MRS. SUSAN WISSLER, FIRST WOMAN MAYOR IN U.S., DIES
Pioneer Settler Gained National Prominence With Election at Dayton In 1911 - Had Been Invalid from Broken Hip.

Susan Wissler, pioneer and the first woman mayor of the United States is dead.
Mrs. Wissler, who would have been 85 February 23, died at 12:40 o'clock this afternoon at the Reynolds Home, where she has been under care since before Christmas. She had been in ill health much of the time since June, 1935, when she suffered a fracture in a fall at the ranch home of her daughter.
Her daughter, Mrs. Brownie Wissler Schaudel of Birney, Mont., and her son, Clifton Wissler of Medicine Bow, Wyo., were at her side when death came this afternoon. Her daughter-in-law also was here.
Mrs. Wissler, who first came to the Sheridan area in 1900 gained nation-wide notice in 1911 when by a majority of nine votes, she was elected mayor of Dayton, then a lively cowtown of 400 residents. She was the first woman mayor in the United States, holding the post two years.
Mrs. Wissler for nearly four decades watched the development of the Big Horn country from a frontier land to its present stage. A single wagon brought the hardy pioneer woman with her invalid husband and two children, to Wyoming from Denver, Colo., in 1900.
The family settled at Dayton, then on the stage line between Douglas and Custer, Mont. Six years later, Wissler died of tuberculosis, after a trip to Florida. Breadwinner of her family, Mrs. Wissler taught school for six years in this vicinity.
OPERATED STORE
She also operated a store at Dayton and was a milliner.
In 1911, dissatisfied women of the town of Dayton proposed Mrs. Wissler for the mayoralty on a non-partisan ticket. Fifty-three votes were cast in the election, and Mrs. Wissler received 31.
Dayton, since the early gold mining days, had always been a "wide open" town. Gambling was open, and saloons disregarded confidently state closing hours. Mrs. Wissler went into office determined to make Dayton "the cleanest town in Wyoming, morally, physically and financially and every other way."
In June 1935, Mrs. Wissler suffered a fall at the ranch home of her daughter near Ashland Mont., where the widely known woman had lived after leaving Dayton. Her left thigh was fractured. After 10 weeks of confinement in the Sheridan County Memorial hospital she returned to the ranch, but suffered another fall and fractured her leg.
Then she was brought back to Sheridan, to the Reynolds Home. there she was cared for many months before going again to the ranch. She re-entered the Reynolds Home a week before Christmas.
Despite her long confinement she remained bright and cheerful, and retained the keenness of her mental faculties that had marked her long life. Born in 1853 at Broadhead, Wis., Mrs. Wissler could recall details of more than three-quarters of a century, from before the Civil War to the time of her death.
Her daughter, Mrs. Schaudel, is widely known for her paintings of western scenes.
No funeral arrangements had been made this afternoon. The body is at Champion's Funeral Home.
SHERIDAN PRESS February 9, 1938

SUSAN WISSLER TO BE BURIED ON FRIDAY AT 2 P.M.
U.S. First Woman Mayor Headed Dayton From 1911-13

Last rites for Mrs. Susan Wissler, the nation's first woman mayor, will be held here Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Champion's Funeral Home, it was announced today.
Mrs. Wissler, who would have been 85 years old February 23, died Wednesday afternoon at the Reynolds Home. She had been bedridden virtually all of the time since June 1935. The Rev. Charles Hardesty will conduct the service Friday.
A resident of Wyoming since 1900 when with her husband and two children she came into the state by wagon from Colorado, Mrs. Wissler gained national prominence in 1911 when she was elected mayor of Dayton. She served two years. Her husband, George Wissler, died in 1906.
A milliner by profession, Mrs. Wissler also taught school and operated a store in Dayton.
Survivors include her daughter, Mrs. Brownie Schaudel of Birney; a son, Clifton Wissler of Medicine Bow; a brother, Albert Frisbie of Sheridan; six grand-children, one great grandchild, and nieces and nephews.
SHERIDAN PRESS FEBRUARY 10, 1938

Information entered by Karylyn Prtrie

MRS. SUSAN WISSLER, FIRST WOMAN MAYOR IN U.S., DIES
Pioneer Settler Gained National Prominence With Election at Dayton In 1911 - Had Been Invalid from Broken Hip.

Susan Wissler, pioneer and the first woman mayor of the United States is dead.
Mrs. Wissler, who would have been 85 February 23, died at 12:40 o'clock this afternoon at the Reynolds Home, where she has been under care since before Christmas. She had been in ill health much of the time since June, 1935, when she suffered a fracture in a fall at the ranch home of her daughter.
Her daughter, Mrs. Brownie Wissler Schaudel of Birney, Mont., and her son, Clifton Wissler of Medicine Bow, Wyo., were at her side when death came this afternoon. Her daughter-in-law also was here.
Mrs. Wissler, who first came to the Sheridan area in 1900 gained nation-wide notice in 1911 when by a majority of nine votes, she was elected mayor of Dayton, then a lively cowtown of 400 residents. She was the first woman mayor in the United States, holding the post two years.
Mrs. Wissler for nearly four decades watched the development of the Big Horn country from a frontier land to its present stage. A single wagon brought the hardy pioneer woman with her invalid husband and two children, to Wyoming from Denver, Colo., in 1900.
The family settled at Dayton, then on the stage line between Douglas and Custer, Mont. Six years later, Wissler died of tuberculosis, after a trip to Florida. Breadwinner of her family, Mrs. Wissler taught school for six years in this vicinity.
OPERATED STORE
She also operated a store at Dayton and was a milliner.
In 1911, dissatisfied women of the town of Dayton proposed Mrs. Wissler for the mayoralty on a non-partisan ticket. Fifty-three votes were cast in the election, and Mrs. Wissler received 31.
Dayton, since the early gold mining days, had always been a "wide open" town. Gambling was open, and saloons disregarded confidently state closing hours. Mrs. Wissler went into office determined to make Dayton "the cleanest town in Wyoming, morally, physically and financially and every other way."
In June 1935, Mrs. Wissler suffered a fall at the ranch home of her daughter near Ashland Mont., where the widely known woman had lived after leaving Dayton. Her left thigh was fractured. After 10 weeks of confinement in the Sheridan County Memorial hospital she returned to the ranch, but suffered another fall and fractured her leg.
Then she was brought back to Sheridan, to the Reynolds Home. there she was cared for many months before going again to the ranch. She re-entered the Reynolds Home a week before Christmas.
Despite her long confinement she remained bright and cheerful, and retained the keenness of her mental faculties that had marked her long life. Born in 1853 at Broadhead, Wis., Mrs. Wissler could recall details of more than three-quarters of a century, from before the Civil War to the time of her death.
Her daughter, Mrs. Schaudel, is widely known for her paintings of western scenes.
No funeral arrangements had been made this afternoon. The body is at Champion's Funeral Home.
SHERIDAN PRESS February 9, 1938

SUSAN WISSLER TO BE BURIED ON FRIDAY AT 2 P.M.
U.S. First Woman Mayor Headed Dayton From 1911-13

Last rites for Mrs. Susan Wissler, the nation's first woman mayor, will be held here Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Champion's Funeral Home, it was announced today.
Mrs. Wissler, who would have been 85 years old February 23, died Wednesday afternoon at the Reynolds Home. She had been bedridden virtually all of the time since June 1935. The Rev. Charles Hardesty will conduct the service Friday.
A resident of Wyoming since 1900 when with her husband and two children she came into the state by wagon from Colorado, Mrs. Wissler gained national prominence in 1911 when she was elected mayor of Dayton. She served two years. Her husband, George Wissler, died in 1906.
A milliner by profession, Mrs. Wissler also taught school and operated a store in Dayton.
Survivors include her daughter, Mrs. Brownie Schaudel of Birney; a son, Clifton Wissler of Medicine Bow; a brother, Albert Frisbie of Sheridan; six grand-children, one great grandchild, and nieces and nephews.
SHERIDAN PRESS FEBRUARY 10, 1938

Information entered by Karylyn Prtrie