Peru in Miami County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Votes For Women

Road to the 19th Amendment

— National Votes for Women Trail —

Votes For Women Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Trevor L Whited, February 11, 2023

1. Votes For Women Marker

Inscription. In 1861 Lizzie Bunnell founded newspaper "The Mayflower" in Peru, advocating for Women's suffrage and equal rights.

Erected 2022 by William G. Pomeroy Foundation. (Marker Number 189.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Women. In addition, it is included in the National Votes for Women Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 40° 45.304′ N, 86° 4.129′ W. Marker is in Peru, Indiana, in Miami County. Marker is at the intersection of East 5th Street and East 5th Street, Court Street on East 5th Street. Although the current building is not associated with the marker specifically, it is the former "Mercer & Company Steam Bakery" building built in 1902. The Miami County Museum is just a few buildings down from here and the Miami County Courthouse is catty corner from it. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 20 E 5th St, Peru IN 46970, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Brownell Block/Senger Dry Goods Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Miami County Korean - Viet Nam War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Miami County (Indiana) W. W. II War Memorial

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(about 400 feet away); Miami County Women Of World War 1 Memorial (about 400 feet away); Miami County Navy Mothers Club 402 (about 400 feet away); World War I Monument (about 400 feet away); Jerimiah Mugivan 1874-1930 (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Peru.

More about this marker. Lizzie Bunnell purchased this location in 1857. There it is believed she published The Mayflower from January 1, 1861 until October 1, 1863.
The Mayflower promoted women's rights and women's suffrage. Lizzie Bunnell was a signer of the 1852 Constitution of the Indiana Woman's Suffrage Association.

Regarding Votes For Women. After Lizzie Bunnell married SGA Read in March 1863, she moved to Columbia City, IN. The press was moved there in October 1863 but the paper failed in the early months of 1864. She and her husband moved to Algona, IA where she founded "The Upper Des Moines". In 1873 she was elected president of the Iowa Woman's Suffrage Society.

Also see . . . Lizzie Bunnell Read, Pioneer "Printeress". Here you will find the story of Lizzie Bunnell as we uncovered it. The words of Harvey Ingham, later publisher of the Upper Des

Photographed By Regine Brindle, October 15, 2022

2. Votes For Women Marker

Moines conclude for now - Quoted from The Upper Des Moines, 26 May 1909, Algona, IA - "Mrs. Read belonged to the advance guard of the new woman movement. She was an ardent advocate of the ballot for woman at a time when the notion was much more unpopular than it is now. While not apparently a woman of a wife range of sympathies, she was a woman of intellectual vigor, and was fearless and aggressive. She might easily have been a writer of distinction, for she had an appreciation of literary values. ... It is a pleasure, having known Mrs. Read, to speak in appreciation of her, now that she is gone. It is a pleasure to pay some slight tribute to the memory of one of the pioneers." (Submitted on October 30, 2022, by Regine Brindle of Peru, Indiana (IN).)

Additional keywords. newspaper, equal rights, suffrage

Photographed By Trevor L Whited, February 11, 2023

3. Votes For Women Marker

Photographed By Regine Brindle, July 19, 2022

4. Votes For Women Marker

Photographed By Regine Brindle, June 24, 2020

5. Votes For Women Marker

One original copy of "The Mayflower" is on exhibit at the nearby Miami County Museum.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2022, by Regine Brindle of Peru, Indiana (IN). This page has been viewed 147 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on May 6, 2023, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on February 11, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. 2. submitted on October 30, 2022, by Regine Brindle of Peru, Indiana (IN). 3. submitted on February 11, 2023, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. 4, 5. submitted on October 30, 2022, by Regine Brindle of Peru, Indiana (IN). • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.