She Was First

Submitted by Mark Lane

As we look forward to a new year ahead, it’s interesting to glance back for perspective. What were the biggest stories of 1925? Well, the first television broadcast occurred (in London, England) and the famous sculpture on Mt. Rushmore was dedicated. But it turns out that the top milestone from 100 years ago on many lists involved a native of our area.

On November 29, 1876, in St. Joseph Missouri, Elizabeth Tayloe gave birth to a daughter. Elizabeth and her husband James named the girl Nellie. Nellie was a bright student and demonstrated poise and charm that was expected of girls and ladies of the time. Yet, growing up in the time and area she did, the little sister of five older brothers, she also had an appreciation for work and adventure.

After the family’s home was destroyed in a fire, the family moved to Miltonvale, Kansas. After her high school graduation, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where she attended Teachers Training and taught piano lessons. In 1894, she began teaching kindergarten.

During a trip to visit relatives in Tennessee, Nellie met William Ross, a young attorney who had dreams of moving to the western frontier. Two years later, the couple married and settled in Cheyenne, Wyoming. William practiced law, serving as prosecuting attorney of Laramie County for a time. In 1922, Ross was elected Wyoming’s governor, but in 1924 he died of complications following an appendectomy. The sitting Secretary of State, Frank Lucas (a native of Grant City, Missouri) temporarily assumed duties of the governor until a special election could be held.

Nellie was nominated to be the next governor of the state. Though she refused to campaign, she won the election, thus becoming the first woman to be elected Governor of a U.S. state. She was nominated to serve a second term. Again, she refused to campaign. But this time she narrowly lost, in great part to her staunch support of liquor prohibition in a state where a high percentage of voters opposed it.

Later, Nellie was appointed Director of the US Mint by President Franklin Roosevelt, making her the first female in that role. It’s a position she held for 20 years. Following retirement from public office at age 77, Nellie traveled extensively and frequently wrote for magazines. She died at the age of 101 on December 19, 1977, in Washington D.C. She’s buried beside her husband in Cheyenne.