5 Lesser-Known Yates County Women You Should Know About
During Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting five remarkable, but lesser-known women or group of women who either grew up or lived in Yates County for a portion of their life that made a positive impact.
These women displayed courage, creativity, and leadership, especially during times when it was made difficult for women to do so. The Finger Lakes region has been shaped and influenced by incredible women whose stories aren’t always widely known.
From being brave and bold to showing tenderness and care…explore these women who are a shining example of why it’s important to be both. From suffragists and educators to community builders and artists, these women are worth noting and should be recognized.
Huldah "Huddy" (Patchen) Hull
Who she was: Born in Connecticut in 1750. Her husband was Eliphalet Hull (Revolutionary war militiamen) and their daughter Sarah (one of seven children) was married to Cyrus Buell (acted as a scout from Fort Ann in Washington County at the young age of 15). Both Hull and Buell families relocated to what is now known as Benton Center in the early 1790’s. Her nickname was “Huddy”. She died at the age of 89 in 1839 and was buried at Baldwin Cemetery in Benton, Yates County.
Why she matters: While she was not a veteran herself, there was various times where she aided Revolutionary War activities and showed moments of extreme bravery for not only her country but her family and children.
Why you should know about her:
- British soldiers tried to steal her cow, so she got on a horse and chased them down. A British officer was so impressed with her bold behavior that they actually gave the cow back to her. Talk about taking ownership!
- While living in Fort Edward, additional troops were needed, so she disguised herself in men’s clothing and rode out on horseback to obtain help all night long.
- During the war, she often would hide in wooded areas with her children while her husband, Eliphalet, was away, to help keep her family safe during a severely dangerous era.
References:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28814727/patchen-hull
Helen M.T. Ayres
Who she was: Born Helen M. Turner in 1840, in Ovid, NY to John Turner and Susannah Ayres. Helen’s parents died in 1842, so one of Susannah’s older half-brothers, Lewis Smalley Ayres, and his wife, Esther McLellan, adopted Helen. Her adoptive father, Lewis was an accomplished businessman and a Penn Yan Village Trustee. He opened an insurance agency that Helen eventually took over when he died in 1876. She died in January of 1899, which her death is still a bit mysterious to this day.
Why she matters: Helen became the first graduate of the Elmira Female College in 1859 and was 1 of 17 women in the first graduating class.
Why you should know about her:
- Helen was a teacher in one or more southern schools for about 10 years after she graduated college.
- Like her father, Helen was an active participant in the community. She served on the board of the Penn Yan Public Library, which was founded in 1895, and was also was the first librarian.
- Though she didn’t win, Helen was the first woman nominated for Yates County school commissioner in 1884.
- “Our dear friend was kind, generous, thoughtful for each member-the perfect embodiment of unselfishness.” – from her obituary in 1899.
References:
Susannah Hatmaker
Who she was: Born in 1871 in Yates County, her family was well-known in the area since her father was a pastor and her grandfather was the first doctor in Yates County. She attended Syracuse University to study music, but felt called to nursing. She attended the Nurse’s Training School of the Post Graduate Hospital in New York City (eventually merging into NYU). She died at the age of 79 in 1950 in Penn Yan at Soldiers & Sailors Hospital.
Why she matters: She helped bridge the gap for healthcare in Yates County by opening the first ever hospital in the county in 1911. It remained the only central location nurses and doctors could practice and perform minor procedures until 1924 when Soldiers & Sailors opened.
Why you should know about her:
- She was a trained nurse with a college background, which was unusual during the 1890’s and early 1900’s.
- Nurses like her were in demand in metro New York, but her heart remained in her hometown of Penn Yan in Yates County. She converted the Hatmaker property on East Main Street into the first hospital in Yates County.
- She personally invested into the home so that it could function properly and safely as a private hospital such as the installation of sanitary plumbing, a hot-water heating system, and an acetylene gas plant for lighting and cooking power.
- She ran the private hospital at the same time when women still didn’t have the right to vote.
Reference
Della Pierce Cooper & The Women's Study Club of Dundee
Who she was: Born in 1849 and died in 1917 in Dundee. Della was one of the founding members of the Woman’s Study Club, a group of women who held weekly meetings to study civic government in 1903.
Why she matters: She played a pivotal role in helping jumpstart what is now the Dundee Library. When she died in June of 1917, she bequeathed her house and lot on Water Street for the club to use for the library while the new building was being constructed and eventually opened in 1920.
Why you should know about her and The Women’s Study Club:
- Della donated $2,000 toward the construction of a new library building and her entire personal collection of books.
- By 1921, the library had grown to hold over three thousand volumes in its collection.
- “The Club has been fortunate in having among its members women who were willing to assume this heavy burden and direct the work of the library so as to give the greatest possible service to the community.” – April 28th, 1921 edition of the Dundee Observer
- The Women’s Study Club was honored with a NYS Historic Marker outside the library on Water Street in 2022.
References:
https://www.wgpfoundation.org/historic-markers/womans-study-club/
Florence Upson (Wyckoff)
Who she was: Born in 1882 in Elmira. At a young age, she fell in love with the outdoors and was determined to live in a farm. She attended Cornell University in 1911 and graduated with a degree in horticulture. She met her husband at Cornell and went on to marry Frank Upson in 1912 and they had three children. Early in their marriage they moved to the Dundee area and bought a 75 acre farm and raised their family. She also ran the Jemima Wilkinson Antique Shop in Dundee, but she was most notable for her devotion and work for women’s suffrage.
Why she matters: In 1917 Florence Upson became the head of the Yates County branch of the NYS Women’s Suffrage Party alongside Mrs. Frankie Merson.
Why you should know about her:
- Her tireless efforts, advocacy, and campaigns fighting for women having the right to vote such as representing Yates County at the State level during the a Women’s Suffrage convention in 1916.
- She helped lead rallies, brought in speakers, and worked on getting women’s signatures on petitions that supported the movement on women’s voting rights.
- The members of the Yates County branch of the New York State Women’s Suffrage Party gathered at the Benham Hotel in Penn Yan for a luncheon that December of 1917 to celebrate the statewide victory favoring full voting rights for women. Florence Upson attended the victory banquet at the Biltmore Hotel in New York City. Even though they had lost the local battle where well over half of the votes were against the referendum, they won the war statewide, which was still a true long-term victory.
- In 1918, Florence was chosen as a delegate to the Republican County committee to attend the unofficial state convention in Saratoga Springs, NY. The following year, during the 1st annual Yates County Republican banquet, she was asked to speak about rural farming, schools, and healthcare, and the roles that women played. She was the only woman at the head table with 19 men.
- Post the passing of the 19th Amendment, she was involved in the Fresh Air Fund in the 1930s and served on the Yates County Defense Council during World War II. She was passionate about food insecurity and organized food sales to help those in need through her church and the Helping Hands Society.
References
http://www.yatespast.org/articles/suffrage.html
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LCQK-7C8/florence-adele-wyckoff-1882-1976