Marian Horwitz O’Brien, a widow originally from Philadelphia, was elected mayor of the city of Moore Haven on July 30, 1917—the first woman to serve in that role in Florida. Prior to her election, she was instrumental in the development of Moore Haven and ran a 2000-acre farm by herself, the largest in the Everglades at the time.
It was an unusual case in that it was the town’s first mayoral election since incorporating in June, and Mrs. Horwitz was directly petitioned by every single registered voter in town to accept the position. Even the two men who had earlier been competing for the nomination bowed out when her name was put forward.
Marian initially refused the nomination, but eventually accepted and characterized it as a way for women to take on tasks that would free up men to support the United States’ efforts in WWI.
“I once felt that a woman could not measure up physically to the work of handling public affairs,” she told the press after a few days in office. “In less than a week I have changed my mind.”
Marian’s progressive attitude would soon cause a rift between her and the community. She was nearly shot in the head for protecting her black workers from white vigilantes. The townsfolk also took offense to her wearing riding breeches, her being a Catholic and not Southern Baptist—and worst of all, drinking tea in the afternoon.
She would resign a year later in order to operate her farm full-time, as her husband was serving in the army during WWI. Later, they moved to Michigan where she continued her activism, supporting the anti-Prohibition movement.
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