SNIPPET: Leonora Kearney BARRY (1849-1923) was born in Co. Cork and emigrated to the U. S. in 1852. She became a school teacher, married and had three children. When her husband died in 1880, she began working in a clothing factory. Wages and conditions were appalling and she soon joined a local chapter of the Knights of Labor. She quickly demonstrated her leadership abilities and was named in 1886 to the post of general investigator for the Knight's women's department. She served in that capacity for four years, touring the country, writing reports and giving speeches. She resigned in 1990 to marry Obediah R. LAKE, a newspaper printer from St. Louis - hence, her nickname "Mother Lake." For the remainder of her life she remained active in causes related to women's suffrage, temperance and other social reform movements.