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August 2022 August 2022 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3
From The Editor: Extraordinary Firsts…

In the late 1800’s, Binney discovered her secret. She later married Benjamin bill to have equal access to the federal courts as her male
PT Barnum encouraged Gannet and became the wife of a farmer. Deborah was the colleagues. She lobbied Congress from 1874 to 1879 and
daredevils to take the plunge first woman to go on a lecture tour in this country that lasted finally Congress passed the law in 1879 and it was signed
over Niagara Falls. He died almost a year beginning in June of 1802. Her husband was into law by President Rutherford B. Hayes. Courage and
before the first person did so awarded pay as the spouse of a soldier after her death on April persistence resulted in changes for Belva and so many other
successfully. On October 24, 29, 1827. The committee that reviewed the request concluded women in the United States.
1901, on her 63 birthday, that the Revolution “furnished no other similar example of She actually received 4,100 votes for President in the 1884
rd
Annie Edson Taylor crouched female heroism, fidelity and courage.” A book was written election despite the fact that women could not vote and most
in a custom-made barrel, about Deborah entitled, “Masquarade the Life and Times of newspapers opposed her candidacy.
constructed of oak and iron, Deborah Sampson, Continental Soldier,” by Alfred F. Young History is filled with the stories of extraordinary women.
padded with pillows. Her (Alfred A. Knopf, 2004). I am glad to be able to recount their Extraordinary Firsts.
friends screwed down the Belva Ann BennettLockwood in 1879 became the first Until next month…
lid and set her adrift near the American shore. The currents female lawyer to be admitted to practice before the United James A. Cioffi, Editor
carried the barrel over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. Shortly States Supreme Court. She was also the first woman (age james@jcclaw.com
after the journey down the Falls, rescuers reached the barrel. eligible) to run for President of the United States in 1884 on
Annie was alive and relatively uninjured. She was the first the National Equal Rights Party and was the first woman to P.S. Please forward to me stories of extraordinary women
person to survive the ride over the falls in a barrel. Actually appear on the official ballots. you know.
she sent a cat over the falls 2 weeks earlier to test the strength Belva married a farmer in 1848 but he died in 1853 and
of the barrel. The cat survived and posed with Annie Taylor she was left without money. She realized she needed a college
education and convinced the administration at Genesee
in photos. It took courage for Taylor to proceed with the ride. College in Lima, New York to accept her. She graduated with Summer Is Here!
Courage is an element of extraordinary firsts.
In the spring of 1781 Robert Shurtlieff enlisted to fight in honors in 1857 and became the headmistress of Lockport
the American Revolution. After arriving in West Point, he was Union School. Belva realized that she was paid half of what Summer is here! Along with summer comes the
dispatched to light infantry and assigned to a scouting party her male counterparts earned. She met Susan B. Anthony and increased temptation to utilize the golf courses as a park/
to determine the British buildup of materials and troops in changed the curriculum in the schools in which she served playground, but we must ask you to refrain from any
Manhattan. He fought from New York to Virginia. Despite the as principal to offer courses to women typically offered to non-golf related access.
surrender of Lord Cornwallis to General George Washington men, such as public speaking, botany and gymnastics. Belva Summer is a time when tremendous maintenance is
on October 19, 1781, fighting continued with Tories. He decided to study law rather continue in education. She moved performed on all the courses, so there is a great deal of
continued to serve the revolutionary cause until October to Washington, DC with her daughter to advance her legal equipment and work being done. In addition it is a time
23, 1783 when he was honorably discharged when it was education. when golfers play early to beat the heat and also play
discovered that Robert was actually Deborah Sampson. She In 1868 Belva married Rev Ezekiel Lockwood who late to do the same.
served the cause for more than 2 years without her gender encouraged her pursuits. In 1870 she applied to Columbian For your safety, please do not access the courses
being discovered. She wanted to fight for freedom but could Law School in DC but the Trustees refused admission because unless you are registered to play golf.
not do so as a woman. She had the courage to risk her life they feared she would be a distraction to the male students. Thank you
and fight as a man. She was finally admitted to National University Law School
Deborah had close calls with discovery and death. She (now George Washington University Law School) along
was wounded in 1782 receiving a gash from a sword on her with several other women. She finished her coursework in
forehead and a shot in her groin. She extracted the bullet 1873 but the school was not willing to issue a diploma to a
herself. She almost drowned in the Croton River and was woman. Belva wrote a letter to President Ulysses S. Grant
attacked by robbers. She avoided bathing with the rest of the as president ex officio of National University Law School.
troops in the Hudson River. She knew that the greatest danger Within 1 week, Belva received her diploma.
was unconsciousness. Ultimately she could not avoid it and Because she was limited in her ability to practice law
was sent to a hospital unconscious where the Dr. Benjamin because of her gender, Belva drafted an antidiscrimination