LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

The Republican Centennial Edition, Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa
Thursday, July 12, 1956, Section Three, Page 37
Transcribed by Shirley Plumb, June 30, 2019

FIRST WOMAN TO WAPELLO CITY COUNCIL

    The following item was taken from The Wapello Republican issue of 1924 and the note of interest is that Mrs. Emma Murray had the distinction of being the first woman in Wapello ever to be elected to the city council.

    The item is as follows:

FIRST WOMAN COUNCILAMN

     “City Assessor Robert E. Barr, who was one of the election judges at the city election last Monday, says that 82 women voted in the first ward, 41 women in the second ward and 27 women voted in the third ward, a total of 150 against 268 men who voted in the three wards. A very light vote was out, he states, the first ward leading was 204 voted which elected Mrs. Emma Murray as councilwoman. This is the first honor of that nature, a councilwoman, ever bestowed up on a Wapello woman. Miss Nellie Hale the present city recorder being first honored by Wapello voters who selected her some years ago to fill the office of city recorder. Miss Hale was re-elected Monday. Also Robert E. Barr who has been assessor thirty four years. Mr. Aner Nearhood, the present city marshal, is not far behind in length of public service. Mr. Barr says that the judges and clerks of the recent city election extend thanks to Mrs. Emma Murray for an ample lunch. Robert E. Barr received the highest number of votes cast for any individual candidate at the city election. This is an important year for the selection of assessors as next year real estate will be handled again and the census taken by assessors. The new council will take their seats in October.”