CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— The Indiana Historical Bureau unveiled a historical marker at the Clay County Courthouse to honor Elizabeth “Bessie” Eaglesfield for her work as a pioneering lawyer 45 years before women had the right to vote, as well as her fight for women’s suffrage and other accomplishments she had.
Eaglesfield was born in Clay County in 1853, and even though women were unable to vote during that time, she was able to get admittance to the state bar in 1875 and began her practice as a lawyer in Indiana and Michigan. She became one of the first lawyers in the United States to be a female at this time. This was also an accomplishment due to Indiana requiring attorneys to be voters; she was still able to accomplish her goal of becoming one.
Later on in life, Eaglesfield began fighting for women’s suffrage and helping out the community in any way she could. When people decided they did not want a female lawyer and she was limited in the clients she could get, she went on to become a boat captain as well as a businesswoman. She used her legal skills to help in the shipping industry on the Great Lakes.
Jeff Koehler is the Clay County Historian, and he explained why unveiling this historical marker today was very meaningful.
“We chose August 26th, because this is Women’s Equality Day,” Koehler said. “This was the official day in 1920 that women were allowed the right to vote. She acquired admission to the Indiana bar in eighteen seventy-five, forty-five years before women had the right to vote.”
Koehler also discussed some of her other accomplishments in life.
“She also became one of the first women to hold captain papers on Lake Michigan as well,” Koehler said. “She was quite a businessperson. Very, very much, a pioneer in the women’s movement.”
Sally Standley is the great-great niece of Eaglesfield, and she came from Indianapolis to see the marker. She mentioned that she has heard about Elizabeth Eaglesfield and has known about her all her life, and said how it was a great honor to see her family member be honored in this historical way.
This is the fifth state historical marker to be placed in Clay County. To learn more about Eaglesfield’s historic marker and any other historic marker in the state, click here.
Comments