Hoping to humiliate women in politics, a group of men jokingly nominated Susanna Salter for mayor of a Kansas town in 1887. But they didn’t expect her to win.
On April 4 , 1887 , a untried woman named Susanna Salter was nominated for city manager of Argonia , Kansas . Her nomination was supposed to be a joke — but she got the last gag .
Before women wereguaranteed the right field to votein America , states and townspeople could settle for themselves whether to allow women in politics . One place where cleaning lady could vote — and persist for office — was Argonia .
Wikimedia Commons / Kansas Historical SocietyBefore Susanna Salter became America ’s first distaff mayor , she was a sobriety militant . Her husband ( right ) was tremendously gallant of her achievement .
Wikimedia Commons/Kansas Historical SocietyBefore Susanna Salter became America’s first female mayor, she was a temperance activist. Her husband (right) was enormously proud of her accomplishments.
But some male residents did not reckon that women should have a place in politics . They were especially annoyed by Salter , who was the drawing card of a local temperance radical and a passionate anti - alcohol militant .
In an elbow grease to humiliate Salter and monish other woman from try office , theyadded her nameto the mayoral balloting as a prank .
They cipher her imminent going would end the matter of women in politics — and the threat of prohibition . But then Susanna Salter actually won .
Wikimedia CommonsThe family home of Susanna Salter in Argonia.
How Susanna Salter Became An Activist
Wikimedia CommonsThe fellowship home of Susanna Salter in Argonia .
Susanna Madora Kinsley was born on March 2 , 1860 , in Lamira , Ohio . Raised in a Quaker family , her parents were descendant of English colonist .
By the meter Susanna was 12 , her family line had relocated to Kansas and settled near Silver Lake . There , theylivedon an 80 - Accho farm while Susanna focalise on her studies . Years after , she wait on Kansas State Agricultural College . But alas , malady push her to send away out .
Kansas Historical SocietySusanna Salter lived to be 101 years old and died in 1961.
While enrolled , however , she run into her next husband , Lewis Allison Salter . He was the boy of former Lt . Gov. Melville J. Salter , which made him an prestigious match . On September 1 , 1880 , the couple got married .
Two days later , Lewis and Susanna Salter moved to Argonia . As Lewis manage a hardware store and studied for the bar exam , Susanna run to the abode and cared for their young children .
By 1885 , Argonia was incorporated , and Susanna ’s father became the town ’s first city manager . Meanwhile , Lewis bump work as the metropolis shop assistant .
It would take another two year for Kansas to appropriate womanhood to vote in local elections . And even then , only certain town would be eligible . But Salter was already catch involved with politics , as she help her hubby write the ordinances of the town .
She was also concerned in the local Woman ’s Christian Temperance Union ( WCTU ) . finally , she joined the governing body — and became its leader . This was a big reason why she became a target of local work force .
Becoming America’s First Female Mayor
Kansas Historical SocietySusanna Salter lived to be 101 years old and died in 1961 .
By the time Salter join the WCTU , the group had escalated its tactic from protests outside saloon to attempts of patrol citizens into soberness .
Of course , workforce who drink booze in Argonia were not well-chosen about this . Their frustration was combine when WCTU penis put pro - temperance men on the ballot for mayor and city council in 1887 .
But the disgruntled drinkers hatch a plan . Since most campaigner registered for situation on Election Day , they used that opportunity to replace the man that the WCTU had endorsed for mayor with Susanna Salter ’s name . In the mind of the pranksters , Salter ’s bankruptcy to win would ruin her reputation and silence the WCTU .
Meanwhile , Salter had no estimate that she was a campaigner — until example from the local Republican Party come to her house to tell her . Despite her shock , Salter agreed to dish out if she was elect .
With the help of WCTU and pro - temperance voters , that ’s on the dot what encounter . The townsfolk show up in droves to vote for Salter — and she end up gain with a two - thirds bulk . Not only was she the first distaff mayor in American history , but she was also one of the only cleaning lady to hold any kind of political role at the time .
But for all the fears of radical change , Salter ’s condition was largely uneventful . She only serve one yr and decline to seek reelection .
Still , her time in authority attracted national attention as reporters from all over the state traveled to her town to see her in action mechanism — and determine whether it was “ advisable ” for other towns to elect female mayors .
Despite all the naysayer , Susanna Salter perform her line of work well and gained a reputation for her intelligence and decorousness . Yet she made it clear that her master stress was her hubby and children .
After her terminal figure was up , she stayed in Argonia with her family until 1893 , when they moved to Oklahoma . She would remain there — live a comparatively hushed life — until she died at age 101 in 1961 .
After see about Susanna Salter , take a facial expression atSybil Ludington , the distaff version of Paul Revere . Then , read aboutIda B. Wells , the legendary civil rights leader and right to vote activist .
