Built in 1836, this house is named for Evelyn True Button, a women’s rights activist. Mrs. Button was born in this house in 1875. She died in this same house in 1975, shortly after celebrating her 100th birthday. Upon her death, she bequeathed the house to he Morgan County Historical Society.
Her father, Dr. Hiram L. True (a Civil War surgeon) came to McConnelsville to practice medicine in the early 1870’s. In 1874, Dr. True
married Helen Moore, granddaughter of General Robert McConnel, the founder of McConnelsville. Dr. & Mrs. True moved into this house that same year, and their daughter Evelyn was born here a year later.
Dr. True practiced medicine in the building next door, where the Doll House is currently located.
Evelyn True graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1898 and soon left for the Philippines as a missionary. While in the Philippines, she met and married Frank Button, an army officer. Her oldest daughter, Augusta, was born in the Philippines. Her second daughter, Helen, was born on board ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean while Evelyn was returning to America.
Sadly, the marriage did not work out. Mrs. Button was forced to raise her daughters by herself, with little help from their father. These experiences made her realize the plight of women and fought for women’s rights in the early 20th century.
