Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-27
Mrs1ellaneous.
DakOta's Girl Farmers.
YOU'VE WOMEN WHO Own THE LAND
THEY CULTIVATE.

MITCHELL, DAKOTA, July S.-MOst of
the Young ladies' who own and work farms
in this Territory have IA great adherence
of notorietv because of the number of
bores that are sure to hunt them up, either
in person or by letter. A floating para
graph about a young women who has
farm near this place, which appeared in
the newspapers few months ago, brought
her more than a hundred letters inside of
three months These missives were of
every variety under the sun. and included
nearly everything. from an offer of advice
on wheat planting to propositions of mar
rage. While speaking with her yester-
dav on these subjects she said:
II had some of the funniest letters you
ever read. About a dozen of them We're
from men who wanted to marry, evident
" a law. shttless lot for not one of them
could spell, and in every case the let
ters indicated ignorance even of the COM
mon courtesies of life. They were prn-
cipallv from widowers, and all began by
saving that they had been thinking of 90
ing to Dakota for a long time. suppose
they all thought that | would Jump at the
chance to get them. | never answered
any of them. Some of the letters were
from old ladies in the Eastern and Middle
States who wanted to give me good advice
and others were from girls, widows, and
old maids asking how | managed to get
along. and what was necessary for them
to do in order to get themselves establish
ed as well as am. answered some of
these and two or three of them have writ
ten TO me since.
The worst nuisances that have to
deal with" she continued. "are the men,
young and old, who come out to see me.
They are about the toughest lot ever
heard of have had to drive some off
the place, az they seemed de-
termined to stay suppose it is
so everywhere. but it seems strange that a
woman cant 90 ahead end accomplish
something tor herself without being wor
ried to death by all the old bummers.
cranks, widowers. and dudes within a
thousand miles. One young tool came to
see me last spring, and after following
me around a six acre lot twice. Just be-
cause treated him decently, actually had
the nerve to ask me it nv thoughts eve.
turned to matrimony. | told him that
they never had. though | didn't know
what might happen if came across Just
the right person. That seemed to help
him on a little, and he asked what sort of
person it would have to be. told him
| didn't know. and called his attention to
the fact that my off horse was a little of
| his feed.
"'How would | do?' said the Young
fellow. and says:
elf had ten acre lot full Of fellows
like you | wouldn't take the trouble to
scrape you up with horse rake
Zone elderly man from PENNSYLVANIA
came here last fall. and stopping in tow,
he would drive out here every day. He
began at first by pretending to have a
deep religious interest in me. Then he
wanted to know how | stood financially
/ how cot my farm. and how much made
from it. 1t took him several days to get
what he wanted to know. and then he in
timated wish on his part to take tea with
me and spend an hour or two in the even.
ing at my house. as there was some
thing that he wanted to say to me.
tried to get rid of him but he was old
enough to be my father and was so de-
centabout things generally that | finally
consented After tea he took a couple OF
chairs out on the east side of the house
and when we had both seated ourselves.
he said:
81 have been thinking for long time
about marrying again. I've GOT"
NOW. YOU stop right where you are,
said |. or I'll set the dog on you. If that's
the nature of your remarks. we'll adjourn
this meeting right her. I've got work tc
do, and don't want any fooling around
You never saw man get up and gil
like he did. He never said word. and
have never seen him since.
81 rather like some of these young
chaps from the city though-the kind thai
are not making love. but who are always
wanting to help you. They think they
are so strong. and when anything is to bt
done they are so quick 10 take hold; but
gracious. goodness, could break a goot
many of them in two if | wanted to
They're good BOYS, though. and III never
say anything against them"
This Young lady, who is as brown as
berry and as solid as russell. with all the
sprvness and grace of the gen,lest of hel
sex. owns 100 acres of good land. and ha:
it under a pretty fair state of cultivation
Some old farmers might make tun of a
few things, and she readily admits thai
she has much to learn, but she manages
to make her living and considerably more
Her mother lives with her. and with the
assistance OF stout maid of all work they
get along without any male help. Before
the Young woman came here she tried to
make her living as dressmaker in 8
small Michigan town, but she failed al
that. and finally determined to come here
and settle down on farm. She laughingly
says that she does not know how long she