Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920

Biography of Stella Thayer Morgan, 1879-1961

By Brenda Harper, volunteer researcher for 2020 Vision Committee, Clarksville, TN

President of the Clarksville Equal Suffrage League in 1914; Third Chair of CESL in 1917; Attended 1920 Woman Voters' Convention in Nashville

Stella Rocelia Thayer was born September 29, 1979 to Emma Markham and Orris E. Thayer in Frewsburg, New York. She was working as a public school teacher and residing with her parents in Brooklyn, Kings County, NY in 1905. In the same county the following year, she married Alfred Cookman Morgan on December 6th. They relocated to Clarksville before 1910 where he was employed as an entomologist with the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Stella Morgan was the president of the Clarksville Equal Suffrage League in 1914. She spoke at the July 31st meeting and again when the CESL met on September 17th. She was third chair of the League in 1917 and attended the May 1920 Women Voters Convention in Nashville. Billed as the last Tennessee suffrage convention, its intent was to continue to advocate for and prepare women to participate as responsible voters.

Stella Morgan left Tennessee to live in Tacoma, Washington sometime after 1943. She died there November 19, 1961 but was returned to Clarksville for burial in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources:

Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Accessed July 30, 2017

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: A.D. 17 E.D. 03; City: Brooklyn; County: Kings. Accessed July 30, 2017

Ancestry.com. New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Accessed July 30, 2017

U.S. Federal Census Records http://ancestry.com accessed July 30, 2017

Year: 1910; Census Place: Clarksville Ward 10, Montgomery, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1513; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0136; FHL microfilm: 1375526.

Year: 1920; Census Place: Clarksville Ward 10, Montgomery, Tennessee; Roll: T625_1756; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 160

"Equal Suffrage Meeting a Pronounced Success," Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, August 1, 1914

"Enthusiastic Suffrage Meeting," Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, September 18, 1914

"Over 500 Women from Over State," Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, May 17, 1920

"Women's Suffrage" by Eleanor Williams, Montgomery County (TN) Historian http://www.mchsociety.org/Sub-Pages/Hist-Suffrage.html Accessed July 27, 2017

Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Tennessee Death Records, 1908-1959; Roll #: 7 (Death Certificate of Emma Thayer.) Accessed July 30, 2017.

Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Accessed July 30, 2017.

"Mrs. Morgan Dies, Funeral on Saturday," Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, November 22, 1961

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