Helen Naomi Eacker
Born: Sheridan, Erie County, New York, on October 11, 1851. Died: Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas, April 20, 1919.
Helen Naomi Eacker, pictured second from right, was born to John and Lydia (Keach) Eacker in Erie County, New York. The family soon moved to Mount Carroll, Illinois, where she attended seminary. They relocated to Greeley, Colorado, where her father was among the founders. They moved to Delphos, Ottawa County, Kansas, in 1876 where she spent much of her life.
Eacker began teaching school in Delphos in 1880. Among dozens of students Eacker taught was George Washington Carver. He lived in Minneapolis in 1883 and 1884, attending eighth and ninth grade at the public school. Eacker taught her students arithmetic, history, and common studies, and encouraged Carver’s keen interest in his lessons. Eacker was promoted to principal of Delphos school in August 1883. She was elected as Ottawa County superintendent of public education in 1898 and served in that capacity until 1900.
She became an active member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, elected president of the W.C.T.U. in Delphos on June 22, 1884. She delivered numerous lectures on the Chautauqua circuits.
Suffrage was one of Eacker’s major efforts, involved with suffrage campaigns in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and New York. She was secretary of the Kansas Equal Suffrage Association in 1912 during the campaign to pass the woman’s suffrage amendment. Eacker is considered instrumental to the victory, which made Kansas the eighth state to allow full voting rights for women. She was elected permanent secretary of the Kansas Progressive Party on February 12, 1913. She ran an unsuccessful campaign for state auditor on the Progress Party ticket in 1913.
Eacker shared the care of the homestead with relatives to relocate to Lawrence in 1908 where her adopted nieces and nephews attended university. She died in Lawrence, Douglas County, on April 20. 1919.
Entry: Helen Naomi Eacker
Author: Kansas Historical Society
Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.
Date Created: December 2024
Date Modified: December 2024
The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.
