Ruth Corwin Grassley was an American homemaker renowned for her early participation in women's suffrage. She made history by voting just one day after the ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920, which granted women the right to vote. On August 19, 1920, she was among 77 women who cast ballots in a local referendum on school consolidation in Black Hawk and Grundy counties, Iowa. As a resident of rural Iowa, she exemplified the dedicated family life of Midwestern women in the early 20th century, supporting her family's farming interests while engaging in community affairs. She was the mother of U.S. Senator Charles 'Chuck' Grassley, born on September 17, 1933, in New Hartford, Iowa, to Ruth and her husband Louis Arthur Grassley. Senator Grassley later recounted learning of his mother's milestone only after her death, using the story to emphasize the significance of women's rights. Her legacy as a trailblazing voter and devoted parent endures through her son's long political career representing Iowa in the U.S. Senate since 1981.