Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1890-07-10
A Sketch of the Life of Mrs. Katc Sumner,
the Woman Stage Driver of south
From the vermilliou Republican.

A Sketch of the Lifc of Mrs. Katc Sumner.
the Woman Stagc-Driper of South
Dakota.
From the vermiilon Republican.
Since eleven years ago last April Mrs.
Kate Sumner has been in Uncle Sans
employ as carrier of mail matter.
During the first year, when her husband
was with her, she had charge off and
on, of now and then a,route as she was
needed. But one morning in. July of
the second year, she awolte to'the fact
that her husband had deserted her:
leaving her with contracts for four
mail-routes' six children, the youngest
a babe of six weeks old, and debts to
the amount of five hundred dollars. be-
sides having disposed of their home
stead and leaving the family in desti-
tute condition indeed. Most women
would have given up the whole thing
we believe, but she being a woman of
pluck, put her shoulder to the wheel,
and made things move.
The routes left on her hands were:
one from Parker to Sioux Falls, which
was tri-weekly; one from Iankton to
Swan Lake, "a daily; one from Swan Lake
to Parker, daily also: ard one from
Swan Lake to Meckling, a tri.weekly.
These four routes She kept charge of
for six weeks, paying all her expenses
with her freight and express carried.
at the end of that time she threw up
the contracts for three routes, retaining
the one from Swan Lake to Meckling
and driving on this herself. Her baby
she was obliged to take with her, and
when tired of holding it she would
place it in a little box on her blackboard
buggy where it would sleep quietly as
most little ones in their comfortable
cribs. This little one, her mothers
name sake, is now a fine young girl ten
years of age.
The roads in those times were not in
as good shape as now by any means,
and bridges were hardly thought
necessary; and many is the time We
have seen her horse swim Clay Creek,
her blackboard floating and she know
ing that single misstep of the pony
would land them in deeper water where
there was little hope of ever getting
out of the gumbo. Sometimes, too. she
would be stopped by prairie fires across
the bottom. when she would be obliged
to beat a retreat. But it was very
seldom she lost a trip-through thick
and thin, rain or shine, she almost al
ways "got there" knowing her little
ones must be fed and clothed and cared
for for many years, and every trip
which she lost Of course she forfeited
her right to the pay. How many
children would have staid alone every
other night in the week-the oldest at
one time at home being but twelve
years Of age? Sho had moved her
family out OF town near Swan Lake
because she thought it safest and
best" she says.
Six years ago the route was changed.
she now driving from Hurley to Yer
million, which was a tri-weekly run,
and which Kept her going every day
except Sunday-it being distance of
| forty-three miles.
During these ten years which have
passed since she managed things alone,
she has paid the debt of five hundred
dollars, before spoken of, bought her a
lot, built her a house upon it at Hurley,
for which she says she has been offered
eight hundred dollars, and besides all
her expenses-sickness, and some fnan-
cial dilficulties-has managed to save
the snug little sum of one Thousand
two hundred dollars. She has re-
cciyed from the government during the
ten years the sum of six thousand dol
lars.
As the government has seen fiji to
make certain changes in the mail
routes this season, Mrs. Summers con-
| tract ceased June 3Oth, and we shall
fail to see her welcome face in our
midst again. But she has contracted
a route between Hurley and Freeman,
distance of thirty-two miles and a
tri-weekly route. We would have been
glad to hear that she had retired from
the business, but indeed it seems to
have become second nature TO her;
and, though we shall all miss her
cherry face and be obliged to get some
one else to do our various errands. we
all wish her God-speed wherever she is.
She formerly lived in Indiana, where
she has sisters and a brother whom she
has not seen for twenty years. and
until short time ago, had not heard
from them for seven years-they hav-
ing lost track OF her. Her children
have attended school and are doing
well; two being married, one employed
in Sioux City, and the two younger ones
are still in school.
Mrs. II ***.
Z. The young peoples society of the
L - =