Isabella greenway biography husband

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After her husband succumbed to tuberculosis in , Ferguson married another Rough Rider, John Campbell Greenway.

The Arizona Historical Society marked the occasion by publishing a book containing more than two hundred letters between Eleanor and her long-time friend, Arizona congresswoman Isabella Greenway. A Volume of Friendship: The Letters of Eleanor Roosevelt and Isabella Greenway illuminates the transformation of these two young society women into pragmatic political leaders.

Eleanor and Isabella met as debutantes in New York City, and quickly became friends. Soon afterwards, Isabella married Robert H. The two couples honeymooned together in Europe. The Fergusons and their children moved west, seeking health in the dry desert air. These letters reveal, almost step by step, how women entered politics a century ago.

In , Isabella married a close friend, Gen. John Campbell Greenway (–), another of Roosevelt's Rough Riders, whom she had met in Ferguson had encouraged Isabella to visit Greenway in Bisbee as a respite from her many responsibilities.

At first, there was no hint of the politicians they would become. They were teenage girls from privileged families entering the social swirl of New York. Shy, bookish Eleanor was dismayed at the prospect, while beautiful Isabella became a popular belle. But both girls, influenced by prevailing progressive ideas, joined the newly formed Junior League to take part in social work.

Like most women of their generation who entered politics, Eleanor and Isabella had close ties to male politicians.