Women of Strafford County
From the book "New Hampshire Women" A collection of portraits and biographical sketches of daughters and residents of the granite state, who are worthy representatives of their sex in the various walks and conditions of life. Published by The New Hampshire Publishing Co., Concord, NH, J.G. Patterson, Jr. President, ©1895
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Marilla M. Ricker |
Marilla Marks, daughter of Jonathan B. and Hannah D. (Stevens) Young,
was born in New Durham in 1840. Her father was an ardent Whig, the New York
Tribune was the family paper, and its close perusal gave her the decided
political convictions which make her now an earnest Republican. Educated in
the public schools and New London academy, she taught with much success for
several years. In 1863 she married John Ricker, Esq., of Madbury. they
made their home in Dover where Mr. Ricker had a large real estate business.
He died in 1868, leaving her a good property. In 1872 she went to Europe,
resided for a long time in Germany, and thoroughly mastered the German
language. Returning, she went to Washington, where she read law with Albert
G. Riddle and Arthur B. Williams, and was admitted to the bar in 1882, being
examined with eighteen young men and outranking them all. She was the first
New Hampshire woman to become a lawyer, and practiced successfully in
Washington many years, being admitted to the bar of the United States
Supreme court in 1892. For some time past she has been United States
commissioner and examiner in chancery for the District of Columbia. In 1890
she applied for admission to the New Hampshire bar. This raised the question
of woman's right to admission to the bar in this state. After due
consideration by the full bench Chief Justice Doe rendered a decision to the
effect that she could be admitted the same as any man who is a practicing
attorney in another state. Mrs. Ricker early became a believer in equal
rights for men and women under the constitution, and offered her ballot at
the polls in Ward Three, Dover, in 1870, with her reasons for demanding a
voter's privilege, being the first woman in the state, and probably in the
country to attempt to vote. She has spoken effectively on the stump in
national campaigns for the Republican party. She is frank, generous, and
open hearted, a friend of the unfortunate, a champion of many reform causes,
a hater of sham and hypocrisy.
This wonderful file, a rare find, was submitted by Michelle McKenzie who at some personal cost donates them to share with you. Pictures scanned by Michelle McKenzie;
text transcribed by C. ParzialeBack to Main Page