of whiskey into the gutters. When Way was asked by a customer at a saloon if he could have another drink, she was quoted saying “I would rather brain you with this axe so you could die sober.” Additionally, Way and her followers smashed property, with damages totalling in $140. Way and the other women were not charged.[1]
Women's rights
In 1851, Way called for the first Indianapolis Women’s Rights Convention. The call for equality of the sexes was also a result of her faith; the Quakers believed that “everyone should have an equal opportunity.”[2] During the first Indianapolis Women's RIghts convention (held October 14-15th, 1851 in Dublin, IN), Way served as vice-president, and was quoted saying “Unless women demand their rights politically, socially, and financially, they will continue in the future as in the past.”[2] Way’s initial involvement in women’s rights was not for the goal of obtaining the vote, but rather to “correct injustices.” In 1855, Way became president of the Indianapolis Women's RIghts Association.[2]
Late career (1860-1914)
In 1860, Way was left to tend to her niece after her sister-in-law passed away (her brother was active in the American Civil War). As a result of Way’s brothers’ service in the Civil War, Way took a break from the Indianapolis Women’s Rights Association and served as a civil war nurse in 1867.[2]
Way returned to the Indianapolis Women’s Rights Association in 1869, where she served as president. During this time, the Indianapolis Women’s Rights Association merged with the National Women’s Rights Association to become the Indiana Woman’s Suffrage Association.[3]
In 1872, Way turned to the Methodist Episcopal Church and spent time as a minister.[2]
Move to Idaho
In 1900, Way moved to Idaho (a state where women had the right to vote).[4] She became the first Indiana woman to be nominated for congress, but lost.[2] Way died in 1914 in Whittier, California.[3]
References
- 1 2 "Amanda Way was Indiana's hard-core anti-booze baroness". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "WCHS Class of 1967". www.wchsclassof1967.com. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
- 1 2 "IHB: Amanda Way". www.in.gov. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
- ↑ editor, BILL RICHMOND, City. "Winchester woman honored for her contribution to woman's rights". winchesternewsgazette.com. Retrieved 2018-04-17.