Suffrage

I (Amy Zehr) became interested in Waverly, NY, (Tioga County) history with the purchase of this Victorian estate in Waverly. My husband, Brad, and I have been restoring this Eastlake style property since our purchase in 2010. I started by researching the history of the original family and the designer and builder of the home. The information I found led me to researching Waverly itself. I learned of Don Merrill and his private collection of Waverly and contacted him and started making regular visits to research his collection. I later learned of Fultonhistory.com and findagrave.com. Don Merrill later donated his Waverly collection to the Waverly Historical Society, an organization he was instrumental in founding. My husband and I are both on its board and founding members.

I am fascinated with the history of the family who lived in our home at 208 Chemung Street. It is very interesting to me, to discover all that was going on, in and around Waverly during the life times of the family members while they lived in the home from 1857 - 1945. After the woman (Mary Fralick), the original family sold the estate to, in 1945, turned the former home into 6 apartments, the two former women, mother and daughter (Gertrude and Charlotte Knapp), came back to live in one of the apartments, and then, after the new owner turned their former carriage house into two apartments, the mother (Gertrude Slaughter Knapp) and daughter (Charlotte Knapp), moved into one of those apartments. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for the last two living immediate descendants to have given up their family's estate.

The years 1911 - 1917, according to the newspapers, were the most active years in Waverly's Women's Suffrage campaigning. Pauline Knickerbocker Angell was the leader of the Waverly Suffragists and for a time, she was also the leader for all of Tioga County, NY in the Suffrage movement. Some of Waverly's most active Suffragettes helping Pauline were: Mrs. "George" Gaius H. Goff (Adella), Mrs. Joseph Warren Knapp (Frances Knapp), Mrs. John F. Tozer (Emma Tozer), Mrs. Charles H. Ott (Eliza Gutman Ott), Mrs. Seward Baldwin (Mabel Baldwin), and Miss Mary Muldoon. Prominent Suffragette leaders who came to Waverly during this time were; Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt - key coordinator for the American Suffrage movement and president of the International Woman Suffrage Alliance, Miss D. Walford from Statford - on - Avon, England, and Mrs. Emma Smith Devoe from Tacoma, Washington.

Two generations in a row, the women of this home were left widows and in charge of the estate and rental property. I feel it is appropriate to honor them also, during New York's celebration of Women's Suffrage, 2017-2020. Though Charlotte Wells Slaughter had died in 1912, and was sick for about a year before that, therefore could not participate in Waverly's time period of 1911 - 1917 Women's Suffrage campaigning, she had been prior to this time, very active in the Women's groups and in the same circle of friends of those women who did participate. I can only assume that she too, would have been active in the campaigns, and if not as a leader, as a supporter.

Charlotte Wells married Samuel Slaughter in 1873 and Samuel died in 1894, when their only child, a daughter, Mary Gertrude, was 4 years old. Charlotte Slaughter was an active community member in Waverly and other nearby communities. She was active with; the Presbyterian church, Women's Missionary Society, conducting Regents exams, Susquehanna Valley home (state orphanage), D.A.R.;being a descendant of several prominent Orange County, NY pioneers, ladies auxiliary of the People's Hospital and Robert Packer Hospital, reading circles, the Women's Christian Temperance Union being a charter member, musical club, part of the executive committee for the Waverly University Club - a branch of the University Association and World's Congress Extension with their headquarters in Chicago, attended delegate meetings of the New York State Bankers' Association, After her husbands death, she inherited the home, rental property and the Corner Drug Store building which he owned but at the time of his death, he was using it as rental income. She continued to rent out the rental property; an octagon home at 7 Athens street and the Corner Drug Store (337 Broad street), corner of Broad and Waverly street. Her obituary said the village was called to mourn one of its most influential women and one whose passing will bring sorrow to a large circle of friends. It was also stated that she was a liberal giver to all of the church's charities.

Charlotte's daughter, Mary Gertrude Slaughter, went by her middle name, Gertrude. While attending Waverly schools Gertrude was a member of the Delta Theta Delta. In 1908, she attended college at The Elms, Miss Porter's School, in Springfield MA. In 1911, Gertrude graduated from the Emma Willard School at Troy, NY and then went back to take post graduate courses.

In 1912, Mary Gertrude Slaughter inherited her family's home along with the rental property; octagon home and Corner Drug Store building, at just 22 years of age. She was engaged in May of 1914 and in February of 1915 married George Brinker Knapp, son of Frances Knapp, a well known Waverly suffragist. The wedding took place in the home. In 1916, Gertrude and George had a baby girl, Charlotte, named after Gertrude's mother. Gertrude and George spent their winters in Florida. George died in 1927, when their only child, Charlotte Knapp, was 11 years old, and leaving Gertrude a widow, just as her mother had been left a widow.

Gertrude too, like her mother had been, was socially active in Waverly and nearby communities; the Presbyterian church: ladies benevolent society, Woman's Guild, and Women's Missionary Society; Mother's Club of the Lincoln street school, on the original committee to bring Fresh Air children to Waverly, dancing club, musical club, treasurer for the People's Hospital, Tioga General Hospital being on the executive committee, Girl Scouts: being a leader, president of its committee and Scout commissioner; Shepard Hills Country Club: on the Woman's auxiliary and treasurer of the auxiliary; executive board of the Valley View Country Club, member of the D.A. R. and at one time its treasurer and in 1939 vice-regent, Child's Conservation League, Rotarian, on the executive committee for the Red Cross, (interesting is that Gertrude was on the executive committee of the Red Cross in 1936 and 1937 when Mary Muldoon was its vice chairman), member of the Waverly Garden Club, Waverly Polyhymnia Club, a co-chairman for the Tioga County Tuberculosis and Public Health Association, canvasser for World War II War Bonds, aircraft observer during World War II, and secretary for the Waverly Free Library. Gertrude Slaughter Knapp died in 1956 at 66 years of age. She had been born and raised in Waverly in this home at 208 Chemung street, and raised her daughter in this home also. During Waverly's Suffrage campaigns of 1911-1917, Gertrude was just graduating from college and taking post graduate courses, lost her mother, inherited this large home (she sold it in 1945), the octagon rental home (she continued to use as rental income to about 1933, after that time, I have not been able to find out what happened to it or when it was taken down. The lot was sold in 1945 as part of the estate), and the former Corner Drug Store building at 337 Broad street (She sold the building to Earl Payne in 1946. He had already been renting part of the building), became engaged, got married and had a baby. During this time she still found time to be active in the community with the Presbyterian church and its missionary work and Women's guild, charity work, and treasurer for the Lady's auxiliary of the hospital. Also during this time she was active in some of the same groups as were Waverly's leading suffragists; Mrs. Charles Ott, Mrs. Seward Baldwin and Mrs. Frances Knapp, who became her mother-in-law. In 1914, Gertrude read for the Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church; Opinion of the Spirit of America, by Henry Van Dyke, an American author, educator, and Presbyterian clergyman.

(In the book, The Works of Henry Van Dyke: Propatria: The Spirit of America, Fighting for Peace
published in 1921 pages 84 - 86 )
This was said in 1909 from Van Dyke's book The Spirit of America, Universal suffrage never has existed in the United States and does not exist today. Each State has the right to fix its own conditions of suffrage, within the limits of the Constitution. It may require a property qualification; and in the past many States imposed this condition. It may require an educational qualification; and today some States are imposing this condition. It may exclude the Chinese; and California, Oregon, and Nevada make this exclusion. It may admit only natives and foreigners who have been naturalised, as the majority of the States do. It may admit also foreigners who have merely declared their intention of becoming naturalised, as eleven States do. It may permit only men to vote, or it may expressly grant the suffrage to every citizen, male or female, as Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah do. But the law of the nation says that when citizenship is established, the right to vote shall not be denied or abridged on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. It is entirely possible, therefore, that within this condition, suffrage should expand or contract in the United States according to the Will of the people. Woman suffrage might come in next year. On the other hand, educational and property qualifications might be proposed which would reduce the suffrage by a quarter or a third; but this is not likely to happen. The point is that suffrage in America is not regarded as a universal and inalienable human right, but as a political privilege granted on the ground of fair play in order to make the rights of the people more secure. The undeniable tendency has been to widen the suffrage; for Americans, as a rule, have a large confidence in the reasonableness of human nature, and believe that public opinion, properly and deliberately ascertained, will prove to be a wise and safe guide. But they recognize that a popular election may not always represent public opinion, that a people, like an individual, may and probably will need time to arrive at the best thought, the wisest counsel.

I find it interesting that our home stayed in Gertrude's name, even after her marriage to George Knapp. The home was never put in her husband's name, his time period living in the home from 1915 to 1927.

Gertrude's daughter, Charlotte Slaughter Knapp, was born on March 24, 1916, graduated from Waverly high school in 1934, then attended Wellesley college and in 1938 graduated from Cornell University (Bachelors of Arts). In 1939 she graduated from Washington DC at the Washington Secretarial School where she took a teacher training course in preparation for teaching secretarial subjects. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, the D.A.R.; participating in its events, member of the American Association of University Women, and canvasser for World War II War Bonds. After her college years, while living in Waverly, she also lived part time in New York City and then part time in Ithaca, NY. Charlotte, like her mother and grandmother, appeared very socially active with the community.

Charlotte Knapp never married and never had children. She was born the first generation who would have the benefits gained by the Women's Suffrage, a fight that lasted for over 70 years. And yes, it was a fight for women to vote, it wasn't a given right. In 1957, she was listed as an Honorary Member of the Honorary Society in Mechanical Engineering at Cornell University. A few years after her mother's death in 1956, she moved to California where she died on February 7, 1985. I have not been able to find any information about Charlotte after her move to California. I did learn that she came to Waverly in the summer of 1984 for her 50th class reunion, and then about a half a year later died. Very interesting is that in the summer of 1984, Brad and I were living in one of the third floor apartments, here in this home. Brad was helping paint the exterior of the home when two women approached the home and when Brad asked which apartment the one woman had lived in, she responded by saying, the whole home. Brad and I did not know the history of the home at that time. But now, we know, the woman was Charlotte Knapp, having one last look at her family home. At the time of the reunion she was living at 5162 E. Florence No. 2 Bell, California 90201. She had worked for the College of Engineering (CU) as a secretary.

The women of this home were very social, involved with the community, and entertained in the home with many meetings, gatherings, and parties. I would so much appreciate finding pictures of the women entertaining in this home and or hearing stories about the family. I love keeping the history alive, sharing it, and passing it on.

Waverly's Leading Women Suffragists:

Miss Pauline Angell, born and raised in Waverly, was not only the head of the Waverly Suffragists, but also the President of Tioga County's suffragists around 1913 to 1915, leading them in their movement. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Angell who owned the Chemung street Greenhouses and lived in the house at 414 Chemung street. Pauline's mother, Ella Angell, was also a suffragette who helped with the campaign in Waverly.

Pauline was a graduate of Vassar College in 1908, where she had majored in English and history. While attending Vassar, she was very successful and received many prizes and awards for her writing. For three years, she taught English and history at the Low-Hayword School for Girls in Stamford, Connecticut. Pauline then worked in New York on a vocational guidance survey which was being conducted by one of her former Vassar teachers. And around this time about 1911, is when she started her women's suffrage work.

In 1914, Pauline was able to acquire, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, the head of the suffrage movement in the United States, to come to Waverly and speak at Tioga county's first annual suffrage convention, held in the Waverly High school.

In 1915, Harper's magazine published one of Pauline's stories, Matthew Vassar- Feminist. She then went on to become a professional writer, writing for Ladies Home Journal, Pictorial Review, and McCall's.

Pauline's maternal grandmother was Mrs. Mary Jane Little Knickerbocker, wife of Edgar Knickerbocker. Mary Jane was for several years a successful teacher in the Rochester Free Academy, who was also a gifted writer. She died on September 4, 1876

Around 1914, Pauline was living part time in NYC and part time in Waverly at 414 Chemung street, her family home. In 1917, Pauline had refused a position as organizer of Up-State suffrage work, on account of the offer of the services of New York State suffragists in case of war made by Governor Whitman by Mrs. Normander, Whitehouse, chairman of the New York State Woman Suffrage Party. Pauline wrote a letter stating that it would be impossible for me to enroll others until assured that purpose of enrolling them was for suffrage only.

Pauline worked with Emily Balch, a leader of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) which was based in Switzerland and for which in 1946 Emily won the Nobel Peace Prize. Pauline Angell also worked with the leader of the New York Branch of the Women's Peace Party, Crystal Eastman. In 1918, The New York state campaign for the Woman's International League was managed by Pauline.

By 1921 Pauline was living in Westchester County, NY where she remained for many years. In 1921 she had a daughter, Marna Angell. In 1963, she moved to Marin County, Tamalpais Valley, California, to be closer to her daughter, Marna Angell Cohen (Irving Cohen) and grandchildren.

Pauline was a widely known lecturer and writer. Her last book, To The Top Of The World, a children's book was published in 1964. She was a Shakespeare scholar, author, and feminist.

In 1965, Pauline at 79 years of age, attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, of which she became a member in 1918. She was said to be a fighter of the oppressed or underprivileged, especially for women and children.

Pauline K. Angell, who was born in Waverly on Jan. 30, 1886 and who became a leader not only for the Waverly Suffragists but for all of Tioga County NY, passed away on Jan. 11, 1976 In Marin County, California. Her daughter, Marna, passed away on January 26, 2013.

According to Marna's obituary, Pauline passed on her qualities to her daughter, Marna.

One can only imagine how many other women Pauline and her daughter inspired and helped during their lifetimes. How many women they must have influenced.

Pauline is definitely one of Waverly's women who needs to be remembered and recognized, especially now during the 2017 100th New York state Women's Suffrage anniversary and also during the 2017-2020 anniversary celebrations going on across New York State.

Mrs. George H. Goff (Adell B. Goff) was a member of the Eastern Star, Women's Christian Temperance Union, and an active suffragist living all, but the last two years, of her life in Waverly. She held W. C. T. U. meetings at her home (514 Clark street), including those dealing with Women's Suffrage. She died in February of 1918 in Nebraska.

Mrs. Charles H. Ott (Eliza Gutman) lived at 444 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1913. Mrs. Ott was the widow of the late Dr. Charles H. Ott who had been the chief surgeon and head of the Robert Packer Hospital for 13 years in Sayre, PA. Mrs. Ott also worked at the hospital as the matron. She along with her husband helped to continue to develop the Robert Packer Hospital. Dr. Charles Ott passed away in 1909 and was succeeded by Dr. Donald Guthrie.

Mrs. Charles H. Ott was a Waverly Suffragist, member of the Valley Shriners, involved with the National Federation of Women's Clubs, member of the Presbyterian church and involved with its Missionary Society. In 1913 she was elected president of the Civic League of Bradford County, PA.

Mrs. Ott was in the 1914 - 1915 edition of Women's Who's Who In America, page 607, and from this: she married in 1886, had 5 children, taught Home Economics to the nursing students at the Robert Packer Hospital for 6 years, prominent in Home and Foreign Missionary work, Sabbath school teacher for 25 years, charter member of 2 musical clubs, a member of the Waverly Women's Study club and more.

In May of 1916, Mrs. Ott was named to represent the Federation of Women's Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania at the biennial convention held at New York. In October of 1918, she was appointed as Tioga County chairman of the Child Welfare Department of the Woman's League of defense.

Mrs. Ott was a very well known prominent citizen of Waverly, a Waverly Suffragist, and was said to be interested in the social betterment of the village of Waverly.

Mrs. John F. Tozer was born Emma A. Taft, the daughter of Mr. Nathaniel H. Taft and Mabel Dawson Taft in Worcester, Mass. on Dec. 26, 1853 and soon after her birth, her family moved to Port Jervis. In 1874, Mrs. Tozer married John Tozer in Port Jervis, and then came to Waverly to live with John's parents on Broad street for about a year before moving into their own home in Waverly. Mrs. Tozer's husband was a life long resident of the village of Waverly who had been in the livery business and then later, a Tyler or outer guard at the Masonic Temple in Waverly. They had 3 children, their oldest, N. J. Tozer lived at 314 South Fulton street; their middle child, Leon died in 1894 from Scarlet Fever at 16 years old; their youngest child and daughter Anna, Mrs. Thomas D. Sheahan, lived on Waverly street.

By the early 1900's, the Tozer's were living at 509 Fulton street and were still there when they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1924.

Mrs. Tozer was a member of the Women's Christian Temperance Union and a Waverly suffragist who helped with the Waverly campaign. In the late 1800's she was district deputy of the Waverly Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 101. She was a member of the Waverly Methodist church and active in the Epworth League and in 1914 had been the Junior League president for 20 years. She was also highly involved with The Winter Night Circle which was organized in 1893 under the auspices of the literary committee of the Epworth League. The Circle's plan was; taking up a course in reading in Bible characters and American history. Meetings were held every two weeks. Many of the circle meetings were held in her home.
Emma's husband, born March 24, 1854, died on September 12, 1932. Emma died on January 24, 1934. They are buried at Forrest Home Cemetery in Waverly.

Mrs. Joseph Warren Knapp (Frances Knapp) was born in Barton, NY to George and Linda Hanna Durkee. Frances married Joseph W. Knapp and lived on a farm on Walker Hill, Waverly, NY. They had 5 sons; Harry, Joseph, Robert, Ralph, and George.The Knapp family were a very prominent family well known for their Knapp's Department Store on Broad street.

Frances Knapp lived her entire life in Waverly. She was very active in the Presbyterian Church of Waverly, being its president of the Missionary Society and a Sunday school teacher for many years, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D. A. R.), a founding member of the Waverly Willard's Women's Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U); being its first secretary and later becoming its president.

Frances Knapp was a suffragette who was known as a scholarly woman with a thoughtful mind and lovable character, a leader of her generation, and active in all things for the improvement of the morals and the welfare of Waverly.

In 1912, Frances and Joseph and their son, George, moved to 225 Clinton Avenue. In 1918, Frances and Joseph were living next door, on the corner of Clinton Avenue and Lincoln street at 29 Lincoln street. After her husband's death in 1924, Frances lived with her son, George, and daughter-in-law, Gertrude Knapp, at 208 Chemung street. George died in 1927 from an accidental gunshot. Then shortly before Frances' death (died in May of 1934), Frances moved in with another son, Harry Knapp, at 455 Waverly street. She is buried in Glenwood cemetery.

Miss Mary Warren Muldoon is most noted and remembered for her history with the Waverly Junior High School and being its principal. For 54 years she worked in the Waverly school system. She introduced the industrial arts and domestic science into the curriculum. After her retirement from the school in 1949, the school was re-named after her, Mary W. Muldoon Junior High School. Even after her retirement from the school she remained active in the affairs of New York State educators. Today, the former school has been renovated into 31 apartments and is named Muldoon Gardens.

Mary was the first woman elected president of the New York State Teacher's Association and she headed it for 21 years. Miss Muldoon started the teacher's welfare fund with the purpose of providing for those teachers who were retired before the pension system was in place. It provided for those retired teachers who became very poor due to prolonged illnesses and other reasons. Dr. Woolsey Stryker, president of Hamilton College in 1932 said this of Mary Muldoon, if all people were built on the character model of Teacher Mary Muldoon, what a grand and glorious old world this would be! There was a home in Syracuse, NY which was chartered in 1958, for retired teachers, York State Manor, which was supplied by the Mary Muldoon Fund.

During World War I, Miss Muldoon along with Mabel Baldwin set up the Waverly Chapter of the American Red Cross. Miss Mary Muldoon continued on with this alone after the war was over until 1944, when during World War II, she needed more help. Mary taught a six week course for 20 volunteers and an office on Broad street was opened. In 1945, they moved into the second floor at 338 Broad street over the Valley Pharmacy. Miss Muldoon continued to serve in an advisory capacity while Mrs. Carl Coots was in charge of the headquarters.

In 1927, Mary continued on the topic of suffrage when she presented a talk for the Women's Civic Club in the Waverly high school auditorium on Citizenship and Suffrage. She noted cases where American born women who married aliens were questioned on their rights to vote.
She was an accomplished speaker who gave many talks to many different groups, educating others in women's rights, politics, and in the changing world in general.

Mary Muldoon died in Waverly at her home, 418 Chemung street, on March 12, 1958 at 73 years of age. She is buried in the St. James Cemetery in Waverly.

Mrs. Seward Baldwin was another prominent Waverly suffragist who helped with the Waverly campaign. Mrs. Seward Baldwin lived at 474 Pennsylvania Avenue. Mabel Gillan Baldwin was born in Chambersburg, PA, the daughter of Honorable W. Rush Gillan and Margaretta L. Winger Gillan. In 1893, she graduated from Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. In 1899 she married Seward Baldwin, a Waverly businessman.

During her lifetime she was very involved with missionary work. In 1914, she was secretary of the Tioga County Committee of the State Charities Aid Association. In 1914, she was also elected President of the newly formed Political Equality club organized in Waverly. Iin 1914, Mabel and Seward moved next door at 472 Pennsylvania Avenue, Seward's former family home.

During World War I, Mabel Baldwin along with Mary Muldoon, set up the Waverly Chapter of the American Red Cross. She was a member of the New York State Committee of Tuberculosis and Public Health. She helped with organizing the Tioga County Tuberculosis and Public Health Associations and in 1952 was made honorary life member. By 1918, Mabel and Seward were living at 12 Ithaca street.

In 1924, she was considered a female politician in New York state when she was an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention in New York.

Mabel went on to later become the first postmistress in Waverly from 1935-1947. She was appointed acting postmaster at Waverly on February 25, 1935 by Postmaster General James A. Farley. On January 20, 1936, she received her commission as postmaster for a term of four years from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After the act placing postmasters under Civil Service, she took the Civil Service test and in April of 1940, she received her appointment from President Roosevelt for an indefinite term.

In 1933, Mabel's husband, Seward died at 59 years old. Seward Baldwin had been a former Mayor of Waverly and a prominent manufacturer. Burial was in Forrest Home.

In 1938, she was appointed regional representative of Wilson College, Chambersburg, PA, in New York State. Announcement of the appointment, one of five in New York, was made by Paul Swain Havens, president of the college. As a regional representative she was the official delegate for her alma mater at all important New York State area academic functions, such as inaugurations and anniversaries, to which Wilson college was invited. Mabel also served as a consultant for her district in nationwide campaigns and educational movements launched by Wilson, one of the oldest colleges for women in the East.

Mabel was a member of the D.A.R. She was a descendant of Captain Yost Harbaugh, being his Gr-Gr-granddaughter. Captain Yost Harbaugh had commanded the 7th company, York County, Pennsylvania militia. She had been a resident of Waverly for 60 years.

In December of 1954, she celebrated her 80th birthday in Chambersburg, PA, where she lived with her sister, Mrs. Taber Hamilton. In her later years she lived with her daughter, Mrs. E. Hale Codding of Towanda, PA. In February of 1965 Mabel passed away at the Foyle Convalescent Home in Towanda, PA at 90 years old.

W.C.T.U. :

The Women's Christian Temperance Union was one of the Women's organizations in Waverly that was highly active in the Women's suffrage campaign. The Willard Chapter of the Waverly W.C.T.U. was started on January 17, 1889 and the women on its charter were; Mrs. Elvira Lang, Mrs. Levi Curtis, Mrs. Gertrude Shoemaker, Mrs. Louise Genung, Mrs. Charlotte Slaughter, Mrs. Frances Knapp, Mrs. James Angell, Mrs. Benjamin Bonnell, Mrs. Lillian Barnum, Mrs. Addie Kulback and Miss Rita Lowman .

There were 25 active and 9 honorary members. The first officers were; president, Mrs. J. J. Kaulback; vice president Mrs. E. B. Durfey; corresponding secretary, Mrs. J. W. Knapp; recording secretary Miss Lillian Barnum; treasurer, Mrs. O. B. Corwin. Some of the churches also appointed vice presidents: Baptist church, Mrs. S. J. Stark; Presbyterian church, Mrs. H. E. Lowman; Methodist church, Mrs. I .G. Lemon. By April of 1889, there were 68 active members and 29 honorary members.

They held their monthly meetings in the parlors of the Spalding Hose Company. Later, they held weekly meetings, every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the W. C. T. U. Hall located at 365 Broad street.

Three of the 11, Waverly's Willard W. C. T. U charter women died around the time of the Waverly suffrage campaigns from 1911 to 1917, and were not able to see New York state pass Women's Suffrage . Among these 3 women were Mrs. Charlotte Slaughter, the Lady of our estate; Mrs. Elvira Lyford Lang, who lived next door to Charlotte, and Mrs. Levi Curtis who also worked with Charlotte in other groups.

- Mrs. Elvira Lyford Lang came to Waverly in the fall of 1857 as the bride of Professor Andrew Lang, the first principal of the Waverly Institute. She helped her husband with laying of the educational interests of Waverly. From her obituary in December of 1910, it said, Waverly loses one who for more than half a century been closely identified with all that has tended to advance the moral, educational and religious interests of the community. Elvira was a talented musician who was in charge of the Music department at the Institute. She was said to have been very active in the Presbyterian church, musical organizations and all matters of general public welfare. She was living with her son, Percy Lang at 202 Chemung street at the time of her death. She is buried in Glenwood cemetery.

- Mrs. Levi Curtis (Lomita Miller Curtis) came to Waverly in 1869 and was active with several organizations and a member of the Presbyterian church being a Sunday school teacher and involved with the various woman's societies within the church. She was for the advancement of the village of Waverly. In 1872, Mrs. Curtis was one of the trustees who helped arrange an organization in Waverly to help the Southern Tier Orphan Asylum in Elmira, NY. In 1883, the board of education appointed Mrs. Levi Curtis along with Mrs. S. W. Slaughter and Mrs. H. J. Baldwin to a committee to conduct Regents examinations. She was the W. C. T. U.'s first president, she was also one of the delegates to its first state meeting. She had lived at 430 Pennsylvania Avenue. Mrs. Curtis died in April of 1911 after a long illness with bronchitis and is buried in Glenwood cemetery in Waverly.

- Mrs. Charlotte Slaughter came to Waverly in 1873 as the bride of Samuel Wickham Slaughter, successful businessman and owner of the Corner Drug Store on Broad street. The Slaughter's lived in the home that we are restoring at 208 Chemung street. This home was rebuilt in its Eastlake style as a wedding gift from Samuel's father, Dewitt Slaughter, who bought the home in 1857. In 1883, the board of education appointed Mrs. Samuel Wickham Slaughter along with Mrs. Levi Curtis and Mrs. H. J. Baldwin to a committee to conduct Regents examinations. Charlotte was a Daughter of the American Revolution member. Mrs. Charlotte Slaughter was a member of the Presbyterian church and for many years a leader in the church with special interests in the Ladies' Benevolent and Missionary societies and involved with many other Waverly social circles. She was very active in the community with many groups. Her obituary said her hospitality was unbounded and she was never happier than when entertaining for friends and relatives at her beautiful home on Chemung street. Our village is called to mourn one of its most influential women and one whose passing will bring sorrow to a large circle of friends.
Mrs. Slaughter died on July 27, 1912 after being ill for a year, then suffering a stroke a week before she died. She is buried in Glenwood cemetery in Waverly.

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