There’s a children’s song about a little stream. It contains these words: “I’m small I know, but wherever I go, the fields grow greener still.”
As I pondered this song, the mayor of Argonia, Kansas came to mind.
Susanna Madora Kinsley was born in Ohio in 1860. Her nickname was Dora. When she was 12, her family, who were Quakers, moved to an 80-acre farm in Kansas.
Dora studied hard in high school. She did so well that upon entering Kansas State Agricultural College, she was allowed to skip her freshman year and enroll as a sophomore.
Her plans and dreams were well on their way. But then a treasure appeared in her path. His name was Lewis Salter, a fellow student.
They married on September 1, 1880, the beginning of Dora’s senior year. Six weeks before graduation, Dora became too ill to graduate. Histories are closed-mouthed about this mysterious illness, but it’s easy to surmise that she was pregnant.
Being married, having a child, and dropping out of college was not, perhaps, the pathway Dora had envisioned. However, she wed a good man who took pride in her many civic activities.
She was an active member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), which opposed the sale of alcohol.
Women in Kansas were allowed to vote beginning in 1887, thirty-three years before the 19th Amendment was ratified.
In 1887, Argonia, the town where Dora and Lewis lived, was about to have an election for a number of town officers, including mayor.
Some men in Argonia were not happy about women being involved in politics. The men were in favor of the sale of alcohol and came up with a plan to embarrass women in general and the WCTU in particular.
The men managed to switch names on the mayoral ballot. They removed the name of the man the WCTU endorsed and replaced it with Susanna Madora Salter.
They thought that 20 or so women would vote for Dora, and a landslide of men would vote for her opponent. To their surprise and dismay, Dora, who woke up election day not even knowing she was a candidate, won the election. She chose to serve in the office.
Many people were concerned about having a woman in a political leadership role. They were worried about being subject to what was derisively called ‘petticoat rule.’
In her first meeting with the town council, Dora quickly dispelled these concerns.
“Gentlemen,” she said, “what is your pleasure? You are the duly elected officials of this town, I am merely your presiding officer.”
Her fair-minded and competent manner eased worries and bolstered confidence. Lewis Salter told people, with humor and pride, that he was the mayor’s husband.
At the end of her one-year term, Dora didn’t run for re-election, preferring to focus her energies on her family.
Susanna Madora Salter’s election as America’s first female mayor made national and international news, and earned her a well-deserved place in history.
The little stream in the song would be proud.
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