Fanny G. Hazlett

Frances Ann "Fanny" Gore Hazlett (August 31, 1837 - April 3, 1933) was one of the oldest pioneer women of Nevada.[1]

Fanny G. Hazlett

Early life

Frances Ann "Fanny" Gore Hazlett was born on August 31, 1837, in Massachusetts, the daughter of Stephen Gore and Joan Whitcomb.[2]

Career

Fanny G. Hazlett was a pioneer and writer. She crossed the plains from Iowa with her brothers, Charles and Johnny Gore, in 1862 to Nevada in the days of the Comstock Mines.[1][2] They stayed at Buckland's Station for two days and then moved to Dayton, Nevada. The trip lasted 4 months.[3] Hazlett wrote: "This is mining country and the society is rough... with shooting affrays being frequent and drinking, gambling at every other door... about 20 men to one woman."[4] Her brothers worked in the wood business and Hazlett, first lived with Charles in a tent at a woodcutting camp,[3] with 30 miners and 200 local Native Americans,[4] and then opened a boarding house in the El Dorado Canyon (Nevada), "a cloth-covered frame, about ten by twelve, one-half of one side open for a door".[1][5]

She contributed considerably to newspapers.[2] She published under the name "Frank Hazlett", since it was difficult at the time being published as a woman.[5]

She was first president and charter member of the Elderberry Club.[1][2][6] She was also a member of the Pioneer Society and in 1932 was presented with a certificate by the General Federation of Women's Club for being the oldest American born mother in the state of Nevada.[1]

Hazlett was involved in the Women's suffrage movement in Nevada, and the right to vote for women in Nevada was obtained two years before the national vote.[5] In 1895 she wrote a letter to the editor of the Nevada State Journal: "with the ridiculously small State vote, it seems an opportune time to increase the voting population."[4]

With her daughter Gertrude, Hazlett compiled a history of Dayton, published by the Nevada Historical Society in 1922 as Historical Sketch and Reminiscenses of Dayton, Nevada, and now available at the Dayton Museum.[7][3][5][8] She was the first vice-president of the Nevada Historical Society.[9]

Hazlett was the postmaster of Dayton for twenty years and organized the Helping Hand Library at Dayton. She was one of the oldest women in the world to take a commercial flight in 1922.[10][1][4]

Personal life

Fanny G. Hazlett moved to Nevada in 1862, first settling in Dayton, and later, in 1914, she moved to 701 University Ave., Reno, Nevada.[1] On March 18, 1864 she married Dr. John Clark Hazlett (1828-1895) and had one daughter, Emma Gertrude "Gertie" Hazlett Randall (1866-1911), who married the sheriff of Lyon County.[1][2] John C. Hazlett was a practicing doctor, Lyon County Superintendent of Schools, Lyon County's state senator for four years from 1870–74 and Lyon County District Attorney in 1892.[8]

She died on April 3, 1933, and is buried with her husband and daughter at Dayton Cemetery, Dayton, Nevada.[1]

References
  1. "Mrs. Hazlett's Funeral is Tomorrow - 05 Apr 1933, Wed • Page 2". Reno Gazette-Journal: 2. 1933. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  2. Binheim, Max; Elvin, Charles A (1928). Women of the West; a series of biographical sketches of living eminent women in the eleven western states of the United States of America. p. 140. Retrieved 8 August 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Tennant, Laura; Folmar, Jack (2015). Dayton. Arcadia Publishing. p. 16. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  4. "Nevada Women in History". Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  5. McFarland, Ruby. "Docents program" (PDF). Historical Society of Dayton Valley. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  6. "15 Mar 1923, Thu • Page 4". Reno Gazette-Journal: 4. 1923. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  7. "The Historical Society's Papers - 30 Jan 1923, Tue • Page 4". Reno Gazette-Journal: 4. 1923. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  8. McFarland, Ruby. "Extolling the virtues of a Dayton icon". Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  9. "Pioneers Join In Resolution - 05 Mar 1915, Fri • Other Editions • Page 8". Reno Gazette-Journal: 8. 1915. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  10. "Mrs. Fanny Hazlett Reno Pioneer, Takes Long Ride in Plane - 03 Oct 1922, Tue • Page 8". Nevada State Journal: 8. 1922. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
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