Jedadiah's Mail Order Bride

by Susan Leigh Carlton

  Jed was invited to dinner with Luke, Clara and their young son, Billy. It was during one of the visits, Jed learned Luke was a twin, his brother Will having been murdered by a drunken cowboy. He also learned Clara was a mail order bride. Jed had not thought of women since he left Lebanon. He was not one to visit the fancy ladies that worked out of the saloon. Besides, he couldn't think of a wife until he had a house. He certainly couldn't ask one to sleep in the barn as he did. A wife was something that would have to be put on his future lists.

  With the money he had saved from his store job and the selling of the gold dust from his prospecting days dwindling, Jed began worrying about how he was going to get by. Luke had told him he could work on his ranch, but Jed thanked him and told Luke he would hold off on that. In the meantime, with an abundance of rain, his garden flourished. He found he had a talent for farming and took pleasure in his success.

  Jed was in the general store in Laramie to purchase some needed supplies when he overheard two women bemoaning the lack of fresh vegetables. He thought of the abundance beyond his needs back home on his place. Since he now had a cabin and a barn, he had come to think of it as his ranch. He mentioned this to the owner of the store. "Why don't you sell them?" the grocer asked. "I'll take all you have, anytime."

  Visiting John and Grace Carruthers in their home behind the church, he told them about what the storekeeper had said. Grace said, "He doesn't have fresh vegetables very often since everyone around here is all cattle. When he does have any, they are expensive."

  "You could sell them yourself, and probably get a higher price than he will offer you, but that would require you to be here selling them. I think you should take him up on his offer."

  "I could certainly use the cash. I would really like to buy some cattle now that I have the fencing up. I believe I'll go back and talk to him again. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it."

  Back at the store, he told the storekeeper what he had coming ripe in the immediate future. The storekeeper's eyes lit up. "You bring all you can spare and I'll give you a good price for them, and I'll still make money."

  "I'll do that. I will be back with a wagon load in two days. I have put up all I can and am sure I have enough for the winter. I have quite a bit ready to harvest with more coming daily. Maybe all the work I put in on the garden is going to pay off at last. I'll see you in two days." With that, he loaded his newly purchased supplies and headed back to his farm and ranch, whistling some nameless tune. He felt better than he had in weeks... No, in months.

  * * *

  His small spring house was filled with vegetables. He had been wondering what he was going to do with all of them. Clara Hastings had her own garden and had no need for other vegetables. Now he had a market. He spent the next day, gathering all of the produce that was even close to being ready to harvest. Early the next morning, he headed back to Laramie loaded down.

  As he unloaded his wagon in front of the store, the town ladies were trying to buy vegetables right off the wagon. Jed decided that wouldn't be right, "Ladies, I've promised all of these to Mr. Thompson. You can purchase them from him."

  "Jed, I appreciate what you did out there. You could have sold all of your vegetables yourself and never even brought them into the store. I appreciate what you did."

  "Asa, we have a deal. I promised all of my crops outside my needs to you, and anything else would be dishonest and I am an honest Christian man. If you're ready to settle up, I am too." Jed and Asa sat down by the pickle barrel and negotiated what both of them though was a good price for his vegetables. He left town in high spirits and money in his pocket.

  By the end of the month, selling his vegetables as they began to ripen, he had as much money as when he came to Laramie. He also had a cabin, a barn and fences. Jedadiah Elias Barnette was ready to get into the cattle business.

  Knowing little about cattle, Jed relied on his friend, Luke to tell him what he needed to get started. "You will need a bull for breeding and some breeding cows to start. More than one bull in a small group leads to problems. Let's pick some out and I'll make you a fair price for them."

  And so it came to pass, Luke's ranch hands drove his twenty five breed cows and his 5 year old bull over and turned them out in Jed's virgin pasture. Following Luke's suggestion, Jed devised a brand called the J Bar B and registered it with the Wyoming Stock Growers Association. Under Luke's tutelage, Jed learned cattle could survive a normal winter without having to purchase supplemental feed. The operation was largely hands off until roundup time. Nevertheless, the first winter was a time of anxiety for him. He frequently checked on the cattle, spent time refining his cabin, adding a fireplace and two more rooms, though he had nothing to put in the additional rooms. When spring finally arrived, he was pleased to find he had lost only one heifer, probably to wolves. Again, under the tutelage of Luke and his hands, Jed's heifers were bred back or covered and when spring arrived, his herd had grown to a count of 40. He purchased more cattle and in the spring of 1882, he owned over 100 head.

  Sitting on the fence of Luke's corral, Jed asked about mail order brides. "Luke, I'd like to have a family. It's terribly lonesome on the J-Bar-B, particularly in the winter. John tells me there are no suitable for marriage females in Laramie. Since you told me Clara was a mail order bride, I think I will look into it.” Luke told him what he knew and about advertising in The Matrimonial News for a bride. Very much interested in ending the loneliness, Jed, now 29, asked John Carruthers to help him compose an ad to be placed in The Matrimonial News as well as other publications in eastern cities.

  The following ad appeared in several city papers:

  Male Rancher 29 years old, healthy, brown hair, weight 175. Owner of a growing ranch of approximately 1000 acres near Laramie, Wyoming. I am told my appearance is not unattractive. I am desirous of corresponding with a Christian lady between twenty three and thirty years of age. My intent is marriage and family. She should not be unattractive and she should not be afraid of hard work and be companionable. She must be able to read and write. Transportation provided.

  The ad was given an assigned number for communications purposes by those interested in communicating. The ad was placed and Jed sat back to wait and learn if there was anyone interested in being his wife.

  A Life With No Prospects

  Sarah Grace Harding was thirteen years old when she fell in love with Caleb Pierce. She didn't realize it until two years later. Caleb came home on leave in early 1864. Among those greeting the train was Sarah. Her family had been neighbors of the Pierce family since she was born.

  During the years they attended the same school, Caleb was her protector. No one could bully Sarah lest they incur the wrath of Caleb. When the war broke out, Sarah was thrilled to find Caleb was going off with the New York Irish Brigade. She thought he was quite dashing and handsome in his blue uniform. He did look really young, but so did most of the other volunteers.

  Sarah said to her mother one day, "I really miss Caleb. I hope nothing happens to him. He's so much more mature than the other boys around here."

  Her mother laughed and said, "It's natural you would miss him. You've known him your entire life. He's the brother your father and I could never give you. Caleb knows how to take care of himself. He'll be all right."

  She was not to see him until February of '64 when he came home on leave. Sarah, and her family accompanied the Pierce family to the train station to meet him. She was shocked when she caught her first glimpse of him as he alighted from the train. He still cut quite a figure in his blue uniform, but it was not the bright blue it was when he left. The one he wore today was faded and worn.

  Caleb had changed. His face and frame was thin, gaunt really. The sadness in his eyes hinted at some of the horrors of war they witnessed. Caleb was unhurt, but he had lost the spring in his step. He seemed much older than his real age. Sarah resolved then and there, she was going to reverse their roles. She would be his protector against those that would jeer and tau
nt these soldiers.

  He hugged his mother and father, and said hello to the Pierces. Impulsively Sarah threw her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely. "I've missed you, Caleb. Really missed you," she said. Her two younger sisters giggled at this public display of affection. It was so unlike their sister to act this way.

  Caleb only had five days at home before it was time to leave for the battlefields again. Sarah was his constant companion. They spent a good bit of time on the swings on the front porch of one home or the other. The weather was chilly but they seemed to take no notice of it. On his last night home, they went for a walk under the full moon. "Caleb, I don't want you to go. I'm afraid you might not come back and I don't think I could stand it."

  "I'll be okay and I'll be careful, I promise. Sarah, when I come back, I want to marry you. I am five years older than you, but I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?"

  "I have loved you since I was thirteen but I didn't know you felt the same way about me. You never said anything. Of course I'll marry you. Can we tell Ma and Pa or do you want to keep it a secret?"

  "I don't want to keep it a secret. I want everyone to know you're my girl." He pulled her close and started to kiss her cheek but she turned her head slightly and he kissed her full on her mouth. Her lips felt invitingly warm and soft. She parted them slightly and allowed him entry. This was not their first kiss during the past week, but it was by far the most passionate. A slight sound escaped her throat, a deep sound.

  She pulled back from the kiss, her cheeks flush from the excitement of the kiss but more from the passion it brought forth. "Let's go tell everyone," she said, somewhat short of breath.

  Hand in hand they went into the house. "Mrs. Harding, Mr. Harding, I've just asked Sarah to marry me when I come back from the war. We love each other very much and I want her to be my wife."

  "But she's only 15, and you're so young too. You're both too young to be thinking about being married," said Mrs. Harding.

  Her husband said, "Caleb, you are both young, but I suspect you have aged far beyond your years during the war. I respect what you're saying and I say, let's wait until the war is over and we'll talk again."

  "I won't change, Father. I've loved Caleb since I was thirteen. Girls my age get married all of the time and I want to be Caleb's wife. We're going to tell his parents now. We were meant to be together. I just know it."

  To the Pierce family, Sarah was like their daughter. She had been in and out of their house all of her life. Still, their reaction was pretty much the same as the Harding's. They also thought both were too young to be talking about marriage.

  The next morning was cold and crystal clear when the Pierce family and the Harding family went to see Caleb off. He hugged his parents, and shook Mr. Harding's hand and he hugged Mrs. Harding. He hugged and kissed Sarah with a lingering passion, finally breaking it off when Mr. Harding coughed for the second time. Placing both hands on his shoulders, Sarah said fiercely, "Now you come back to me Caleb Pierce. You come back to me, you hear?"

  The train whistle sounded. There was a rush of steam from beneath the train. The big steel wheels spun, and the train lurched forward, and moved steadily off into the bright sunshine of the morning. He was gone. There was an emptiness left in Sarah's heart that would not be filled for many years.

  Communications from the battlefields was sketchy. Casualty lists were posted on the board outside the train station courtesy of the Binghamton Press Bulletin. Every time she received word of a new casualty list, Sarah hurried to the depot hoping Caleb's name was not to be found. On the 15th of May, 1864 news came of the posting of a new casualty list. It was a lengthy list this time, identifying casualties from a place called Spotsylvania, Virginia. In a campaign called The Battle of The Wilderness, many warriors from the Irish Brigade had fallen. With a heavy heart and a feeling of foreboding, Sarah ran her finger down the pages, of which there were several. Toward the end of the next to the last page was the name. Caleb Pierce, Owego, NY.

  Sarah felt the moment her heart stopped. At age fifteen, her world spun and turned upside down. She would have fallen to the wooden deck if one of the men had not caught her. Holding her upright, he led her over to one of the benches on the platform. "Someone get her some water," he called out. A lady dipped her handkerchief in the water and held it to Sarah's forehead. She lifted the container of water to Sarah's lips and said, "Sip slowly, dear. What happened? Someone you know?"

  "Yes," Sarah stammered. “Caleb Pierce. We were to be married. He's on the list."

  "Caleb Pierce?" One of the older men said, "Caleb Pierce is on the list? He's just a boy."

  A torrent of tears poured from Sarah's eyes. Somehow she made it home. As she walked in the door, her mother paused in her dusting. She saw Sarah and asked, "Why are you home so early, dear?"

  Sobbing uncontrollably, Sarah could say nothing at first. Finally, she was able to stammer the words, "Caleb's name is on the list. Mother, Caleb's dead. He’s dead."

  "It is probably a mistake, dear. He said he'd be careful."

  "It's no mistake. I can feel it in my heart. Caleb's dead. We were going to be married and now he's dead."

  "You go lie down, dear. You'll feel better after a bit. I'm going to talk with his mother."

  "I want to go with you," Sarah said. "I lost my love; but she's lost her son. Maybe I can help her."

  Together they went next door. Sarah had convinced her mother to let her break the news. "Mrs. Pierce, I just came from the depot and they've posted a new list. Caleb's name is on the list. He's gone. Our Caleb is gone." She put her arms around Mrs. Pierce and led her to the davenport and held her as she sat down. Keeping her arms around her fiance's mother, she whispered consoling words in her ear. "Finally, Sarah stood and said, "I'll go down to the bank and tell Mr. Pierce before he hears it from someone else."

  Her mother said, "Sarah, are you sure you're all right?"

  "Yes mother, I'm all right. I'll go tell Mr. Pierce now." She stood, gave Mrs. Pierce one last pat on the shoulder and headed resolutely out and down the street towards the bank and the sad task ahead of her.

  * * *

  Sarah was not all right, She was grieving for her first love and now her lost love. A year passed and she still grieved for Caleb. As time passed, she saw her younger sister get engaged and married. Young marriages were a fact if life, A young lady of twenty five and still unmarried was considered past or at least approaching the unmarriageable age. For most, this meant a life of spinsterhood. Outside of school teaching, or perhaps working at the library, or other more menial jobs such as a grocery clerk. Sarah did not look at herself in a manner that decreed she must be married, She still heard the snickers of the ladies. They had their husbands and she didn't so she was fair game. Her protector was dead.

  Sarah was depressed. Her youngest sister had just gotten married. She was eighteen. Her other sister was married at the same age. She was the oldest of the three girls and unmarried. She didn't even have a steady young man and with so few available, her prospects were dim unless she married one of the older widowers around. Her mother suggested several of the older men as possible suitors. She rejected all of them, the thought of their having their hands on her body repulsed her.

  Sarah came home from the school where she taught one day and her mother said, "We're having a guest for dinner tonight."

  "Who are we having join us?" Sarah asked.

  “Mr. Stilwell from the bank. He has expressed an interest in courting you."

  He's an old man, at least in his forties, mother. I don't want him calling on me. I'd rather be an old maid."

  The evening was tense. Both her mother and father gushed over Mr. Stilwell, relating his qualities and his position in life. They emphasized the security he could offer. After dinner, her parents had left them alone in the parlor. It was an awkward situation. Stilwell said, "Sarah, I would like to call on you. I‘ve talked with your father about this and he has approved. May I? Call on you, I
mean?"

  She decided to be totally honest. Mr. Stilwell, I am flattered that someone of your age would be interested in me but I think our age difference is insurmountable, Why’ you're the same age as my father. It would be unseemly of me and unacceptable to me for you to call."

  "But your father..." He sputtered.

  "That is not my father's decision to make. It is mine and I have made it. Thank you, Mr. Stilwell. Now, I must go prepare for the school day tomorrow." She called out to her mother and said she would be in her room for the remainder of the evening. With that, she left the room leaving behind a set of frustrated parents and an embarrassed banker.

  She felt as if she was the only unmarried twenty-five year old in Owego. Looking to her future, she could only see a life as an unmarried school teacher and all of the snickers of the married women. She had no unmarried friends. The married women watched her suspiciously and kept a wary eye on their men when she was around. It was too much for her to bear.

  Sarah saw the ads in the papers and magazines of men looking for wives while the east had an overabundance of the commodity. “Is this my final opportunity for a life of respectability? I would like to have a family Could this be my only path?" With these thoughts running through her mind, she decided to take the plunge.