In the late 1800's, women could not vote or run for political office.

This was the world that Marion B. Towne was born into on December 6, 1880 in the mining town of Sterling, Oregon.

Soon after Towne's family moved to Phoenix, Oregon.

And after high school, Towne worked at the county clerk's office, sparking an interest in law.

She studied law at night and then at the University of Michigan before returning to the county clerk's office in 1911.

Oregon passed women's suffrage in 1912 giving women who were recognized as citizens the right to vote.

Two years later when women were allowed to run for state office, Town decided that with her experience she could improve the legislative process and ran for the Oregon House of Representatives.

Endorsed by the Medford mayor and the mail tribune and with a door to door campaign, Marion B Towne became the first woman elected to the Oregon House and the second woman in the country to hold a state office.

Though instrumental in establishing the girls industrial school and increasing school funding and extending the school year to eight months, Towne lost her reelection bid.

After the US Navy accepted women recruits in 1917 Towne served as a chief yeoman F until 1920.

She tried to reenlist as an officer, but was rejected based on gender.

Honorably discharged, she moved to San Francisco working for the California Bar and the Public Welfare Department until 1957.

At age 77, she returned to Phoenix to live in her childhood home until her death in 1966, when she was laid to rest in the local Pioneer Cemetery.

Southern Oregon experience Stories from our region's history.