Pauline O'Neill (suffrage leader)
Encyclopedia
Pauline Marie O'Neill (January 13, 1865 – January 12, 1961) was an American
suffragist and legislator
. In addition to her personal accomplishments, she is remembered as the widow of William Owen "Buckey" O'Neill.
on January 13, 1865. An only child, her parents, W.F.R. and Rosalie Young Schindler, had immigrated from Prusia and her father worked as a purchasing agent for the U.S. Army. Around 1884 her father was transferred to Fort Whipple
and she accompanied her parents to Arizona Territory
.
Schindler met her first husband, Buckey O'Neill, while working as a school teacher. At the time he was editor of the Hoof and Horn newspaper. The couple were married on April 27, 1886. Their first child, "Buckey" Jr., was born January 1, 1887 and died two weeks later. They adopted a second son, Maurice, on October 15 the same year. O'Neill was widowed on July 1, 1898 when Buckey died during the Battle of San Juan Hill
. Life insurance
of US$200,000 along with property in Phoenix
and an monies from her husband's onyx mine left her financially secure for many years to follow. She remarried on May 16, 1901, wedding her late husband's brother, Eugene Brady O'Neill. Eugene was a Phoenix based lawyer who severed two terms in the Council (upper house
) of the Arizona Territorial Legislature
before he committed suicide in 1918.
The same year she lost her first husband, O'Neill was elected president of the Arizona Territorial Women's Suffrage Association while her friend Frances Munds
was elected the group's secretary. Unlike earlier suffrage leaders in the territory, such as Josephine Brawley Hughes
, O'Neill and Munds reached out to Mormon
ladies within the territory. This outreach enable to organization to lobby Mormon member of the territorial legislature to support legislation supporting women, the result being passage of a women's suffrage bill by the 22nd Arizona Territorial Legislature. The bill was later vetoed by Territorial Governor Alexander Brodie
.
In 1910, with the convening of Arizona's Constitutional convention
, O'Neill joined other suffrage leaders in lobbying for women to be granted the vote in the new constitution. Her personal appeal was that unless they had governmental representation, women should not be taxed. Failing to achieve the desired outcome, she join with Munds to launch a ballot initiative. The suffrage initiative passed during the 1912 election.
O'Neill's first government position came with an appointment to the Yavapai County Board of Examiners. This was followed in 1917 with her election to the first of two terms in the Arizona Legislature
. As a member of the legislature she supported a variety of children's and women's issues, including her vote for ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
In 1924, O'Neill moved to Los Angeles, California
. She remained active in a variety of civic and charitable causes, even winning a commendation from the American Red Cross
for her aid to soldiers and their families during the Second World War. She died in Hollywood, California on January 12, 1961 and was buried in Los Angeles' Calvary Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
suffragist and legislator
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
. In addition to her personal accomplishments, she is remembered as the widow of William Owen "Buckey" O'Neill.
Biography
O'Neill was born Pauline Marie Schindler in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
on January 13, 1865. An only child, her parents, W.F.R. and Rosalie Young Schindler, had immigrated from Prusia and her father worked as a purchasing agent for the U.S. Army. Around 1884 her father was transferred to Fort Whipple
Fort Whipple, Arizona
Fort Whipple was a U.S. Army post which served as Arizona Territory's capital prior to the founding of Prescott, Arizona. The post was founded by Edward Banker Willis in January 1864 in Chino Valley, Arizona, but was moved in May 1864 to Granite Creek near the present day location of Prescott. ...
and she accompanied her parents to Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
.
Schindler met her first husband, Buckey O'Neill, while working as a school teacher. At the time he was editor of the Hoof and Horn newspaper. The couple were married on April 27, 1886. Their first child, "Buckey" Jr., was born January 1, 1887 and died two weeks later. They adopted a second son, Maurice, on October 15 the same year. O'Neill was widowed on July 1, 1898 when Buckey died during the Battle of San Juan Hill
Battle of San Juan Hill
The Battle of San Juan Hill , also known as the battle for the San Juan Heights, was a decisive battle of the Spanish-American War. The San Juan heights was a north-south running elevation about two kilometers east of Santiago de Cuba. The names San Juan Hill and Kettle Hill were names given by the...
. Life insurance
Life insurance
Life insurance is a contract between an insurance policy holder and an insurer, where the insurer promises to pay a designated beneficiary a sum of money upon the death of the insured person. Depending on the contract, other events such as terminal illness or critical illness may also trigger...
of US$200,000 along with property in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
and an monies from her husband's onyx mine left her financially secure for many years to follow. She remarried on May 16, 1901, wedding her late husband's brother, Eugene Brady O'Neill. Eugene was a Phoenix based lawyer who severed two terms in the Council (upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
) of the Arizona Territorial Legislature
Arizona Territorial Legislature
The Arizona Territorial Legislature was the legislative body of Arizona Territory. It was a bicameral legislature consisting of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Council. Created by the Arizona Organic Act, the legislature initially consisted of nine members in...
before he committed suicide in 1918.
The same year she lost her first husband, O'Neill was elected president of the Arizona Territorial Women's Suffrage Association while her friend Frances Munds
Frances Munds
Frances Lillian Willard "Fannie" Munds was an American suffragist and leader of the suffrage movement within Arizona...
was elected the group's secretary. Unlike earlier suffrage leaders in the territory, such as Josephine Brawley Hughes
Josephine Brawley Hughes
Elizabeth Josephine Brawley Hughes was an advocate of women's rights in the United States West region.-Biography:...
, O'Neill and Munds reached out to Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
ladies within the territory. This outreach enable to organization to lobby Mormon member of the territorial legislature to support legislation supporting women, the result being passage of a women's suffrage bill by the 22nd Arizona Territorial Legislature. The bill was later vetoed by Territorial Governor Alexander Brodie
Alexander Oswald Brodie
Alexander Oswald Brodie was an American military officer and engineer. Earning his initial reputation during the Indian wars, he came to prominence for his service with the Rough Riders during the Spanish–American War...
.
In 1910, with the convening of Arizona's Constitutional convention
Constitutional convention (political meeting)
A constitutional convention is now a gathering for the purpose of writing a new constitution or revising an existing constitution. A general constitutional convention is called to create the first constitution of a political unit or to entirely replace an existing constitution...
, O'Neill joined other suffrage leaders in lobbying for women to be granted the vote in the new constitution. Her personal appeal was that unless they had governmental representation, women should not be taxed. Failing to achieve the desired outcome, she join with Munds to launch a ballot initiative. The suffrage initiative passed during the 1912 election.
O'Neill's first government position came with an appointment to the Yavapai County Board of Examiners. This was followed in 1917 with her election to the first of two terms in the Arizona Legislature
Arizona Legislature
The Arizona Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Senate. There are 60 Representatives and 30 Senators...
. As a member of the legislature she supported a variety of children's and women's issues, including her vote for ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
In 1924, O'Neill moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She remained active in a variety of civic and charitable causes, even winning a commendation from the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
for her aid to soldiers and their families during the Second World War. She died in Hollywood, California on January 12, 1961 and was buried in Los Angeles' Calvary Cemetery.
External links
- Pauline Schindler O'Neill from Sharlot Hall MuseumSharlot Hall MuseumThe Sharlot Hall Museum is an open air museum located in Prescott, Arizona. Opened in 1928 by Sharlot M. Hall as the Old Governor's Mansion Museum, it is dedicated to preserving the history and folklore of Yavapai County, Arizona...