A Determined Spirit from Mammoth Spring

I have a right to the one half and say that to no one man you have not bought half of that land and I shall hold it.

Well hello there, neighbors. Pull up a chair and let me tell you about a little treasure I found tucked away in the archives. It is a letter dated April 20th, written by a woman named M. E. Given while she was away in Mammoth Spring. When you hold this old paper, you can almost feel the rush she was in. The ink is a deep purple-black against the yellowed, aged paper, and she didn’t waste a single inch of space. She wrote across the margins and even upside down at the top just to fit all her thoughts in. It is a bit worn and faded now, but the spirit of the woman who wrote it still jumps right off the page.

She starts out with a bit of family news, mentioning how her Ma and Pa are just anxious to see her. But like any good farm wife, her mind is never far from the business of the land. She mentions that Fred has rented some ground for corn, and then she gets real firm about her rights. She wanted her husband to tell a man named Hughs that she owned half that land or orchard and she wasn’t about to let it go easily. It is wonderful to see that strength and independence shining through from so long ago. She even reminds him to ask about a financial note that needs paying, showing she had a sharp eye for the books.

Mixed in with the legal talk are the sweet, everyday worries that tie us all together. She asks about the cows, how the corn is coming along, and if the wheat looks the same as when she left. It is a beautiful reminder that history isn’t just about big battles or famous names; it is built on the backs of folks like Mrs. Given, who managed their households and their hearts with equal care. It shows us that even when life is hurried and the paper is scarce, we always find a way to reach out to the ones we love and keep our roots firmly planted in the soil.

Original Transcription