Susanna M. Salter was born March 2nd, 1860 in Lamira, Ohio. In 1872 she and her family moved to Kansas, settling near Silver Lake.
The year 1878 saw Susanna enter Kansas State University, then called Kansas State Agricultural college. The future mayor was admitted as a sophomore, having passed equivalency courses that let her skip her entire first year.
Sadly, illness prevented Susanna from graduating just six weeks short. While at college, she met and married law student Lewis Salter in 1880. Eventually the couple moved to Argonia, KS, where our heroine became active in the Temperance Society and became acquainted with axe-wielding anti-alcohol crusader Carrie Nation.
In 1883 Susanna gave birth to Francis Argonia Salter, the first baby born in the growing town. Francis was the first of 9 children that Mrs. Salter gave birth to, with one dying in infancy.
Leading up to the April 4th, 1887 election for mayor of Argonia, a group of men nominated Susanna as a candidate in jest, hoping she’d lose by a large margin and discourage other women from entering politics. As Balladeer’s Blog has covered previously, in many areas candidates did not need to be announced until morning of election day if they chose.
Susanna was surprised to learn her name was on the ballot but assured the public that if elected she would indeed serve. (So, take THAT, William Tecumseh Sherman!)
Argonia’s Republican Party threw their support behind Salter, as did the Women’s Christian Temperence Union. Susanna won with two-thirds of the vote and became a media figure across America due to her pioneering victory.
At the first City Council meeting that Mayor Salter presided over a reporter from the New York Sun was in attendance. His article complimented Susanna for her efficiency and for shutting down irrelevant tangents.
Salter governed Argonia for a smooth and uneventful year, then declined to run for reelection. Susanna passed away at age 101 on March 17th, 1961.
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