Linda Warfel Slaughter was an educator, writer and a proud citizen of Bismarck during the city's earliest years. She wrote books and articles detailing life in North Dakota at the time, while beginning the city's public school system from scratch. She was truly one of the most influential woman of her time and in North Dakota's history.

Her great-granddaughter, Kay Scharnowske Meland, graduated from Bismarck High School in 1958 and returned to Bismarck for her 50th class reunion. Even today, a much different time than her great-grandmother's, she feels the echo of Slaughter's accomplishments.

"Our history goes way back to the very beginning," Meland said referring to her family's relationship with North Dakota. "So we feel that North Dakota is still home."

Linda Slaughter began her journey to North Dakota, then Dakota Territory, in 1872, and organized the first Sunday School in what would later be known as Bismarck, N.D. This was just the beginning - she went on later to open the Bismarck Academy, which soon became the public school. During the same year, she was appointed the Burleigh County Superintendent of Schools.

"The fact that we can look back and know is because of her," Meland said.

Meland's family is not alone in recapturing history because of their ancestor:Slaughter's legacy has allowed anyone interested in the history of Bismarck and North Dakota to learn about it to their heart's desire.

Linda Slaughter's part in accurately depicting the times has allowed her to not only be well known, but valued as well."She was a good writer, so it brought a lot to our area," Meland said. "We have (this) history because she wrote it."

Slaughter was not only a historically accurate writer, but a woman of "firsts."

"It seems to come up all the time, because she was so important, especially to the Bismarck area and to North Dakota," Meland said.

Along with being the area's first educator and the Burleigh County superintendent of schools, she was also Bismarck's first postmistress, and she founded the Ladies Historical Society in Bismarck, which would go on to merge with the State Historical Society.

"She was quite the feminist of her time," Meland said.

Slaughter was also the first woman to vote for a presidential candidate at a national convention.

"We are all kind of independent thinkers," Meland said. "More feminist than the average people from our era."

Meland attributes this characteristic that the women in her family share to her great-grandmother.

"As far as affecting my life, yes, it definitely has," Meland said.

Meland says that even recently she has learned more information about her ancestor and that her name always seems to come up.

"She is still out there, as far as people knowing and recognizing her name," Meland said. "We are learning about her all the time."

(Kay Kemmet can be reached at 250-8260 or at kay.kemmet@;bismarcktribune.com.)