Not all trustees and members of the Old Barracks Association agreed with their friends’ stance on suffrage. Many never publicly stated their opinion, but the best example of the Trenton elite siding with votes for women is Josephine Yard Breese, founding member of the OBA and its president from 1917-1918.

Josephine Yard Breese, 1876 Image courtesy of the family of Edward Madison Yard and Mary Howell Yard

Josephine Ormsby Yard Breese
February 4, 1853 – October 28, 1938

The only child of Lt. Edward Madison Yard and Josephine Blakeney Ormsby, Josephine Yard Breese was born in Pittsburgh, PA, where her great-grandfather, John Ormsby, was a founding father. Her mother died soon after her birth, and as a young child, she relocated to Trenton with her father.

Josephine received the finest education, attending Madame Clements School in Chestnut Hill, PA, and finishing school in Switzerland. At age 18, she made her social debut at the White House at the coming-out party of her friend, Nellie Grant, daughter of President Ulysses S. Grant.

In 1875 she married James Buchanan Breese, son of Sidney Breese, who served in the United States Senate and as Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court.

The Breese’s traveled all over the world and had four children, two sons and two daughters. After James’ death in 1887, Josephine settled into Trenton society.

James Buchanan Breese, November 1879 Image courtesy of the family of Edward Madison Yard and Mary Howell Yard

“Riverside” Josephine’s home at 247 West State Street, Trenton Image courtesy of the family of Edward Madison Yard and Mary Howell Yard

Josephine is listed as attending the meeting in 1912 at the Old Barracks where the New Jersey Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage was formally organized. She also attended their annual meeting a few months later.

Either she never completely aligned with the antis, or her opinion changed over time because on October 18, 1915, Josephine made headlines in the Trenton Evening Times for framing an appeal for suffrage. A retraction was run the next day to explain that while she was an “ardent suffragist,” she had “purposely refrained from taking a previous public position because of the conspicuous place occupied on the other side of the question by her daughter-in-law.”

The daughter-in-law in question was Georgianna Hoadley Smith Breese (Mrs. E. Yarde Breese), who was an outspoken figure in the anti-suffrage movement and had twice served as the president of the New Jersey Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage.

Left: In the lead-up to the special election, a group of Trenton women signed a petition in support of suffrage. Trenton Evening Times October 18, 1915

Above: Retraction affirming Josephine’s position on suffrage but correcting her part in the appeal. Trenton Evening Times October 19, 1915

Above: Josephine Yard Breese
Below: Josephine’s children, circa 1891
Seated: Mary (Mae) Ormsby Breese, Edward Yarde Breese, James B. Breese, Jr.
Standing: Eliza (Elise) Morrison Breese
Images courtesy of the family of Edward Madison Yard and Mary Howell Yard