Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Life & Legacy
Johnstown’s Most Famous Daughter

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born in 1815 to Judge Daniel and Mary Livingston Cady, a prestigious family of Johnstown, NY. Sadly, one of Stanton's first memories was when her sister was born, due to her parents’ reaction. Daniel and Mary preferred boys to girls and were greatly disappointed at the birth of two daughters in their home at the corner of Main and Market Streets. As she grew older, hearing stories of women seeking advice from her father, Judge Cady, influenced Elizabeth. She listened to him argue these cases in the 1772 Colonial Courthouse which is still in use today.

Unlike many women of her era, Stanton was formally educated. She attended Johnstown Academy, where she studied Latin, Greek and mathematics until the age of 16. Those classes were co-educational and Elizabeth enjoyed competing intellectually and academically with boys her age and older. She did this very successfully, winning several academic awards and honors, including the award for Greek language.

In 1832 Elizabeth graduated from Emma Willard's Troy Female Seminary and then was drawn to the abolitionist, temperance, and women's rights movements through visits to the home of her cousin, the reformer Gerrit Smith. She married Henry Brewster Stanton in 1840 and they had seven children while she promoted the importance of women’s rights.

Together with Lucretia Mott, she organized the first Women’s Rights Convention in 1848 in Seneca Falls, NY. Her celebrated partnership with Susan B. Anthony, from 1850 through the end of her life, brought to the forefront the importance of the equal rights movement.

Elizabeth returned to Johnstown in 1884 to work with Ms. Anthony on the third volume of their “History of Woman Suffrage.” Mrs. Stanton stayed with her sister around the corner from Anthony who rented a room and boarded with Mrs. Henry in the house at 9 South William Street.

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON HOMETOWN ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 753
Johnstown, NY 12095-0753
© 2010