River
Valley Pioneer Museum: Women of Canadian
If Canadian has anything, it is the determined women who built
the community.
ISAACS, MARY B.
Mary Brainard Isaacs was Canadian's pioneer educator. She was
born in Massachusetts on Feb. 16, 1854. At the age of 34, her
family moved to Canadian. This was her home until she died on
Oct. 12, 1950, at the age of 96. Her brother Ed Brainard had
already come to Canadian and had established a ranch in Roberts
County. At this time, there were 20 families and a number of
children, but no school in Canadian. Mary took care of the town’s
educational problem. A one room school opened in Nov 1888. It
was called Rock School. The first year there were 20 pupils
and three years later it had grown to 72 pupils. Mary said the
Indians would look in the windows as she taught her classes,
grin their approval and go on.
After 3 years of teaching, Mary gave up the school to marry
Will C. Isaacs, a cattleman, in 1892. Mary was one of the founders
and moving spirits of the W.C.T.U. for half a century. She was
largely responsible for turning the Temperance Union into an
organization devoted to a wide variety of civic projects. Mary
served as W.C.T.U treasurer and reported for the W.C.T.U. from
1904 to 1948. Mary was a Catholic and the first mass in Canadian
was held in her home.
MRS. MOSE HAYS
Mr. and Mrs. Hays moved to the Springer Ranch in 1880. Mrs. Hays mothered the whole countryside, besides serving as postmistress.
She sewed and cooked for the lonesome cowboys, nursing them in illness and brining them laughter. To show their appreciation of Mrs. Hays, the cowboys registered a brand in her name and slapped in on every maverick they ran into. Mose already had a little bunch and the miss's turned in 250 head.
JEWEL MCMEANS
Although Mrs. Barker was blind for many years, she did not let it be a handicap. She raised four children, two of whom she never saw. She taught music for many years, she memorized over 300 hymns when she knew that she was going to be blind and was pianist for the Assembly of God Church, and she was also a composer. She felt her music was a gift and that it should be shared.
ELIZABETH WINSETT JOHNSON
When Mrs. J. F. Johnson came from Tennessee in 1885, she brought her household goods, her family, and her way of life. She was a pioneer woman and a gifted artist. She did not hit the trail in a covered
wagon, nor did she live in a dugout. She never killed an Indian,
but she did find time to work at an easel. Her paintings reflected her broad cultural background as well as current events. Elizabeth Johnson was a woman of great vision, capabilities, and talents, and together with her devout spiritual convictions she directed the
activities of the WCTU as president for 39 years and was active in the Baptist Church.
MARY JANE ALEXANDER
The Home Mission Board of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. commissioned The Rev. C.W. Alexander to establish a church and Sunday School in Mobeetie. While on the trip to bring his wife and family to the panhandle, he took a cold from being wet and never completely recovered, dying within the year. Mary Jane Alexander bought a section of land
on the Washita and moved her young family to that land. The family endured many hardships during those years, but because of Mary Jane Alexander, they were educated and worthwhile citizens.
MRS. JOSEPHINE HOEFLE
Mrs. Paul Hoefle was a native of New York, and she came to Texas with her husband who was in the mercantile business. She was the first Home Economics teacher in the Canadian Schools. She was employed in 1918 and was an instructor for three years. She helped to secure the domestic science units and establish an accredited Home Economics department in the local school.
WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
Through the efforts of Mrs. J.P. Johnson and Mrs. L.N. White,
the W.C.T.U. was organized on Nov. 26, 1902, by Mrs. Nannie
Webb Curtis, who was organizing unions throughout the state.
The ladies felt a union was necessary to fight against the many
saloons that existed at that time in Canadian. At the first
meeting there were about 20 members. Officers included: Mrs.
J.F. Johnson, president; Mrs. J.T. Jackson, recording secretary;
Mrs. Ed Courson, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. D.J. Young,
treasurer. They held weekly meetings on Wednesday afternoons.
Their goal was to have a local option election. On December
30, 1903, they were victorious with 64 for and 34 against abolishing
the sale of whisky. Their union grew and in 1905 their dream
of owning their own building was born. They purchased a lot
for $400, money they had solicited from the community. In 1906
the now famous annual bazaar and turkey dinner was held to raise
money for the building. Finally in 1911, the building became
a reality. During a celebration on December 26, 1917, the mortgage
was burned, as the debt had been completely paid off.
Canadian's local W.C.T.U. Chapter closed and donated the building to Hemphill County in 1972. The National Chapter still operates. It stands as
a monument and represents the dreams and work of a dedicated
organization to foster a good life for those who live in Canadian.
This building currently houses the Hemphill County Public Library.
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River
Valley Pioneer Museum
rvmuseum@cebridge.net
PO Box 1201
118 N. 2nd
Canadian, TX 79014
(806) 323-6548
Hours of operation:
Tuesday - Friday 9am - 12 noon, 1pm - 4pm
Saturdays - 1pm - 3pm |
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