The Plans of the Five Old Maids

Following in the footsteps of the liberated women of their day, a group of Defiance girls decided that they would never marry.  Their plan for their future was interesting, and now I wonder if they kept to their pact...

"ANTI-MARRIAGE AGREEMENT

Novel Compact Entered Into By Five Defiance Maidens.

 This agreement made and entered into this 18th day of August A.D. 1894, by and between Annette Slough, Eva Blair, Albene Daoust, Hattie Blair and Mollie Kiser, all residents of Defiance County, of Defiance, and the state of Ohio, and all being of lawful age and in sound mind, witnesseth:

That said parties, realizing the cares and responsibilities of married women, and that men of today have degenerated into mere popinjays (a vain or conceited person, pretentious and prone to idle chatter), and further realizing that our chances are mighty slim, have colluded together as follows:

That in consideration of the promises and agreements hereinafter provided, the said Slough, Blair, Daoust, Blair and Kisor, mutually agree between themselves that they will not, neither will any of them, marry any man, boy or widower, that they will forever , as long as the breath of life exists within them, eschew society of all men, whether single or married, that they will not, neither will any one of them, become engaged to any man, widow or bachelor, that they and each and all of them, promise and agree among themselves and with each other, to live and die in single blessedness. 

The contract then proceeds to say that in the year 1900, they will buy the Blout property, now occupied by O. D. Loveridge, or if not this property, some other suitable place, build an 'Old Maid's Hall,' and live together in peace and harmony.

It is further agreed that if said parties or any of them shall fail or neglect to comply with the terms of this agreement, and do marry any male, whether situated in this county or state aforesaid, or any place on this mundane sphere, that said party or parties breaking this contract, shall pay to said remaining party or parties the sum of 25 dollars, to be used by said remaining parties for mourning and habillments (clothing) of woe, and that if said parties all marry, the one last breaking the agreement shall, with the $25 penalty, buy and erect a tombstone dedicated to the buried hopes of 'Five Old Maids.' 

We do hereby jointly and severally in the name of Susan B. Anthony, Belva Lockwood, Mrs. Lease, Frances Willard and Lady Somerset, bind ourselves to this agreement.

Witness our hands the day and year aforesaid.  

Signed, Mollie Kiser, Hattie Blair, Nettie Slough, Eva M. Blair, Berna Daoust. 

In Duplicate. "

Defiance Democrat - October 12, 1898 

So, did they all never marry?  Perhaps a reader will know something about that.  And what property did they have an eye on for their Old Maid's Hall?  Oh, how I would love to know how it all played out.