It is election time for towns when citizens are chosen to carry on the business of a community. Once upon a time, in Westboro, Missouri, this was the result of an election. The newspaper headline read, “Petticoat Rule at Westboro, Mo., Is Achieving Results: Women Are Put On The Board Without Their Consent.” The article was in the “Maryville Daily Forum” and the “St. Joseph News Press.”

The newspaper was dated 1937, and though women had the right to cast a ballot, not many ran for public office. It reads, “One Northwest Missouri town, Westboro, population 358, located in the northeast part of Atchison County near the Iowa line, believes in doing the unusual . . . They went to the polls and overwhelmingly elected a town board dominated by women.

“The board, when the final votes were tabulated, was found to be composed of four of the town’s leading women and one man, and as a consequence the town now has a woman mayor, a woman clerk, a woman treasurer, and a woman tax collector. It wasn’t until Mrs. Shackelford’s husband came home at noon that she knew her name was on the ballot. She didn’t think much of it, and didn’t go vote. Late in the evening, a business man of the town called, “Congratulations, Mrs. Shackelford.” “What for?” she asked. “Why didn’t you know, you were elected mayor today.”

“The mayor is Mrs. J. H Shackelford, whose husband is the druggist. The town clerk is Mrs. Gorman Allen, whose husband is Burlington station agent, and the town treasurer is Mrs. Charles Sawyers, whose husband formerly operated a lumber yard in the town [and was affiliated with the People’s Bank in 1923]. The fourth woman of the town board is Mrs. W. B. Flanders, whose husband operates a grocery, [there was a fifth woman elected, however, she could not take office due to moving out of the city] . . . the lone man member is Clark McCall, lumberman [also served in the House of Representatives, Missouri].” It could be noted that none of the women are recognized by their first names (not uncommon in older publications), but are instead noted by their husband’s name. The article suggested the idea of having women on the ballot originated with the men. Was it a well thought out plan, or was it something they thought would be funny? Either way, they soon discovered these women meant business and those who elected them were involved, like it or not.

There was a creek dividing the town. The school was built in proximity to the creek, which was not only an eye-sore, but carried the school septic system. This prevented beautification of the grounds and proper use for an athletic field. The issue had been discussed many times and always funding and planning prohibited any solutions.

The women came up with a plan and with the co-operation of Miss Mary England, superintendent of the school, and over the strenuous objection of the men, borrowed $1,000. The other objection of the men was $1,000 would not finance the planned project of channeling the creek water into an underground water way with a large “galvanized steel flume.”

But, the women came up with a plan for that, too. They called on workers and farmers to donate their services of trucks, tractors and teams. They were divided into groups, each group taking turns working a day at a time. The tubes were covered with graded earth and leveled off for grass to be sown. The women also were divided into groups taking turns cooking and serving meals free of charge to the working men.

With the labor problem solved, the mayor and council turned their attention to paying for materials. Mrs. Schackleford suggested a street fair, and it is remembered that she put Westboro on the map by turning Lester Tourtelotte’s truck into a “show boat.” The merchants were solicited for funds, an amateur night of entertainment patterned after the radio talent programs was held, and a fiddlers’ contest – and, the note was paid off.

This wasn’t their only project. Westboro still had wooden sidewalks and that was remedied with concrete. The town needed a constable, but there wasn’t any funding, however, the council discovered there hadn’t been a concerted effort to collect back taxes. “If we can make tax collections for this year as well as collect at least a portion of the delinquent taxes, we will raise nearly enough funds to care for the town’s share of street grading, graveling and oiling,” the treasurer said. They instituted a dog tax and a “cleanup week” and at the rate of 50 cents per truck load paid out $10.50 for that.

Westboro men may have been exhausted or perhaps saved by the advent of WWII, but for the next election the female city council was replaced by men. It is remembered, Mrs. Shackelford, after her husband, Joseph’s death, took over the drug store. Also recalled is that Doctor Fay had an office in the back of the store where he provided clinic care, until moving to a house on Lincoln and Main Streets. Others recalled that some medicine was dispensed in the form of alcohol, especially during the days of Prohibition. At the demise of the Prohibition era the pharmacy was better known as a liquor store with some over-the-counter homeopathic meds available. The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was an active organization in Westboro and Mrs. Shackleford is noted in the Westboro news column as hosting their meetings.

Though Mrs. Shackleford was not the first female mayor elected in Missouri, a female mayor and council members were not the norm. They held office at a time before it was acceptable and when many held reserved opinions of women in public office. It is all a part of Westboro’s history and Mrs. Shackelford and female council members were advancing in the public realm before a time of it being readily accepted for women to be outside the home. (Perhaps this is why the Westboro news writer did not record the particular community events surrounding the fund raiser and activities?)

Shackleford’s Drug Store was on the south side, midway of Westboro’s block long Main Street. When Mrs. Shackleford (her Christian name was Emily, but on inquiry, everyone remembered her as ‘Mrs. Shacklford’) was unable to manage the store, she departed Westboro, and Sheek/Shik and Vera May Clement operated the store. Later it closed and the building was removed.

What happened to the buried water way?

It is still in place and draining water.

’Til next time.