Unveiling the Legacy of Estella H. Barnes: A Champion for Women's Suffrage and Community Leader

By: Christina Volpe, Curator 

Within the historical tapestry of Southington, Estella H. Barnes shines as a pivotal figure in advancing women's rights and societal equity. Her story is one of remarkable resilience, passionate activism, and a deep-rooted commitment to her community. Estella's legacy is particularly notable in her contributions to education, the women's suffrage movement, and agricultural reform. Her achievements are especially significant considering the societal constraints faced by women during her era.
 
Born Lucy Estella Hills on January 30, 1847, in Albion, Erie County, Pennsylvania, Estella's life was marked by the early loss of her mother at the age of six. This led her to live in the care of her grandmother in Southington, Connecticut, where her path would eventually cross with John James Barnes (1834-1905). John was known affectionately as "Honest John Barnes" for his integrity and was deeply rooted in one of Southington's oldest families. He diligently managed an expansive farm and orchards and remained committed to civic engagement in local affairs. John actively participated in the beautification of the town's central park, known today as the Southington Town Green, in the late 1870s; John was fixing up the Congregational Church property and began filling in the ditch within the town park, planting elm trees on the south end. Unfortunately, the elms that once prominently and beautifully covered the Town Green suffered from blight and died in the 1930s. 

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Left: Excerpt from the minutes of the 1895 Connecticut Women's Suffrage Convention held in Southington. 

Below: Exception from the minutes of the 1895 Connecticut Women's Suffrage Convention in Southington. Images accessed via the CT State Library via the Connecticyt Digital Archvies. 

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Estella and John married on September 10, 1867. She was twenty, and he was 33. On the back of Estella and John's Intention of Marriage, her adopted father, John Phinney, wrote: I hereby give my consent to the marriage of my daughter Estella to John J. Barnes. 
 
Four children survived her: Wilfred Barnes of Torrington, Albert Barnes of Waterbury, and Dana and Addie Barnes, living with their mother when she passed. Estella's influence extended far beyond the walls of the home she built with James. In the 1890s, she actively developed Southington's suffrage efforts. The twenty-sixth annual Women's Suffrage Convention was held in Southington's Town Hall and attended by many delegates, with members from each local level organization in attendance. Photographs of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony tied together by a bit of yellow ribbon were passed out as souvenirs. Estella was head of the courtesies committee and gave the welcome address at the convention in late October 1895. ​

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Early women's rights movements in the 19th encompassed many issues beyond suffrage, including education access and expansion. Recognizing that education was essential for women's empowerment and societal advancement, activists advocated for establishing grammar schools and kindergartens accessible to all children, regardless of gender. Kindergartens, pioneered by German educator Friedrich Froebel in the early 19th century, emerged as spaces where young children, including girls, could engage in structured play and early learning experiences, laying the foundation for their intellectual and social development. The establishment of grammar schools provided formal education pathways for girls beyond basic literacy, offering instruction in subjects traditionally reserved for boys, such as mathematics and science. The Equal Rights Club of Southington met in 1895 and 1896 to discuss such matters hosted several times at the Barnes home on South Main Street. ​

Estella emerged as a female suffrage trailblazer, becoming the first woman elected as a lecturer of the State Grange in February 1896. The Connecticut State Grange is a local organization within the larger National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, a fraternal organization founded in the United States in 1867 to promote the interests of rural communities and agriculture. The Connecticut State Grange provides support, resources, and advocacy for its member Granges, which are community-based chapters typically located in rural areas that very much included Southington at the time. These local ranges often engage in agricultural education, community service, and social events. ​

When Estella assumed her position as the first female lecturer of the Connecticut Grange, it would have been a pivotal role involving organizing lectures, discussions, and workshops on agricultural practices and rural issues; the lecturer also curated cultural activities such as music performances and literary readings. Through public speaking engagements, the lecturer conveyed Grange values and advocated for the welfare of farmers and rural communities, epitomizing the Grange's mission to uplift and support rural America. Estella excelled in public speaking, serving as a lecturer for four years.

At the same time, Estella ran a large house with all her children. The 1890 census showed three boarders living with the family: two farmhands and one schoolteacher. In 1898, John James suffered from a paralytic shock. Estella took care of him at home for a few years, but his condition declined. The year 1905 proved to be the hardest. Estella lost her sister that summer, a grandchild, and ultimately her husband, John, on January 28, 1905; about six weeks later, she died in her Main Street home in Southington of pneumonia after a short illness.

Beyond her activism, Estella was a custodian of history, delving into genealogy books and actively involved in the annual Barnes family reunion. Her intellectual curiosity knew no bounds, and she engaged in scholarly pursuits with zeal and passion. Estella's home was a sanctuary for learning and growth, where her children flourished under her guidance.
 
In reflection, the life of Estella H. Barnes serves as a testament to her resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to Southington, a place that defined her character. As we bid farewell to this remarkable woman, let us carry forward her spirit of curiosity, compassion, and dedication to a future where equality, opportunity, and justice flourish for all.