The men of Kanab were waiting on the south side of the Jepson building for the mail to be distributed. Sand was hub deep the last 15 miles of road leading into Kanab, and the mail had arrived late. Some men were whittling as they talked. None noticed the crisp cool air on the Wednesday morning. They were too busy hashing over yesterday's event. "I never thought it'd happen," said one. "Didn't think they'd get even one vote." One old-timer raised his hat and scratched his head. "I'm tired of hearing all the women complain. They might as well run things."
The men lived in a cow town on the Utah-Arizona border. It was 1911, and the town of about 900 people had just elected an all-women town council.
The election of the all women board began as a prank. A few men thought it would be a good joke to ask the citizens of Kanab to vote for an all-woman ticket. On election day there was no other ticket, so of course, the women won. Mary Woolley Chamberlain, Luella Atkin McAllister, Tamar Stewart Hamblin, Blanche Robinson Hamblin, and Ada Pratt Seegmiller had the unique distinction of being the first all women city council and mayor in the United States. These five exceptional women would soon cement their place in history.
Utah women were the only women in the United States (with the exception of a group in Wyoming) who had the right to vote. Yet, some men still thought of Utah women as less than full citizens. The good news was that many of the same men soon realized that the all-women council was the best board the town ever had.
This newly elected council--average women--women with no access to power or money, took the election seriously. The editor of the local paper, D.D. Rust, gave the women a big write- up. He was certain of their ability. All over the country, newspapers wrote about the event. Even English papers in London printed comments on the election.
The newly elected Mayor, Mary Chamberlain, was the entrepreneur type. In 1896, she served as the first woman county clerk in the state of Utah. She clerked in Bowman's store, taught in most all the organizations of the Mormon Church, and was influential in social circles. Mary was also the fifth wife in a polygamous family. While the government struggled with the problem of polygamy, she spent over six years underground. This stout-hearted woman knew what it meant to face opposition, and she knew how to cooperate. The knowledge she gained over the years proved valuable when she took aver as leader of town government.
Vinnie Jepson sliced off some ham and put it into the skillet, then turned her attention to Mary. "I never would have run if I'd had any idea we could win." Vinnie, a pleasant, outgoing person, helped her husband run an ice cream parlor. There was a quilt on the frame in the parlor, butter to churn, and bread to bake. Her days and nights were full, and maybe this is why Vinnie felt she had to resign. The women appointed Ada Seegmiller to take Vinnie's place.
On Jan. 2, 1912, the minutes of the council meeting reported: "The old board surrendered their chairs with good grace and expressed good wishes to the incoming board."
The clock chimed. "Enough lollygagging!" Mary said to her boys. The new mayor put a log on the fire. "The ladies will be here any minute." Due to small children, the gals often met in each others' homes.
The ladies shared a common bond--a commitment to improving their town. They would exchange neighborly news after the meeting. Mary smacked the desk with her gavel. "Ladies, let's show them what we can do."
"Amen," said Luella McAllister. Luella had spent the day sewing and playing with her stepson, Donald. Luella, an Atkin girl from St. George, had married Leo McAllister, Kanab's prominent widower. She was a handsome woman, and very conscious of style. With her strong ideas of right and wrong, Luella was ready to tackle the problems of running a town. After she left the meeting, Luella had to tackle the job of getting the bread ready to be baked the next morning.
Tamar S. Hamblin shifted in her chair. Although she was five months pregnant, the granddaughter of Levi Stewart would do her best. She had a talent for writing poetry, and often wrote poetry while she calmed her babies. She lived the adage, "Never put off 'til the afternoon what needs doing in the morning." Tamar had a concern for the liquor problems in Kanab, and she was anxious to tackle the issue.
Blanche Robinson Hamblin said the smelly streets of Kanab troubled her, and she planned to do something about it. Although Blanche was the quiet one of the group, she always made a point. "If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well," she told others. This gentle woman was a good cook, and had spent the day baking pies for her neighbors.
Ada Seegmiller smiled. "I welcome the opportunity to serve on this board, and help make Kanab a better place to live," she said. Ada, the granddaughter of Apostle Orson Pratt, grew up in Fredonia. She was an outgoing person who believed in keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Her belief reflected in the work she did on the board. This likable woman became the mother of thirteen children. Her son, Pratt, was born while she was in office.
The council had minds of their own, and frequently decided issues contrary to their husbands' suggestions. Mary wrote, "We have always been united in our labors, have laid aside our personal feelings, and always worked for the public good. Don't think for a moment that we haven't any opposition to contend with. We feel sometimes that we have more than our share of it. Some members meet it every day in their own homes, but they are all women of character, and have been able to hold their own." During their two year term, the following items were decided:
Kanab was not a violent town. The people were mostly members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But the city council still had enough problems to keep them on their toes. Mary wrote, "Our greatest trouble has been in fighting the liquor evil, a terror in our town." Many men smuggled liquor into Kanab through the U.S. Mail. The council wrote to the Postmaster General at Washington D.C., and explained their situation. The result--the practice was stopped.
Liquor was still shipped into Kanab by freight and other ways. Mary wrote, "They know we are on the lookout, and they have to be pretty sly about it. Our Marshal seized twelve gallons at one time, which was addressed to different parties; some of them were able to prove to the satisfaction of the justice of the peace, though not to ours, that it was sent for medicinal purposes, and were allowed to keep theirs, and the rest, about six gallons was poured out on the ground in front of the court house."
On September 13, 1913, the women prepared a fruit festival in honor of the Utah Automobile Club on their first trip to the Grand Canyon. "We sent to Dixie for grapes and peaches, furnished the melons ourselves and treated the entire town," wrote Mary.
By the end of their term in office, the ladies had earned the respect of the entire town. Tamar acted as spokesperson when the ladies were asked to run again. "When everyone else in town has had a trial, we'll take another turn," she said.
On Jan. 2, 1914, these "civic-minded" women turned the running of the town back to the men, with one exception. Ada Seegmiller ran for reelection. After she won, she resigned.
Now, 82 years later, memories have faded, and family has passed on. A Monument, set in Kanab Wonderstone, located on the Gazebo grounds, is a tribute to these women. The Daughters of the Utah Pioneers presented the city with a plaque to hang in the city offices and other for the Heritage House. Yet, one gets the feeling there should be more.