Rebecca Latimer Felton

Rebecca Ann Latimer Felton (June 10, 1835–January 24, 1930) was an American writer, teacher, reformer, and briefly a politician who became the first woman to serve in the United States Senate, filling an appointment on November 21, 1922, and serving until the next day.

Education, teaching, and marriage

Born Rebecca Ann Latimer in Decatur, Georgia, Felton attended common schools and graduated from the Madison Female College in 1852. She moved to Bartow County, Georgia in 1854 where she taught school. She was a writer, lecturer, and reformer with a special interest in agriculture, women's suffrage, temperance, and less admirably, racial segregation.

Related Topics:
Decatur, Georgia - Bartow County, Georgia - Taught - Agriculture - Suffrage - Temperance - Segregation

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Felton's husband, William Harrell Felton, was a Methodist minister with a similar interest in agriculture. She served as secretary to her husband when he was elected as an Independent Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1881. He also served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1884 to 1890, and as trustee from the state at large for the University of Georgia from 1886 to 1892. He died on September 24, 1909 at the age of 86, when Rebecca Felton was 64.

Related Topics:
William Harrell Felton - Methodist - Secretary - Independent Democrat - U.S. House of Representatives - March 4 - 1875 - March 3 - 1881 - Georgia House of Representatives - Trustee - University of Georgia - September 24 - 1909

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