Annie M. Clarke-Arniel, The Iron-Jawed Suffragette from Canada
Anne Matilda Clarke was born April 24, 1862 (Frontenac 1901 census) on Howe
Island, Ontario, Canada. She was one of the 9 children born to Howe Island settlers
James Clarke and Bridget Duffy. According to the 1881 Census, she was still
residing on the Howe
Island Clarke homestead at age 20. Several years later, according to Eileen Truesdell's "The Clarke
Book (1810-1995)", Anne M. Clarke married William John Arniel on October
5, 1885 in Kingston. From the 1889-90 Kingston, (Ontario) City directory, The
William J. Arniel family lived at Rear of 240 Princess, and he worked as a
Boilermaker for Canadian Locomotive Co. Three sons are named and aged in the
Frontenac 1901 census, while "Annie" was living with her
mother-in-law in Kingston in 1901: Edward Arniel, b. Oct 19, 1891; Thomas
Arniel, b. July 3, 1897; William J. Arniel, b. May 9, 1900. (another child, Eva
Marion Arniel, was born in 1895, but died before she was two). From 1904-1905
Kingston, (Ontario) City directory the William J. Arniel family lived at 174 Bagot,
again he was working as a Boilermaker.
In 1905, the family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, USA where William had a
brother named George Arniel. It is presumed that William Arniel's skills as a
Boilermaker were in demand in the Wilmington steamship factories. The following
information was obtained from The Historical
Society of Delaware: From 1905 Wilmington City Directory: Arniel,
George, (Anna L), brakeman, 863 Bennett Arniel, William J, (Anna), Boilermkr,
1234 Chestnut From 1906 Wilmington City Directory: Arneil, George, (Anna),
brakeman, 863 Bennett From 1907 Wilmington City Directory: Arneil, George,
(Anna L), special officer, 863 Bennett Arnield, Annie, morwkr, 1234 Chestnut
From 1908 Wilmington City Directory: Arniel, Annie, 1234 Chestnut Arneil,
George H, (Anna L), spec officer, 863 Bennett From 1909 Wilmington City
Directory: Arneil, Annie, morwkr,426 W Front Arneil, George H, (Anna ), cigars,
863 Bennett, h do From 1910 Wilmington City Directory: Arneil, Annie, nurse,
302 King Arneil, George H, (Anna ), special officer, 863 Bennett From 1921-1922
Wilmington Directory Arniel, Rebecca nurse 2204 boulevard h do (she's also
buried near father George)
From WWI Civilian Draft Registrations (1915-1917): Edward Arniel born 19
October 1891 Wilmington Delaware Thomas Anthony Arniel born 3 July 1897
Wilmington Delaware Thomas Anthony Arniel, born 3 July 1897 Tennessee prison
(registration)
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 Detroit, MI in 1941 at the age of 79. She is a true hero
to many women in the USA.
Note: The spelling for Arniel is sometimes as Arneil. Some of the Arneil family
in Kingston spelled it one way and some the other. Annie's husband as well as
herself consistently spelled the name Arniel, as did their descendents,
although husband William J. Arniel was son of Thomas and Mary Arneil of
Kingston, Ont.
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Copyright Ken Menard 2007