Spinning by Firelight, Henry Tanner (American artist, 1859–1937)
Oh, the ongoing joys of research! Recently I spent several hours by the fire reading about the early settlers in what is now West Virginia – The History of Randolph County, West Virginia by Dr. A.S. Bosworth. I actually prefer these older accounts because I find not only are they closer to the time period, they have no agenda or political correctness nor have they been whitewashed by modern historians. Granted, their perspective is very different than ours today and dated in language and their references to minorities, but I still feel these sources are invaluable. Often these accounts start off with, “Tradition says…” meaning the oral history of the area passed down through generations. Yes, stories can be embellished over time but usually they are founded on a kernel of truth. Here’s one I find absolutely fascinating…
Tradition says that the Indians twice visited the Wil-
moth settlement on Cheat. On one incursion they killed
James Wilmoth and on another raid all were absent from
the house except Mrs. Wilmoth. They searched the house
and premises for the men, occasionally throwing their toma-
hawks into the logs of the cabin, at the same time giving vent
to savage exclamations of threat and anger, as much as to say
what they would do if the men could be found. In the mean-
time Mrs. Wilmoth had prepared a pot of corn meal mush,
putting it in a sugar trough with milk and maple syrup,
giving each Indian a spoon. The half famished savages par-
took of the repast with evident signs of delight and gratifica-
tion. When one of the company would violate a rule of Indian
table etiquette, he was punished by a stroke on the head with
a spoon, accompanied by words of admonition with violent
gesticulations, not to repeat the indecorum. After finishing
their meal, the Indians fastened their eyes on Mrs. Wilmoth
in a studious and penetrating gaze for several moments, evi-
dentlv debating in their own minds what should be her fate,
then giving a warwhoop they continued on their marauding
expedition. Mrs. Wilmoth’s diplomacy saved her life and
established the fact that things more material and prosaic
than music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.
Can you imagine Mrs. Wilmoth maintaining her composure in the face of threats and imminent death, stilling her shaking hands long enough to make mush and feed her unlikely company? Having read accounts that treaties were usually made after the Indians had eaten, wise settlers knew it was not good to talk or treat on an empty stomach, Mrs. Wilmoth seems to have understood that the way to a man’s heart is truly through his stomach! And I had to chuckle at the Indian’s own table manners. What a delightful description of a very tense moment in time! How I would love to know the rest of the story and the particulars about Mrs. Wilmuth. Was she young or old? Did she like living on the frontier? Whatever she was or was not, she was very brave and resourceful and her courage has been handed down the last two hundred years or so.
Now to work it into a book. If you read this scene in future, you’ll know the inspiration behind it:) Hats off to history like this!
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Fascinating. Laura. I think she was made of sterner stuff than I am! Perhaps in your research you will come across her again. I’m curious to know when that book was originally written & published. Thanks for sharing and making the frontier come alive.
I so agree with you about her unparalleled courage! I’m afraid I’m a bit weak in the knees even reading it. It fits beautifully with my current WIP as our heroine’s father was killed by Indians so will work this in when they return and have her serve them mush in a similar sugar trough:) Truth really is stranger than fiction!
This history is quite old, originally published in 1898 by The Acme Publishing Company in Morgantown, WV but digitalized recently and available online or on Amazon, etc. The author is an excellent writer! Love that archaic language. I really was born in the wrong century!
Great story, Laura. I enjoyed reading it and know your readers will enjoy it when you work a like scene into your new story.
Ann, So good to see you here! I know you love this rich history like I do and can spin many a fine yarn of your own 🙂 I do think adding real history into our stories makes them much better and it’s always fun to highlight what’s real in an author note. Thanks very much for chiming in!
Oh wow!! What a courageous woman! I cannot imagine her nerves after they left!
I can imagine you doing this, Jennifer, with your wit and steeliness (how’s that for character summation?)! My heroine in this one even has your color hair!
Very interesting! I will watch for a scene like this in your upcoming books 🙂 This brought to mind a less harrowing, and more comical story my Dad used to tell. At family dinners with my dad, his siblings, my grandparents and my grandma’s best friend (unmarried Aunt Vera), my Grandpa got frustrated with manners, and people reaching all the time instead of asking for food to be passed. So Grandpa warned everyone that the next person to reach would get their hand rapped with a spoon. All went well until the end of the meal, when grandpa’s snake-like reflexes, rapped someone’s reaching hand…..it was Aunt Vera. My dad said that grandpa’s face blushed at catching grandma’s best friend and not one of the kids. They all had a good laugh.
And this reader had a good laugh as well! 🙂 A delightful family story to pass down. Those spoons come in very handy lol. We used to use a wooden one with our boys occasionally but on the seat of their pants. This oral history is so important for families. Maybe even more important than writing them down. Yes, please watch for a scene like this in THE FERRYKEEPER’S DAUGHTER:) I’m about to the place where it fits very well and is a different take than the usual Indian raid on the frontier homeplace. So thankful for amazing resources like this – and family stories like yours!
Stories involving frontier life and Native Americans always intrigue me. We have Cherokee blood through my mother’s side of the family so I always wonder what the full story is and how that part of my family tree came about. I can’t wait to read your new books come in the next couple of years! These teasers definitely build the anticipation 😉. Thanks for sharing that neat story!
Stacey, Another commonality between us – Cherokee on our mother’s side (my great grandfather). He was listed as illegitimate via the census to hide the fact of his native roots. A sad commentary of that time period, late 19th-century. Your own roots sound fascinating! I wish we knew more about our family histories. More letters and diaries and such. I guess they were so busy just trying to survive that they didn’t have time for such. So I will invent it lol 🙂 Thanks so much for chiming in here!
Oh, how i Love discovering items like this in the old history resources. I can can truly lost in them, and sometimes find myself reading on and on just for interest. Thanks so much for sharing this. Indeed a tense moment. Love turns away wrath.
Love your take on it, Carla, and that love turns away wrath is perfect. I wonder if she had this in mind while making that big trough of mush! Research is nearly as fascinating as writing to me and I take many a rabbit trail. I know you understand all that:)
What a great story! The older books are the best for me too. Often, I search on my Kindle for public domain books. I’ve downloaded so many and like you say, gets me a little closer to the subject. Fun stuff!
Stephanie, You do what I do! Public domain books are quite a feast for us historical folk 🙂 Plus it gives us a little more free rein to incorporate things like this. Fun, indeed! So appreciate you reading this humble post about an amazing woman – thank you!
Hi Laura! That’s quite a story. What a brave woman she was. I can’t imagine how she ever stayed so calm in the face of danger, not to mention being amongst total strangers, and having the presence of mind to make them something to eat. So fun hearing stories like this! Can’t wait to read your take on it. 😉
Love your appreciation for history, Angi, in every century! You live among some rich stories in your state, too. I so wish I could have been an eyewitness to this little picnic which would have had me on the edge of my seat. My current hero was raised by Indians so it’s been interesting to try and see both sides. Reams of research! I don’t think you can really present a Native American viewpoint well unless you’re one but I will do my best. Bless you for being here!
Laura, I can’t imagine. That reminded me just a bit of a Little House on the Prairie show. Mrs. Wilmoth didn’t cower. She faced them. I wonder if she crumbled when they left, or if she laughed, or cried. But I really love these old stories. I imagine Mrs. Wilmoth would be so pleased to know people are still talking about her. So sweet, Laura.
Love your heart for this, Shelli! I think you’re right that she would be pleased:) I hope she was able to remarry & have a safer life. Can’t wait to fictionalize this & hope I convey her fearless spirit. Thank you for being here. 💛