{"id":415,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-06-09 21:59:54","latitude":31.3615664000000009536961442790925502777099609375,"longitude":-96.1441315000000003010427462868392467498779296875,"title":"The Alderwomen of Jewett","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/a41dd16fca86f3bfdf10a57e100885c2.jpg","address":"","all_locations":[],"zoom":11,"creator":["Shelby Watson"],"description":"In April 1920, during the momentum of the women’s suffrage movement, Jewett, Texas, elected a female mayor and five female city council members, forming the state’s first all-female city government. The previous year, Texas became the ninth state and the first in the South to ratify the 19th Amendment on June 28, 1919, which expanded women's voting rights. [1]
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\r\nJewett was typical of small, rural southern towns at the time, with residents holding traditional views on politics, race, and gender. Women in Jewett, like many across Texas, pushed for more involvement in civic life and leadership beyond their usual domestic roles. Across the region, similar strides were being made. Towns like Winslow, Arkansas, and Morganton, North Carolina, also saw women step into leadership roles as part of a bigger Southern suffrage network. Citing the irony that the town was not cared for or managed as well as their own homes, female reformers spoke out and criticized the male-led local government. Their ongoing criticism led to a political change that transformed Jewett’s civic culture and changed how people saw women’s roles. [2]
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\r\nBy 1920, Jewett was growing thanks to its location on the International & Great Northern Railroad. By 1884, the town had about 500 residents, along with several general stores and three saloons. Despite the bustling environment, many residents, especially women, were unhappy with local political corruption. They pointed out that previous administrations had neither collected taxes nor adequately maintained public services. Mrs. Hattie Barnes Adkisson, wife of banker James Adkisson, also spoke out, saying the male officials "never did anything that amounted to a pinch of salt." Frustrated by the criticism, the men challenged the women to take over if they thought they could do better. [3]
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\r\nA few days before the 1920 citywide elections, Mayor Robinson resigned, admitting that “we have done nothing for the benefit of the town; have paid no attention to the violations of the speed law, the gambling law, and the Sunday law; and that we have ordered citizens to keep the streets cleaned and have paid absolutely no attention to their refusal to do so." The news of his resignation sent ripples through the community, leaving many townspeople shocked and others skeptical about what this sudden change would mean for Jewett. On election day, no one had officially run for office. Robinson and the alderpersons did not seek reelection but said they would not refuse to serve another term if the public chose them. Robinson and a few others arranged for Hattie Adkisson to be nominated for mayor and the alderpersons' wives to run for council, putting them up for election against their husbands. [4]
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\r\nWhen the votes were counted, Hattie Adkisson became mayor, and the aldermen's wives, such as Carrie Smith, wife of Dr. V. L. Smith, gained their husbands' old positions. Local anti-suffragists tried to contest the election results, but their efforts failed. All the women accepted their new roles, except Ella Barron, who declined public office to focus on her home and children. Events in Jewett represented part of a broader pattern of female municipal leadership emerging throughout the country at the time. In 1917, for example, voters in Argonia, Kansas, elected Susanna M. Salter as the nation's first female mayor, a significant victory in the suffrage movement. Argonia was the first U.S. town to have an all-woman government, including a female mayor and a council. This example, alongside Jewett’s leadership, highlights the rarity and emerging trend of women holding municipal leadership roles during this period. [5]
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\r\nJewett’s new administration focused its platform on practical management of city affairs, with Mayor Adkisson explaining that their goal was to fulfill their responsibilities and create a town residents could be proud to call home, according to historical accounts of the city council's duties. Their first action was to organize a town cleanup day. Adkisson and the alderwomen visited churches and schools, including the local Black school, to encourage everyone to join in. The effort worked, and residents came together to clean the streets and remove trash. They also focused on building and improving streets, collecting unpaid taxes, and enforcing town rules. In their first year, Adkisson and the alderwomen made real progress: new streets were planned, taxes were collected, and roads were repaired. [6]
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\r\nAlthough May Adkisson and the all-female Board of “Aldermen” used the imagery of domesticity to “clean up” Jewett, such rhetoric also possessed limiting connotations. It subtly reinforced the notion that women's contributions still tied them to the domestic sphere, even as they took on civic roles. Adkisson reflected on this dual nature, noting that while their direct approach helped drive changes, it was equally crucial to recognize women's potential beyond traditional gender roles. She argued that the main goal of her administration remained to make Jewett a "better place to rear our children." She added, "This is the reason that we have been insisting on some improvements. We have got a chance now to show what we are willing to do." [7]
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\r\nAdkisson’s administration proved popular, and in 1921, local voters returned her and her associates to the Board of Alderwomen for a second term. As Adkisson remarked, "You’ve seen what can be done and how we did it. We’re not planning to continue in office. It’s up to you to step in and continue the work we’ve started." By the conclusion of their second term, Jewett’s female leaders had gained both local popularity and national attention. Hattie Adkisson’s commitment to public service attracted the notice of Texas Governor Pat Morris Neff, who appointed her to a state committee on civic work. She also served on a federal committee on civic affairs and traveled throughout Texas to deliver speeches on public affairs and local government. When questioned about whether public office interfered with their domestic responsibilities, the women responded collectively, "[n]ot in the slightest." Alderwoman Josie Evans elaborated, "It was enjoyable. Nor are we giving up our interest just because we are leaving office. We will still work, and because we have been running the city, we expect both men and women will take more interest in civic affairs." Evans further stated, "Women in the United States should pay more attention to politics. They can find plenty of time." [8]
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\r\nJewett’s all-female city government revealed the impact of women’s leadership in politics during a transformative time in American history. Mayor Adkisson and the alderwomen improved the town’s civic life and infrastructure and challenged traditional ideas about gender. Their work encouraged more public participation in local government. Their dedication proved that effective government depends on commitment to the community, not gender, and set an example for future generations about the power of inclusive civic engagement. These modern initiatives echo the spirit of Jewett's achievements, reminding us that the fight for equality and representation is ongoing and vital. As we reflect on their achievements and the strides in women’s leadership, what actions can we take today to continue the legacy of inclusive civic participation in our communities?","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["[1] “History and Development of Jewett, Texas,” Texas State Historical Association (TSHA), accessed February 14, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/jewett-tx","[2] Ibid.","[3] Ibid; United States Census Office, Tenth Census of the United States: 1880 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1883).","[4] “Susanna Madora Salter,” Kansas Historical Society, accessed February 14, 2026, https://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/susanna-madora-salter/15573","[5] “History and Development of Jewett, Texas,”","[6] Ibid.","[7] Ibid.","[8] Ibid."],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/a41dd16fca86f3bfdf10a57e100885c2.jpg":{"id":2959,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"The Alderwomen of Jewett","description":"Taken in 1922, this picture captures four of the five outgoing alderwomen of Jewett, Texas. Pictured from left to right: Nellie Evans, Allie Dotson, Josie Evans, and Emma Lee Harrison. Not pictured is Carrie Smith, the fifth alderwomen. The all-female city government made national headlines, drawing attention for being the first of its kind in Texas. During their time in office, the alderwomen were very popular among their fellow townsfolk, defying expectations and contributing a great deal to the town's progress. | Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 23, 1922, pg. 41.","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/a41dd16fca86f3bfdf10a57e100885c2.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/39b58e62f5a88daa05149fd011d9bdda.jpg":{"id":2960,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Hattie Barnes Adkisson, Mayor of Jewett, Texas (1920-1922)","description":"A trailblazer for women in politics, Hattie Barnes Adkisson was one of the first female mayors in Texas, second to Ophelia Geraldine “Birdie” Crosby Harwood, who was elected mayor of Marble Falls, Texas in 1917, three years prior to the ratification of the nineteenth amendment. Adkisson was elected mayor of Jewett in April 1920, along with five female town alderwomen, making them the first all-female government in the state. As mayor, Adkisson oversaw various improvements, such a mandating an occasional town cleanup day, confronting tax dodgers and collecting all unpaid taxes, as well as outlining new roads in town and enforcing city ordinances. Adkisson's devotion to civics caught the attention of Texas Governor Pat Morris Neff, who appointed her to a state board of civic affairs. During her time in office and after, Adkisson would travel around the state giving speeches about her successes as mayor and how women should play a more active role in politics. | The Houston Post, May 15, 1920, pg. 7.","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/39b58e62f5a88daa05149fd011d9bdda.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/9f194d9047df01178753268887f09723.jpg":{"id":2961,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Hattie Barnes Adkisson","description":"A family portrait of Hattie Barnes Adkisson. Adkisson was born on January 2, 1886, in Jewett, Leon County, Texas. She lived most of her life in Leon County. Adkisson died on August 12, 1974, in Freestone County, Texas. |
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92656775/hattie-adkisson: accessed February 2, 2026), memorial page for Hattie Barnes Adkisson (2 Jan 1886–12 Aug 1974), Find a Grave Memorial ID 92656775, citing Jewett Cemetery, Jewett, Leon County, Texas, USA; Maintained by mlWATSONtrant (contributor 46849976).
","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/9f194d9047df01178753268887f09723.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/d606666fa3b150df319e0d9fe1dd2952.jpg":{"id":2962,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Jewett Re-elects Women City Officers, April 1921","description":"After a successful first year in office, Mayor Adkisson and the alderwomen were re-elected to their positions in April 1921. The all-female city leadership enjoyed high approval ratings from their constituents, thoroughly defeating an all-male opposition ticket. | Bryan-College Station Eagle, April 6, 1921, pg. 1.","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/d606666fa3b150df319e0d9fe1dd2952.jpg"},"https://easttexashistory.org/files/fullsize/a215664c35f1afb5c743495e465ef3e7.jpg":{"id":2963,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Male Ineptitude Leads to Female Uprising","description":"Characteristic of most towns and cities across the nation, Jewett has been led by an all-male municipal government for its entire history. By 1920, female participation in politics, at any level, was a rare sight and not a reality in most parts of the nation. Though, as progressive era ideals and pro-suffrage sentiments swept across the nation, more women would begin finding themselves in the halls of political power. In Jewett, the inept leadership of the all-male city government led to a political revolution the likes of which Texas had not been seen--the election of an all-female government.","thumbnail":"https://easttexashistory.org/files/square_thumbnails/a215664c35f1afb5c743495e465ef3e7.jpg"}}}