Sarah Chase

Sarah Blakesley Chase (also spelled Sara Blakelee; born January 18, 1837 in Clermont County, Ohio), had been known for the continuous battle with for the selling of contraceptive devices over state borders.

Sarah Ann Blakeslee was the daughter of a Presbyterian clergyman (James Blakeslee), who spent some time working as a missionary among people of color and Jamaican roots. She was raised in Broome County, New York and discovered at the age of twelve a passion to become a religious speaker. The purpose for her career choice had been derived from the hopes of gaining classical and medical knowledge in order to pursue a job within the medical field. Sarah wanted to aid those who suffered mentally and physically. She was characterized as a woman of courage and strength which was something that she displayed early on, by starting from bottom and guiding herself up to the top, by earning a doctor degree. Sarah had faced numerous conflicts within her life, as well as career that ultimately resulted from her gender and social class within the time period. She was a woman that wanted other woman to have a choice in their life, starting with their own body. She left the decision to prevent pregnancy up to other woman which caused this conflicting argument of whether or not her theory behind birth control was valid and if it disobeyed the churches' opinion.

Sarah Blakeslee was raised by her father,James Blakeslee, and mother, Rachel. She had five brothers. She grew up in what many would describe as poverty, and her father had very little means to pay for her education. Women who wanted to seek employment often struggled due to men being prejudiced which decreased their chances. Luckily for Sarah she began working at the age of sixteen as a teacher’s assistant while still attending school. She graduated from Alfred University, in Allegheny County, New York at the age of twenty one, and decided to put herself through medical school.

Sarah Ann Blakeslee married Hazard D. Chase in Cleveland in 1875, and was divorced from him in December 1878. Hazard was an alumnus of Michigan University. He decided to enlist in the Army, and returned to his wife four years later. Sarah Chase had a one daughter from this marriage, Grace L. On December 4, 1888 Sarah married Thomas Hookey of Denver, Colorado. "At exactly 9:15pm Mrs. Chase entered the parlor from the vestibule door on the arm of Judge Hookey, and the couple took their stand between the palms. There were no introductory remarks, but the judge immediately took Mrs. Chase's right hand and with a voice broken with emotion said: I take thee, Sarah B. Chase, as my lawful, wedded wife, proving to you in the presences of these witnesses to be a loving husband in sickness and in health until death do us part." Mrs. Chase then said her vow. Then they signed a marriage contract and their guests signed it as witnesses. This marriage lasted eight months. At her manslaughter trial in 1893, Sara stated that she did not know what had become of Mr. Hookey.

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