The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-03
WOMEN FARMERS OF. KANSAS.
Own and Operate Vast Tracts of Land in
Western America.

Own and Operate Vast Tracts of Land in
Western America.
Kansas is the great state for the EN-
ancipation OF women. In every one of
the los counties of the western province
there are fine farms owned and operat-
ed by women without the aid of men.
The owners are women of pluck and per-
severance, who have overcome all the
difficulties that confront the farmers
of the West and in most instances
their labors are rewarded with COM
plete success.
The story Of Mrs. Anna Lembacn,
Neosho county's woman farmer, is full
of interest. Mrs. Lembach lives four
miles northwest of Erie. She has a
comfortable home, quarter of sec
ton of excellent land and money at
interest. All this represents the saw
ing, scrimping, thrift and foresight of
u years as a woman farmer. Mr..
Lemhach died in 1887. When his widow
came to take stock of her available as
sets she found that they were a stout
heart and a quarter section of partly
raw land. There was a mortgage of
$i,750 on the farm, and other obliga-
lions aggregating more than $500. In
the house were six little children, the
eldest a boy of II years. Then it was
that Mrs Lenlbach put her hand lit
orally to the pillow, and until her chill
dren grew into manhood and woman
hood she was her own hired man and
her own maid-of-all work. She ploWed
and planted and sowed and reaped, not
by proxy, but with her own hands. She
kept her children in school, comfortably
clothed and fed and did double stint
every work day of her life. The Farm
ers' Alliance had no charms for her.
The travelling lecturer came to the
school house. tackled newspapers up to
the windows, locked the doors and
talked about the Great Red Dragon
and the heel of the money power that
was upon the Threats of the common
people but Mrs. Lembach was not one
Of his auditors. She attended strictly
to the duties of her farm, and in seven
years the mortgage was grim recol-
lection. The mountain of debt had dis
appeared from her perspective. she
still manages the farm on which she
accumulated $4,000, practically un-
aided, in IL years. But she takes NE
easier, row the burden has sroWn ilSht
in carrying. Mrs. Lenlbaoh's neigh
bors delight to direct the attention of
the statesmen who have failed to make
farming pay in Kansas to one Jewel
bestudded fact in this coronet CT incl
dents A lone woman, unlettered anu
obscure, handicapped with six help
less children, achieved success in a
field of endeavor generally esteemed
too laborious for her sex.
1t Is doubtful if there is more sue
cessful woman operating large farm
in Kansas than Mrs. Seretta Buchef'
who owns and personally manages a
farm of 450 acres near Douglass, IN
Butler county. Nine years ago, after
a successful period of seven years In
Kansas farming, Mr. Butcher died. his
widow Immediately took upon herseit
the great responsibility of the manage
ment of her part of the estate. and hsf
ti1,o Kill fxyh M q H.
fest. Things moved under her direc,
ton. Few farmers can operate nlred
help to better advantage. In winter
she prepares for the rushing work Of
the warm season. Everything runs IKE
clockwork She looks after all her
business matters in person, watches the
markets, directs the planting, the cul-
aviation and the harvest. In fact, she
ia the absolute monarch OF her large
farm and all her business afairs.
One of the most remarkable young
women of Kansas is Miss Leah "A.
Knisely who farms 100 ceres near IN
dustry Dickinson county. She per-
forms the entire work Of her farm
without the assistance of man. Miss
Knisely is % years old and was pronSHt
I'D on the farm where she now resides.
In recent years she has been the main
support of a widowed mother. ABOUT
five years ago Miss Kni5ely took aetlve
management of the farm. Her health
was poor, but farm work proved or
great benefit to her and she says II
would now be Impossible for her to hold
her good health If she did not remain
outdoors constantly. The cares ana
annoyances of farm life have no terrors
for this Young woman. Farm work
brings her not only good health. but
good money. She says the singing OF
fhe birds is sweeter music than the
busy hum of the city. Miss knisely
has never had complete crop failure;
never a year that she has not made
GOOD living for herself and her mother.
This wear she has so acres of fine corn.
Much of it will go so bushels to the
acre, Then she has l,250 busnels OF
wheat. She not only plowed the ground
for this wheat and corn, but sne soWea
the grain, cultivated 1t herselt, shockeu
a part of the corn and is now preparing
to gather the balance. she can musk
corn with any man in Dickinson count
ty. In addition to raising big wheat
and corn crop this year, Miss kniseiy
raised several acres of oats, took care
of about 25 head of cattle, attended to
little garden, looked after her frult
trees and did all the work connected
with the farm. During all the year
she did not have man or boy on the
farm until the time arrived to thresh
her wheat. when she sent for the
threshing gang. Miss Knisely markets
her own cattle and grain. She watches
the market reports closely, sells at the
most favorable time and rarely makes
a mistake. The whole county ad
mres her pluck and her neighbors ad-
init that she can give any of the men
pointers on how to run Kansas farm
profitably.
Mrs. Jane Peterson is another pros
porous farmer. She owns a good farm
near Pleasanton, Linn county. For
five years before his death, in 1898, her
husband was an invalid. During all this
time and since Mrs. Peterson has man
aged the farm and made money every
year. She Is Industrious and is an ex-
cellent financer. Her farm is well i'm
proved. Thirty-five acres are in grain
and the balance in tame grass. Mrs.
Peterson's principal source of income
is from the sale of milk to the cream
cry, and from her hogs, which are
raised and prepared for the market.
She is one of the most extensive pa
irons of the creamery, and every morn
ing, bright and early, she can be seen