Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Lizzie (Mrs. George F.) French 1853-1929
By Christine Cloonan, who learned about this project through the Boston Women's Heritage Trail. A graduate of Bowdoin College, Christine has many ties to the State of Maine and is honored to tell the stories of its suffragists.
Noted as "one of Maine's most prominent women." Lizzie French was active in many areas of Portland's civic life in 1890s and early 1900s leading up to her involvement in the suffrage movement. The local papers frequently listed her and her husband, George F. French, among the guests at society events held at Preble House, a grand Portland hotel.
Lizzie Norton was born in Farmington, Maine in 1853, one of six daughters of parents James I. Norton and Lydia Ann Coulter of Farmington, Maine. As her father James was a descendant of Peter Norton (1718-1792), an officer of the crown who served in defense of Edgartown, MA, Lizzie is listed in the directory of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Lizzie and George, about 20 years her senior, met in Lewiston when she worked as a schoolteacher and he labored as a salesclerk. On a census from 1880, they are both listed as boarders in a home on Ash Street in Lewiston. George had arrived in Lewiston a few years earlier to go into business with his brother following the death of his first wife and daughter in Vermont. Lizzie and George were married on July 20, 1886 in Portland and established themselves in civic life thereafter. She and her husband often appeared on the guest lists of Portland society events like the Sons of the Revolution, Puritan Heritage and the Mount Blue Association.
Given her foundation in grammar school teaching, it is fitting that Mrs. George F. French was passionate about the health of the youth. She served (and was re-elected) as the President of the Eye & Ear Infirmary of Portland, spoke about "Cleanliness and Health for the Young" as part of the 15th Annual Convention of the Maine Pedagogical Society, and was active in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.).
In March 1896, Mrs. French spoke at a well-attended temperance meeting at the Congress Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Portland. There, she discussed temperance legislation in the country and also appealed to the crowd, by saying "even if our homes and loved ones are not in danger, it is our duty to 'throw out the life line' to others." Mrs. French did not just talk the talk in regard to temperance, but she, literally, walked the walk. As an example, later that same year, down Spring Street in Portland, she stopped and questioned a small group of young boys as to where they got their cigarettes. The local grocer claimed the boys were buying for an older brother, but because of Mrs. French's call to civic duty, Mr. T.B. Hawley found himself held for $100 for the Grand Jury.
Mrs. French's engagement in the W.C.T.U led to her involvement in the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs, an umbrella organization of women's clubs in Maine, and ultimately to her participation in the suffrage movement as the Maine Woman Suffrage Association (MWSA). By 1911, Mrs. French had become a figure in the suffrage movement. Four years earlier she participated in the MWSA's annual convention in her hometown of Farmington. And, under the presidency of Mrs. Alfred Brewster Wallace, also a notable figure in the temperance movement, she was elected treasurer of the MWSA, which boasted $1423 in the bank and 3,500 members across the State at the time of her election.
The Federation addressed issues related to the State's economy like the protection of waterpower and the use of foreign labor, as well as public health matters like temperance. Suffrage was also a topic, but not always of interest, as a local newspaper noted after a November 1915 meeting, "No attempt was made to secure the passage of a suffrage resolution."
A couple of years later, the State of Maine, under the leadership of Governor Charles Milliken turned its attention to the support of equal suffrage for women. A state referendum campaign resulted. Leaders of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) did not support MWSA's referendum campaign. The women of Maine however felt otherwise, including Lizzie French, who said to her fellow suffragists "let us work to win and do the very utmost that we can! Tho' we lose this trial, we would have wrought an incalculable miracle of education..."
And lose they did. In the special election in September 1917, the Women's Suffrage Measure was defeated with over 38,000 voters (65%) against the amendment. However, the women of Maine kept up what they are known for, hard work. In November 1919 the Maine state legislature ratified the 19th Amendment and by August 1920 the Amendment had won the approval of the necessary 36 states. Maine women had their first opportunity cast votes in the presidential election in November 1920.
Mrs. George F. French also kept up her work in civic life by staying active in the Maine Federation of Women's Clubs and speaking on topics like "State Care of Tuberculosis Children."
After her husband's death, Mrs. French continued to be active in Portland as a public lecturer. Despite her accomplishments and notoriety in Portland public life, she was laid to rest in 1929 in her hometown of Farmington.
Sources:
Maine Amendment 1, Women's Suffrage Measure (September 1917)
https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Amendment_1,_Women%27s_Suffrage_Measure_(September_1917)
Maine: Vital Records, 1853-1929. From original records held by the Maine Archives. Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.
Find-a-Grave entry for Lizzie H. Norton
Lizzie H. Norton French (1853-1929) - Find A Grave Memorial
Find-a-Grave entry for George F. French
George Foster French (1830-1918) - Find A Grave Memorial
Preble House, 1920. Maine Memory Network.
Preble House, Portland, ca. 1920 - Maine Memory Network
"Governor Carl E. Milliken." The Republican Journal. Belfast, Maine. Volume 89, Number 2. January 11, 1917. Page 1. Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1917-01-11/ed-1/seq-1/>
Gass, Anne. "Voting Down the Rose: Florence Brooks Whitehouse and Maine's Fight for Woman Suffrage," Maine Author's Publishing, 2014.
"Recent Elections" Portland Daily Press. Monday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 30. January 18, 1892. Page 8 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1892-01-18/ed-1/seq-8/>
Mount Blue Association" Portland Daily Press. Monday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 30. January 30, 1892. Page 5 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1892-01-30/ed-1/seq-5/>
"The Puritan Heritage" Portland Daily Press. Tuesday. Portland, Maine. Volume 31. December 20, 1892. Page 2 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1892-12-20/ed-1/seq-2/>
"Pedagogical Society" Daily Kennebec Journal. Monday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume X, Number X. December 20, 1894. Page 5 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82014248/1894-12-20/ed-1/seq-5/>
"Sons of the Revolution" Portland Daily Press. Friday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 32. February 23, 1894. Page 5 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1894-02-23/ed-1/seq-5/>
"Personal" Portland Daily Press. Friday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 32 June 15, 1894. Page 8 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1894-06-15/ed-1/seq-8/>
"Selling Boys Cigarettes" Portland Daily Press. Saturday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 33. January 4, 1896. Page 8 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1896-01-04/ed-1/seq-8/>
"Congress Street Church" Portland Daily Press. Monday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 33. March 23, 1896. Page 5 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1896-03-23/ed-1/seq-5/>
"The Loan Exhibition" Portland Daily Press. Thursday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 33. May 14, 1896. Page 5 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1896-05-14/ed-1/seq-5/>
"Personal" Portland Daily Press. Thursday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 34. December 24, 1896. Page 8. Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1896-12-24/ed-1/seq-8/>
"The Civic Club" Portland Daily Press. Monday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 39. December 31, 1900. Page 5 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016025/1900-12-31/ed-1/seq-3/>
"Maine Suffragists Convention," The Republican Journal. Belfast, Maine. Volume 83. October 19, 1911. Page 2 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1911-10-19/ed-1/seq-2/>
"The Federation of Women's Clubs" The Republican Journal. Belfast, Maine. Volume 84. May 2, 1912. Page 3 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1912-05-02/ed-1/seq-3/>
"Maine W.C.T.U." Portland Daily Press. Thursday Morning. Portland, Maine. Volume 84. August 15, 1912. Page 3 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1912-08-15/ed-1/seq-3/>
"Officers of the Woman's Federation" The Republican Journal. Belfast, Maine. Volume 87. November 4, 1915. Page 7 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1915-11-04/ed-1/seq-7/>
"Maine Women's Federation" The Republican Journal. Belfast, Maine. Volume 87. November 11, 1915. Page 2 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1915-11-11/ed-1/seq-3/>
"Maine Federation's Women's Club" The Republican Journal. Belfast, Maine. Volume 88. January 13, 1916. Page 6 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1916-01-13/ed-1/seq-6/>
"Maine Federation of Women's Club," The Republican Journal. Belfast, Maine. Volume 41. October 9, 1919. Page 6 Online database: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress
<https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn78000873/1919-10-09/ed-1/seq-6/>