Provocateur and Political Activist. Born to a farming family in Harlan, Iowa, she was a bright student, and attended Columbia College in Chicago, later living in New York and Boston. Working briefly as a teacher; She enjoyed a only modestly successful career on the stage; including time spent as the only American member of the company of the noted Shakespearean actorSir Johnston Forbes-Robertson during his farewell tour of North America.
Grace Wick came to Oregon in 1922 with her then-husband George Merritt, a member of a politically prominent family in Jackson County; they divorced in November 1924. Following her divorce she went to Hollywood attempting to start a film career, but was largely unsuccessful. Returning to Oregon by 1926 she was active in an unsuccessful effort to save Archie Cody from the gallows after he was convicted of the murder of the Sheriff of Harney County. In 1927, Wick moved to Portland where, having been active in politics at least since her time in Jackson County became involved in Women for Al Smith in 1928. Wick was very proud of her supposed relationship to the suffragette Lucretia Mott; she was also active in Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
An independent candidate for Congress from the Third District on two occasions in the 1930s, never polling higher than the low single digits. Remembered fondly for parading along downtown Portland's Broadway clad in nothing but a barrel covered with placards in 1935. A frequent disruptor of city council meetings; she was also an avid foe of Communism. The spring of 1936 saw her a candidate for Mayor under the slogan "A kiss for everyone in Portland" though she later withdrew and mounted another independent candidacy for Congress. The thirties saw her attracted to right-wing movements, and become increasingly anti-semitic after she was evicted from her apartment by her Jewish landlord. Supporting herself mostly by working as a bookkeeper for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) she carried on active correspondences with right wing figures around the country, particularly William Dudley Pelley, Gerald L. K. Smith, leaders of the isolationist Mother's Movement, and the National Women's Party, which she unsuccessfully sought ballot status for in 1951. Wick lived alone with her dog and four cats on N.E. Failing Street from the late 1940s onward. The 1950s saw her protest the rate of old age pensions; which she termed "social insecurity", and the proposed floridation of the Portland water supply.
She died in a Portland nursing home, after having been ill with lung cancer and a heart condition about three months. Wick left surviving her a sister, Mrs. Pearl Meyer, of Pender, Neb., and two brothers; Alvin of Pender, and Charlie, of Louisville, Ky. Funeral services were at Little Chapel of the Chimes, 300 N. Killingsworth Street, with burial in the Rose City Cemetery. Her estate was offered for probate at $600. Wick's papers were donated to the Oregon Historical Society.
Grace Wick came to Oregon in 1922 with her then-husband George Merritt, a member of a politically prominent family in Jackson County; they divorced in November 1924. Following her divorce she went to Hollywood attempting to start a film career, but was largely unsuccessful. Returning to Oregon by 1926 she was active in an unsuccessful effort to save Archie Cody from the gallows after he was convicted of the murder of the Sheriff of Harney County. In 1927, Wick moved to Portland where, having been active in politics at least since her time in Jackson County became involved in Women for Al Smith in 1928. Wick was very proud of her supposed relationship to the suffragette Lucretia Mott; she was also active in Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
An independent candidate for Congress from the Third District on two occasions in the 1930s, never polling higher than the low single digits. Remembered fondly for parading along downtown Portland's Broadway clad in nothing but a barrel covered with placards in 1935. A frequent disruptor of city council meetings; she was also an avid foe of Communism. The spring of 1936 saw her a candidate for Mayor under the slogan "A kiss for everyone in Portland" though she later withdrew and mounted another independent candidacy for Congress. The thirties saw her attracted to right-wing movements, and become increasingly anti-semitic after she was evicted from her apartment by her Jewish landlord. Supporting herself mostly by working as a bookkeeper for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) she carried on active correspondences with right wing figures around the country, particularly William Dudley Pelley, Gerald L. K. Smith, leaders of the isolationist Mother's Movement, and the National Women's Party, which she unsuccessfully sought ballot status for in 1951. Wick lived alone with her dog and four cats on N.E. Failing Street from the late 1940s onward. The 1950s saw her protest the rate of old age pensions; which she termed "social insecurity", and the proposed floridation of the Portland water supply.
She died in a Portland nursing home, after having been ill with lung cancer and a heart condition about three months. Wick left surviving her a sister, Mrs. Pearl Meyer, of Pender, Neb., and two brothers; Alvin of Pender, and Charlie, of Louisville, Ky. Funeral services were at Little Chapel of the Chimes, 300 N. Killingsworth Street, with burial in the Rose City Cemetery. Her estate was offered for probate at $600. Wick's papers were donated to the Oregon Historical Society.
Provocateur and Political Activist. Born to a farming family in Harlan, Iowa, she was a bright student, and attended Columbia College in Chicago, later living in New York and Boston. Working briefly as a teacher; She enjoyed a only modestly successful career on the stage; including time spent as the only American member of the company of the noted Shakespearean actorSir Johnston Forbes-Robertson during his farewell tour of North America.
Grace Wick came to Oregon in 1922 with her then-husband George Merritt, a member of a politically prominent family in Jackson County; they divorced in November 1924. Following her divorce she went to Hollywood attempting to start a film career, but was largely unsuccessful. Returning to Oregon by 1926 she was active in an unsuccessful effort to save Archie Cody from the gallows after he was convicted of the murder of the Sheriff of Harney County. In 1927, Wick moved to Portland where, having been active in politics at least since her time in Jackson County became involved in Women for Al Smith in 1928. Wick was very proud of her supposed relationship to the suffragette Lucretia Mott; she was also active in Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
An independent candidate for Congress from the Third District on two occasions in the 1930s, never polling higher than the low single digits. Remembered fondly for parading along downtown Portland's Broadway clad in nothing but a barrel covered with placards in 1935. A frequent disruptor of city council meetings; she was also an avid foe of Communism. The spring of 1936 saw her a candidate for Mayor under the slogan "A kiss for everyone in Portland" though she later withdrew and mounted another independent candidacy for Congress. The thirties saw her attracted to right-wing movements, and become increasingly anti-semitic after she was evicted from her apartment by her Jewish landlord. Supporting herself mostly by working as a bookkeeper for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) she carried on active correspondences with right wing figures around the country, particularly William Dudley Pelley, Gerald L. K. Smith, leaders of the isolationist Mother's Movement, and the National Women's Party, which she unsuccessfully sought ballot status for in 1951. Wick lived alone with her dog and four cats on N.E. Failing Street from the late 1940s onward. The 1950s saw her protest the rate of old age pensions; which she termed "social insecurity", and the proposed floridation of the Portland water supply.
She died in a Portland nursing home, after having been ill with lung cancer and a heart condition about three months. Wick left surviving her a sister, Mrs. Pearl Meyer, of Pender, Neb., and two brothers; Alvin of Pender, and Charlie, of Louisville, Ky. Funeral services were at Little Chapel of the Chimes, 300 N. Killingsworth Street, with burial in the Rose City Cemetery. Her estate was offered for probate at $600. Wick's papers were donated to the Oregon Historical Society.
Grace Wick came to Oregon in 1922 with her then-husband George Merritt, a member of a politically prominent family in Jackson County; they divorced in November 1924. Following her divorce she went to Hollywood attempting to start a film career, but was largely unsuccessful. Returning to Oregon by 1926 she was active in an unsuccessful effort to save Archie Cody from the gallows after he was convicted of the murder of the Sheriff of Harney County. In 1927, Wick moved to Portland where, having been active in politics at least since her time in Jackson County became involved in Women for Al Smith in 1928. Wick was very proud of her supposed relationship to the suffragette Lucretia Mott; she was also active in Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
An independent candidate for Congress from the Third District on two occasions in the 1930s, never polling higher than the low single digits. Remembered fondly for parading along downtown Portland's Broadway clad in nothing but a barrel covered with placards in 1935. A frequent disruptor of city council meetings; she was also an avid foe of Communism. The spring of 1936 saw her a candidate for Mayor under the slogan "A kiss for everyone in Portland" though she later withdrew and mounted another independent candidacy for Congress. The thirties saw her attracted to right-wing movements, and become increasingly anti-semitic after she was evicted from her apartment by her Jewish landlord. Supporting herself mostly by working as a bookkeeper for the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) she carried on active correspondences with right wing figures around the country, particularly William Dudley Pelley, Gerald L. K. Smith, leaders of the isolationist Mother's Movement, and the National Women's Party, which she unsuccessfully sought ballot status for in 1951. Wick lived alone with her dog and four cats on N.E. Failing Street from the late 1940s onward. The 1950s saw her protest the rate of old age pensions; which she termed "social insecurity", and the proposed floridation of the Portland water supply.
She died in a Portland nursing home, after having been ill with lung cancer and a heart condition about three months. Wick left surviving her a sister, Mrs. Pearl Meyer, of Pender, Neb., and two brothers; Alvin of Pender, and Charlie, of Louisville, Ky. Funeral services were at Little Chapel of the Chimes, 300 N. Killingsworth Street, with burial in the Rose City Cemetery. Her estate was offered for probate at $600. Wick's papers were donated to the Oregon Historical Society.
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