St. Mary's in Lafayette in Tippecanoe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Helen M. Gougar

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 2024

1. Helen M. Gougar Marker, Side One

Inscription. Gougar advocated for women's suffrage and prohibition as a lawyer, writer, and lecturer, and directly challenged injustices through the legal system. Born in 1843, she moved to Lafayette by 1860, and to house here, 1897. Began newspaper column, 1878; later owned temperance paper. Argued for women's suffrage in front of Indiana General Assembly and U.S. Senate, 1880s.

Gougar challenged suffrage laws by attempting to vote, 1894. She was denied and filed suit against county election board. While few women were lawyers at the time, she gained admission to the bar and argued for "The Constitutional Rights of the Women of Indiana” before county court, 1895, and Indiana Supreme Court, 1897. Died 1907; women achieved suffrage in 1920.

Erected 2014 by Indiana Historical Bureau • Indiana Humanities • Indiana Supreme Court. (Marker Number 79.2014.1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Law Enforcement • Women. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 40° 25.108′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

86° 53.153′ W. Marker is in Lafayette, Indiana, in Tippecanoe County. It is in St. Mary's. It is at the intersection of North 10th Street and Columbia Street, on the left when traveling north on North 10th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 914 Columbia St, Lafayette IN 47901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Perrin Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Red Crown Mini-Museum (approx. ¼ mile away); The Forty - Niners (approx. ¼ mile away); A Tribute to Joe Rumpza - The Vegetable King (approx. 0.3 miles away); Centennial Historic District (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lincoln in Lafayette (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ninth Street Hill (approx. 0.4 miles

Helen M. Gougar Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 2024

2. Helen M. Gougar Marker, Side Two

away); Saints Mary & Martha Catholic Church (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lafayette.

Also see . . .
1. Helen Gougar. Helen Jackson Gougar (1843-1907) worked tirelessly for women’s rights. (Hannah Craddock Mossman; From the Tippecanoe County Historical Association's Women’s Suffrage exhibit, 2020-21) (Submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Helen Gougar: Foot Soldier For Suffrage. Gougar was converted to the cause of women's suffrage by the issue of domestic violence, which she hoped to be able to “vote away”. (Staff, The Indiana Magazine of History, March 5, 2012) (Submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Helen M. Gougar Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 15, 2024

3. Helen M. Gougar Marker

Helen Mar Jackson Gougar (1843-1907) image. Click for full size.

From Indiana writers of poems and prose, Edward J. Hamilton (Public Domain), circa 1902

4. Helen Mar Jackson Gougar (1843-1907)

Her strong, unapologetic views often drew harsh criticism, including attacks on her moral character. She successfully sued the local sheriff for slander after he circulated rumors of her having an extramarital affair, but lost a similar libel suit against a congressman from Massachusetts.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.