Mary Strong Kinney (April 9, 1859 – June 17, 1938) was an American politician from Oregon.
Mary Edna Strong was born on April 9, 1859, in Salem, Oregon, to Elisha Strong and Pherne Brown Strong. [1] Her great grandmother was Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the founder of what was to become Pacific University. [1] She received her A.B. degree from Willamette University, as well as her A.M. degree in 1878. [1] [2] [3] She taught at the La Creole Academy in Dallas. [3] She married William Sylvester Kinney, the youngest son of Robert Crouch Kinney, in 1881. [1] [4] After her husband died in 1898, she managed his sawmill and raised four sons: [1] [4] Robert C., Dr. Alfred E., Dr. Kenneth W., William S. [5]
In 1912, the year women in Oregon were granted suffrage, Kinney was the president of the Astoria Women's Suffrage Club. Kinney was elected as a Republican to represent Clatsop County in the Oregon House of Representatives in 1920, serving in the 1921 legislature as the only woman in either house that year. [1] [3] She fought for the right for women to serve on Oregon juries. [1] In 1922, she was elected to the state senate, where she served in the 1923 and 1925 legislative sessions. [1] Oregon Voter magazine noted in 1922 that "her business experience was so broad that she had a ready comprehension of legislative problems" and that she "bore herself with distinction and dignity". [6]
Strong moved to Astoria in 1908. [5] She died in Seaside, Oregon, on June 17, 1938, and was buried in the Salem Pioneer Cemetery. A liberty ship, the SS Mary E. Kinney was built in Portland and named in her honor on December 29, 1943.
Mary Strong Kinney (April 9, 1859 – June 17, 1938) was an American politician from Oregon.
Mary Edna Strong was born on April 9, 1859, in Salem, Oregon, to Elisha Strong and Pherne Brown Strong. [1] Her great grandmother was Tabitha Moffatt Brown, the founder of what was to become Pacific University. [1] She received her A.B. degree from Willamette University, as well as her A.M. degree in 1878. [1] [2] [3] She taught at the La Creole Academy in Dallas. [3] She married William Sylvester Kinney, the youngest son of Robert Crouch Kinney, in 1881. [1] [4] After her husband died in 1898, she managed his sawmill and raised four sons: [1] [4] Robert C., Dr. Alfred E., Dr. Kenneth W., William S. [5]
In 1912, the year women in Oregon were granted suffrage, Kinney was the president of the Astoria Women's Suffrage Club. Kinney was elected as a Republican to represent Clatsop County in the Oregon House of Representatives in 1920, serving in the 1921 legislature as the only woman in either house that year. [1] [3] She fought for the right for women to serve on Oregon juries. [1] In 1922, she was elected to the state senate, where she served in the 1923 and 1925 legislative sessions. [1] Oregon Voter magazine noted in 1922 that "her business experience was so broad that she had a ready comprehension of legislative problems" and that she "bore herself with distinction and dignity". [6]
Strong moved to Astoria in 1908. [5] She died in Seaside, Oregon, on June 17, 1938, and was buried in the Salem Pioneer Cemetery. A liberty ship, the SS Mary E. Kinney was built in Portland and named in her honor on December 29, 1943.