Maria E. DeGeer

Maria E. DeGeer. The Legacy of the Founder of Scott City. , ”We left Garden City on the 28th of September, 1884, taking with us a double-seated, lightwagon, a large keg of water, buffalo robes, food, matches, some kindling wood and a spade and hatchet and my daughter, Mrs. Eastman, and myself, … accompanied by C.J. 'Buffalo' Jones, who needs no introduction to the people of this State, … We pitched our tents in Scott County that night, sleeping on the prairie, or rather watching for and listening to the coyotes who became our close and noisy neighbors…. Next morning I improved the northwest quarter… and Mrs. Eastman the southeast quarter… cornering on the geographical center of Scott County, and with our own hands dug the four corner foundations of our future claim houses. Mrs. Eastman and myself never gave up. I had faith in God and Kansas and she had faith in her mother and Scott County.” , , Maria E. DeGeer, Maria Elizabeth DeGeer was 55 when she and her daughter arrived in Scott County. Already a very outspoken and requested speaker in the Temperance Movement, a leader of Prison Reform, and well astute in practicing law, Mrs. DeGeer climbed into a wagon to set a new precedent; good and upright people's want to establish cities and towns devoted to honest and principled living. , Maria was born in Ireland in 1829. Her family immigrated to Ontario Canada when she was 5. By age 15, she was teaching at the Rice Lake Indian Mission School and soon married John Button DeGeer. , They were raising four daughters when he died in 1865 of intemperance. Already a speaker and author, she was equipped when Miss Amanda Way invited her to take on the lecture circuit in the States. She was known as the first woman to work for "The Sons of Temperance" in Canada. Maria and girls moved to Chicago where she began her publishing and writing business as well as "The Coming Woman" magazine. However, she lost much in the Great Chicago Fire including her presses. , In 1874, she was one of a 150-women delegation from churches in Chicago who carried a petition to the City Council for the closing of saloons on Sunday. They were assaulted by a mob of 10,000 men! That same year she was elected VP of the National Prison Reform. , Maria persisted with her convictions. She was organizing Eastern Star Chapters, soliciting subscriptions for the "Mystic Star" and working with organizations and councils for temperance legislation. Maria had decided that if Kansas passed prohibition, she would spend the rest of her life here. Finally, after lecturing before the Kansas House and before crowds at Temperance Meetings, Kansas led the country with a constitutional amendment outlawing liquor in 1881. , In 1882, she moved to Kansas where she earned her certificate to practice law. And by 1884, “I determined to settle with my daughters and friends on the western, unorganized county where there would be room for all and if the men could make money on raising cattle, as western Kansas is said to be only fit for, women could do the same, and I would bet a colony of brave, courageous women and a few true men (who are always necessary) and launch our boat on the verdant plains of western Kansas.” , By February 1885, another daughter, Kate Russell joined them. The lady colonists improved their claims equally with men that came. Many friends of theirs came from Chicago and soon DeGeer Corner was covered with tents, horses, wagons and people. Maria worked tirelessly to establish the town. She had also published the first newspaper west of Ness City, The Western Times. , That September, Mr. Swan, Mr. Sangster, Mr. McLain and Maria formed the Scott City Town Company. Her dreams of women's rights came crashing down when some of the men of the Town Company decided they couldn't let a woman hold an office. So, “Refusing any office in the company, and with charity to all and malice towards none and desiring to live in love and harmony with my neighbors never more made Scott my home, but sold my shares.” , Maria “Shook the dust of Scott forever from (her) feet.” , Maria went on to be the First Woman admitted to the Kansas Bar Association, attempted to settle another town in Greely County, started several organizations to support women in professions, business, and education. , After leaving Kansas, Mrs. DeGeer traveled to California lecturing, remarried and finally returned to Chicago where she died December 24, 1906 at the age of 78. Up to the last two years of her life she was actively engaged in philanthropic work and was well known as a writer and lecturer. , She raised a family, worked for women, and all of humanity. She established societies and associations all over the country. She was a friend of Susan B. Anthony and Frances Willard. She spoke on the floor of state houses and senates. She argued cases in the Kansas Supreme Court! She was the only woman to found a town in Kansas, our town. , The Legacy of Maria E. DeGeer has been brought back to where it all began.