I Could Do That!

At a young age, Esther Morris began to do things that her parents and others doubted that she could do. Through quiet determination, Esther proved that she could accomplish whatever she set her mind to, from making a pot of tea to opening her own hat shop. Persevering through a life peppered with hardships, such as the deaths of her mother and first husband, Esther remained independent and socially conscious. Esther was a pioneer in many senses. After moving with her husband and children to the newly formed
Wyoming Territory, Esther became a voice for women in a place where males outnumbered females, six to one. With intelligence and grace, Esther fought for women’s suffrage and helped secure the vote for women in Wyoming in 1869. Shortly afterwards, she was elected Justice of the Peace, making her the first woman in the country to hold a public office. Esther Morris died eighteen years before all women were granted the right to vote, but her legacy set the stage for the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920.