All were strong men, definitely, but their wives and daughters were strong, too. They had to be to cope with those men. One of my favorite stories about Judge Andrew Scott concerns a duel he had in 1824 with another judge shortly after Arkansas outlawed dueling. After an argument over a game of whist, they fought their duel on “Mississippi soil” in order not to break the law. Judge Andrew left a letter for his wife, Eliza—the usual “to be opened in the event of my death” letter.
I have a copy of it. After expressions of much praise to Eliza as the perfect wife and mother, he added a P.S. telling her to give their youngest son, George (the only son still at home), to the judge’s brother to raise.
My grandfather first showed me the letter when I was about ten or twelve. Even then, I did not doubt what Eliza’s reaction to that last sentence must have been. It is my firm belief to this day that the letter still exists because of Eliza, not Andrew. He’d certainly have had less reason to keep it, let alone to pass it on to one of his sons to treasure.
Andrew had a legendary temper. During the argument, he is said to have thrown a candlestick at the other judge. But Eliza definitely held her own with him. After she read that letter—and I have no doubt that she did—I’d wager he endured an uncomfortable few minutes at best. My grandfather said she probably “snatched the man baldheaded.”
I grew up with many such tales from my grandfather, so perhaps you can understand why, when I need examples of strong women for my heroines, I often look no further than the Scott family history.
Enjoy!
http://home.att.net/~amandascott/
Amanda Scott - [Border Trilogy 2] Page 35