Mary Bellamy
Encyclopedia
Mary Godat Bellamy was the first woman elected to the Wyoming State Legislature. A resident of Laramie
, she was one of the five state representatives elected at-large from Albany County in 1910. She gained the second-highest vote total, trailing leader Leslie A. Miller
(also a Democrat
and, later, Wyoming governor) by just one vote (1,284 to Miller’s 1,285). A schoolteacher by profession, she was married to Charles Bellamy, the first licensed professional engineer
in America. Charles Bellamy, also a surveyor
, supervised numerous surveys in the northern Rockies
during his long career, including one survey in 1879 during which he named one of the most beautiful lakes in the Snowy Range
, Lake Marie, in honor of his wife.
One of the founding members of the Wyoming Federation of Women's Clubs, Mary Bellamy won the Democratic nomination for the Wyoming House of Representatives
in 1910, going on to win the general election later that year. She did not seek re-election to the office. In 1918, she was a delegate to the National Suffrage
Convention. She never again sought elective office although she was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
in 1920. Throughout her life, she remained active in Laramie and state civic organizations. In recognition of that service, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Wyoming
in 1952. She died in 1954 and was buried in Greenhill Cemetery, Laramie.
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
, she was one of the five state representatives elected at-large from Albany County in 1910. She gained the second-highest vote total, trailing leader Leslie A. Miller
Leslie A. Miller
Leslie Andrew Miller was an American politician who served as the 17th Governor of Wyoming from 1932 until 1939. He was a Democrat....
(also a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and, later, Wyoming governor) by just one vote (1,284 to Miller’s 1,285). A schoolteacher by profession, she was married to Charles Bellamy, the first licensed professional engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
in America. Charles Bellamy, also a surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, supervised numerous surveys in the northern Rockies
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
during his long career, including one survey in 1879 during which he named one of the most beautiful lakes in the Snowy Range
Medicine Bow Mountains
The Medicine Bow Mountains are a mountain range in the Rocky Mountains that extend for from northern Colorado into southern Wyoming. The northern extent of this range is the sub-range the Snowy Range...
, Lake Marie, in honor of his wife.
One of the founding members of the Wyoming Federation of Women's Clubs, Mary Bellamy won the Democratic nomination for the Wyoming House of Representatives
Wyoming House of Representatives
The Wyoming House of Representatives is the lower house of the Wyoming State Legislature. There are 60 Representatives in the House, representing an equal amount of single-member constituent districts across the state, each with a population of at least 9,000. The House convenes at the Wyoming...
in 1910, going on to win the general election later that year. She did not seek re-election to the office. In 1918, she was a delegate to the National Suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
Convention. She never again sought elective office although she was selected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1920. Throughout her life, she remained active in Laramie and state civic organizations. In recognition of that service, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
in 1952. She died in 1954 and was buried in Greenhill Cemetery, Laramie.