West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-07-19
Two "old Maids" in MIchiran.

some time ago notice appeared i'm the
western papers announcing the death of
one OF "A couple of old ladies residing i'm the
township of kalamo, Michigan, who had
moved into the woods when that 'ntry
was almost Wilderness and clear thcm
up farm and cultivated il Just as the
Lords of creation are i'm the habit of do
ing Their names were Rachel Mitchell
and Samantha Wyman. They were i'm no
wise related to each other, and had never
met until they had grown TO womanhood
and had neither of them done any outdoor
labor until they reached middle life. Aunt
Rachel, the survivor, was born at Monmouth.
Me-, May /, 1909, and is, therefore. n
little over 20. Aunt Samantha, who died
April rs, was born in Vermont, May 81
1871. Some time between 1896 and $40.
catching the emigration fever, they came
westward, stopping short time at Ypsi-
lanti, but finally settling down to their trade
in Marshall, whore, with their needles
they earned the farm ON which they have
spent 50 many years. In company with
another family they reached the vicinity of
their land on the 7th Of January, ISi9
The snow being nearly two feet deep and
the country an almost unbrokcn forest, the
scene was one 10 appal the stoutcst heart
WAS
discouraged at the situation, and wanted To
return without unpacking His "wOmen
folks, together with Samantha, were cry
ing, and but for the brave heart and deter
mined courage Of Aunt Rachel the next day
would have seen them on their back track
She said she had come To- stay, and should
never return until she was satisfied that she
couldn't live there. The question OF re-
turn being thus settled, they proceeded to
business and finding vacant log house
moved into and occupied il until they could
build one Of their own. From this time
Rachel employed herself at outdoor work
| even TO chopping down timber, logging,
brush -piling, and every kind Of labor that
men do In II new country. Samantha =
health was such that she was able 10 do but
little hard work out of doors, and, i'm fact
did not do all Of the house work, much of
this being also done by Rachel For some
years after Rachel had been in the habit of
doing everything else on her farm, she hired
men 70 sOw her wheat until she finally found
she could do Tint as well as any Of them.
| She related many Of her early adventures
IN thc woods. One evening Just at dark
| the violent squcaling Oi one of her hogs ap-
priscd her Of the fact that bear had seized
H., and was making for his haunts i'm the
forest. Calling her dog she gave hot pur
suit, and finally succeeded in rcscuing the
| porkcr from the jaws Of bruin, but in 80
damaged condition that they had 10 kill
and dress II before morning. She said that
she got 80 that she could do M much chop
| ping AZ man, and preferred out door to
| indoor labor. Her farm is nearly all i'm
| proved and well stocked with sheep. COWS
| hogs, fowls, etc. II has good orchard
and fair buildings There was one thing
however, she said, that had never been on
their farm, and that was a mortgage, and
they had never been seriously embarrassed
with Indebtedness. This is something. no
doubt, that many Of their ncighbOrs cannot
say. Aunt Rachel is only five feet high.
/ but very stout, weighing about lSO, and
quite rugged for ono Of her age