Annie L. Arniel, The Iron-Jawed Suffragette
Anne L. Melvin was born 1873 in Harrington, Delaware. She married George Arniel, a brother of William Arniel -both having emmigrated from Canada. William Arniel was married to Anne Matilda Clarke of Howe Island, Ontario, Canada. Both of these couples resided in Wilmington, Delaware.
The Historical Society of Delaware has a file of newspaper clippings which cite
key historic events surrounding the suffragism battle for women's rights. The
two clippings below are about Annie Arniel: 
Annie Arniel played such an historic key role in securing the vote for women in
the USA, that her contributions are documented in many history books about
women's suffragism. From the book, "Jailed for Freedom", by
Doris Stevens, there are many interesting stories about her contributing
exploits, as well as a picture, and a summary in the appendix of "Suffrage
Prisoners", which says:"Mrs Annie Arniel, Wilmington, Delaware, did
picket duty from beginning in 1917. One of first six suffrage prisoners. Served
eight jail sentences, 3 days, June, 1917, 60 days in Occoquan, Aug-Sept., 1917,
picketing; 15 days, Aug., 1918, Layfayette Sq. meeting, and five sentences of 5
days each in Jan., and Feb., 1919, watchfire demonstrations." Two other
notable books that reference Annie Arniel are: "Iron-Jawed Angels:
the suffrage militancy of the National Women's Party 1912-1920", by Linda
G. Ford, and "The Story of the Woman's Party", by Inez Haynes
Irwin. An original article which captures the context of the historic times
appeared in THE WASHINGTON POST; MONDAY, AUGUST 12. 1918.:
"SUFFS" MARCH TODAY:Speeches and Banner Carrying in Lafayette
Square.
30 AGAIN WILL DEFY ARREST
'Neither Weather Nor Police Considered'
Martyrs Come From Nearby
States to Take Places in Line.
Miss Paul Says No Law Broken."
CLICK
HERE FOR FULL PDF NEWSPAPER FILE (takes time to load)
The following picture shows Annie Arniel holding a banner. The photograph is
part of a larger picture which shows a group of suffragists about to board a
train to demonstrate in Washington. More pictures and information about
Wilmington Delaware Suffragism history can be found at the website:
Historical Society of
Delaware - Women's Suffrage in Delaware. Some wonderful detail about the
historic first arrests at the White House in Washington can be found in a transcribed
interview with Mabel Vernon. Mabel and Annie were two of the first group of
six arrested.
After 1919, there is little information about Annie. She re-married
to Benjamin Blake about 1920. She had a son, Edward and two grandchildren
living in Philadelphia who according to one of her living g-grandchildren, she
would visit regularly in her old age. She also had two sisters, Frances Jane
Clarke-Finch and Sarah Clarke living in the Detroit, MI area, and in about
1925, she moved to Detroit. She would visit relatives on her trips to
Gananoque, about 1935-1937 according to Eileen Truesdell's older brother,
Russell Clark. (Eileen is a grandchild of John Clark, brother of Annie M.
Arniel). Annie was known to have a wicked sense of humour, and loved to
entertain. Apparently, she liked to hold seonces during some visits, and to
read tea leaves on others. Russel Clark clearly remembers playing as a small
boy beneath the "seonce table" and being amused as "Aunt
Tilda" would fly out of her chair when spooked!
Annie Arniel died in Wilmington, Delaware in 1924. She is a true hero
to many women in the USA.
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Copyright Ken Menard 2007
