Mary B. Weaver

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Mary Baker Weaver (December 12, 1887 – August 1978) was an American farmer and state legislator in Connecticut. A Republican, she served in the Connecticut House of Representatives for three terms from 1923 to 1928 and the Connecticut Senate for one term from 1929 to 1930. She again served in the House of Representatives in the 1939 term.

Early life and education[edit]

Weaver was born on December 12, 1887, in Washington, Connecticut to Vincent Sterling Weaver and Jennie Seeley (née Baker).[1] While as a small child she lived in Colorado and California and able to speak Spanish, she grew up and lived in New Milford.[2][3] After her father died in 1893,[4] her mother soon remarried to Andrew G. Barnes, who later became a Connecticut state representative in 1895 then state senator in 1907.[5][6]

Weaver graduated from New Milford Normal School. After her step-father's death she took over management of the family farm, a tobacco farm named Candlewood. She also taught school.[2]

Political career[edit]

Weaver was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives for the 1923 term on the Republican ticket representing New Milford, one of seven women elected that term.[2][7] A proponent of women's suffrage, she was elected for two additional terms serving until 1929.[8] Serving on the committee of human institutions, she believed inmates were afforded more "luxuries" than rich families and was concerned about the influx of immigrants who made of the majority of inmates. She also expressed the need for more hospitals to treat tuberculosis and a new a psychiatric hospital.[9] In 1927 she was elected to the coveted appropriations committee.[10]

In 1928 Weaver was elected to the Connecticut's 1929 Senate representing the 32nd district. She was the only woman serving in the 1929 senate session after Alice Merritt lost her re-election bid for the 2nd district.[11][12] As a senator, she introduced a failed bill to allow women to serve as jurors[13][14] and supported a failed bill to decriminalize the use of birth control.[15][16] Believing billboards were unsightly and hazardous, Weaver introduced a bill to limit the placement of billboards to business and commercial areas and prohibit them in rural areas.[16][17]

In 1939 Weaver again served in the House of Representatives[18] and but lost the nomination for the following term in 1940.[19]

Death[edit]

Weaver died in February 1978 in New Milford.[20] In 2008 she was inducted into the New Milford's Daughters of the American Revolution Hall of Fame.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Society, New Milford Historical (2015). New Milford Revisited. Arcadia Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-4671-2364-8.
  2. ^ a b c "Miss Mary B, Weaver". The Day. 1923-01-26. p. 15. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  3. ^ "Mr. Weaver Returns". The Newtown Bee. 1893-06-30. p. 7. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  4. ^ "Deaths". Hartford Courant. 1893-10-27. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  5. ^ "Andrew G. Barnes, State Senator Dies". The Bridgeport Telegram. 1922-01-12. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  6. ^ "Barnes". Hartford Courant. 1947-04-09. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  7. ^ "Seven Women in House". Hartford Courant. 1922-11-09. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. ^ "Miss Mary B. Weaver". The Day. 1927-03-10. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ^ "Foreigner Crowd Institutions, Says Rep:Mary Weaver". The Bridgeport Telegram. 1923-11-13. p. 16. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  10. ^ "House". Hartford Courant. 1927-01-14. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  11. ^ "Only One Woman in Connecticut Senate". The Day. 1929-01-14. p. 12. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  12. ^ "State Press". The Journal. 1928-11-01. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  13. ^ "Women's Jury Measure Reported Unfavorably". Record-Journal. 1929-03-27. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  14. ^ "Senate Kills Woman Jury Service Bill". Hartford Courant. 1931-04-15. p. 13. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  15. ^ "Clash Over Birth Control Bill;Law Breakers at Hearing, Woman Charges". The Day. 1929-03-01. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  16. ^ a b "Move To Abolish Billboards Attracts Crowd To Hearing". Record-Journal. 1929-03-13. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  17. ^ "Billboards Are Subject Of Address". Hartford Courant. 1930-10-28. p. 32. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  18. ^ "Eleventh Term for Beecher". The Day. 1938-12-20. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  19. ^ "Contests Mark G.O.P. Caucuses". The Waterbury Democrat. 1940-10-11. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  20. ^ "Weaver". Hartford Courant. 1978-08-30. p. 6. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
  21. ^ "Hall of Fame to induct two women". NewsTimes. 2008-03-06. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
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