Background
Ella Louise Knowles Haskell was born on July 31, 1869, in Northwood Ridge, New Hampshire, United States, the daughter of David and Louisa (Bigelow) Knowles. They were of English stock.
Ella Louise Knowles Haskell was born on July 31, 1869, in Northwood Ridge, New Hampshire, United States, the daughter of David and Louisa (Bigelow) Knowles. They were of English stock.
Ella grew up a studious girl and graduated from a local seminary in 1880. She then entered Bates College and in spite of some prejudice there against women won honors in oratory, debate, and journalism.
After her graduation in 1884 Ella entered the law office of Henry E. Burnham, in Manchester, New Hampshire, but owing to her frail health she decided to go West. In 1888 she was employed as a teacher in the schools of Helena, Montana, and the next year was made principal, but she resigned to resume her law studies. At that time no provision existed in Montana for the admission of women to the practice of law. She appealed to the territorial legislature to give them the right; her plea was granted, and in December 1889 she was admitted to the Montana bar. At first she handled many charity cases for she was a vigorous opponent of anything which she regarded as an injustice. She showed real ability as a lawyer, however, and gradually built up a lucrative practice.
Having established a reputation as a reformer. Miss Knowles was nominated in 1892 by the Populists for the attorney-generalship of the state. At first she regarded the nomination as a joke but later she decided to fight for the office. In the campaign she made more than one hundred speeches. She was defeated in the election, but her opponent, Henri J. Haskell, made her his deputy and in 1895 she was married to him. In the attorney- general’s office she was given charge of the legal work relating to public lands and made good the state’s claim to school lands valued at $200, 000.
In 1896 Ella was sent by the Populists as delegate to their national convention, and for the next four years she served as national committeeman for Montana. She campaigned vigorously for Bryan and Watson in 1896, and for Bryan in 1900. On the platform she was persuasive and convincing.
After divorce Mrs. Haskell went to Butte, Montana, where she opened a law office. She began buying mining property and was notably successful in her investments. She gained a reputation as a mining expert and became a member of the executive committee of the International Mining Congress. Her life continued to be varied.
Mrs Haskell had many friends, but few intimates; her vigorous assertion of her beliefs and her restless activities repelled those who came too close.
Ella was married to Henri J. Haskell on May 23, 1895, in San Francisco. A few years after her marriage Mrs. Haskell divorced her husband.
