Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-02
paiIp Arsus.
Tuesday, January Q. isT2,
Female Farmers.


On the eastern shors Of Canandaigua
Lake, according to the Rochester Union,
live two very singular people. The question
whether women can make good lecturers,
doctors, professors, or storekeepers, is now,
BY many, conceded on the score Of practical
demons,rs.iOn; and the cases to which we
refer may be prO6tably cited in behalf Of
che fitness Of women 70 succeed unsided in
sgricultur~ l4. ....-
Sloping down in emerald turf to the lake,
there lie, afirms ourauthority. two beautiful
farms, which have been entirely vorkej out
Of primitive vildnsss by women. The
ovnsrs are two sisters, daughters OF pho
neer named Fuller, who more than half o
century ago made his way into the forest
regions surrounding the romantic lakes OF
interior New York. Az his death he left
children land, but little else, and the two
girls, Laura aud Elsoss, resolved to become
farmers. Both are nov past sixty, and
since early womanhood have cultivated
their ground with their own hands. Each
has smiling farm and . snug cottage, the
latter nesting among shade trees, close to
the edge Of the lake. The lands, clearing
fruit, vines, grass and other crops" stretch
far away up the rolling hills. The editor OF
the journal named has lately ''inter-
viewed" the proprie,ors, and thus became
aware Of the facts which he has made pub
lie. "All about" he says, Clocks thrifty,
and the farm work appears to be thoroughly
aud judiciously done. Miss Laura Fuller
was FIRST called upon. This lady "wears 6
short and rather loose fitting dress, a hood
and . pair of mems boots" She has q
"besrd as heavy as is often seen upon 6
man, and svoice that would not be mistaken
for that Of woman" She is "tolersbly
well informed, !" and showed that her hear
was IN her vocation. That she plies 1t with
out masculine help, and with decided pros
perity, is unquestionable. Her sister, Elec
tn, is however regarded as the best manage
and mos, business like person Of the two.
Her visitor found this lady to have muc'
che appearance of her sister, but she
more digni6ed and pstriarChal, with shea
considerably bald, and locks whitene
BY the frosts Of many winters" Miss Ful
Ter, we are assured, cut away the virgil
forest tina, once covered her farm with be
own hands. All the toll that was needed ;
bring the land into condition she performed
solitary and alone. She has reared stock c
oil kinds, Including the horses and colts
for which great fancy had been taken.
The wild beasts that formerly infested he
nsig hborhood this Diana of the wilderness
herself slew and rumor has it that "mel
who had presumed to trihe with Elect
had fallen ~ did the beasts and trees.
We take il for grated, however, that thi
Is one OF the most delicate eTAggerstion
which the world is so prone to invent 70
persons ct all eccentric, and that wood an
fur have been the only victims to Mis-
Eleota's bow and spear.
There seems to be no reason, At ell events
to doubt the fact that two cnierprising an
courageous women have gone iuto the hear
ofs new country, and there, BY the sweat G
their brovs, and BY the calling assigned I
our first sneestor, have carved out for the N
selves an honorable Independence. The
have got from the ground an honest living
and have enough laid up To sustain them i
age, when they cease 10 labor. Perhap
farming is no, the svocstion We should sc
leo. for women, and certainly the exposur
and rough work inseperable from it are i'll
suited in general 10 the delicate organization
OF the sex. Still, there are exceptions I
all rules, aud distinction is to be draw
between . pursuit that is inherently degrsc
ing aud one that is merely physically IN
suitable. Agriculture, sssursdly, is nc
the former, and, whether the example is Ell
tensively followed or not, It is interesting
know that women can have made prospe
Gus essays In il. The case Of these pers
vsring sisters is noteworthy as being so L
tally different from that of amateurs The
have worked 81 husbAndry for fifty year
They have brought plenty out Of wilderness
and saved enough for future Of eAs'
They have done without male help ever
whit as we'll 90 men could have done Wit
out theirs, and the case deserves record Al
Communication as showing in q PrscIio
way that women may, If they choose, a.
oomplish and know about farming.
A ,....;o, of ya.v r,aat ;,nnovtanca