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Mary: Spirit Woman of the Old West
MARY: Spirit Woman of the old west
The handwritten story was in an old chest I bought at an auction. There are many corrections and many notes stuck between the pages, and the ink and pencil are faded and often difficult to read. I have had to guess at the meaning a few times and hope I haven’t done too much harm to her intent.
Many changes were made in punctuation, spelling, paragraphing and chapters, and I’ve updated a few words, like Black Feet to Blackfoot. She made a few mistakes I did not correct, like mixing up the locations of the Little Blue and Big Blue rivers.
The name Mary Faraday Huntington does not appear in any of the old records. Whoever wrote the words was neither shy nor humble, has a very foul mouth, and shamelessly talks about things rarely mentioned in stories of the Wild West. Her story is the way it was long ago, not the sugar coated fairly tales of book and film.
Her story reminds me of something Jamake Highwater wrote:
“The outward rusticity of primal behavior makes Western people devise a self-serving ideal of themselves as civilized, which sets them widely apart from other peoples and from nature. Their withdrawal from an awareness of their place in nature is nearly complete…primal peoples live among animals and vegetation constantly in close contact with the sources of nourishment and death, understanding their environment and expressing their ideas and feelings in terms of the natural world. In contrast, people in the West have created an idealization of their relationship with nature which has neither life nor spirit.”
ADVENTURES IN THE WILD WEST OF LONG AGO
Mary Faraday Huntington
I’ve led a wild life and had a hell of a good time. I still have my nose, all my fingers and my scalp thanks to my high intelligence, strength, quickness, excellent judgment, and a little help from all my many, many friends. I promise not to lie too bad. If you are a prissy little thing, best to pass on by. If you are a refined gentleman, pass on by.
1. You’re just a girrrrrrl
2. The Under Water People
3. Fort Childs
4. Rising Wolf
5. The second best whorehouse in town
1 YOU’RE JUST A GIRRRRRL
“You can't race. You’re just a girrrrrrl!”
I bounced him a good one and he shrieked and jumped up and down with blood spurting out of his big, ugly nose. Oh my, how he did carry on.
I got on my pony and went to the line. The flag dropped and off we went. No problem, I promised Charlie 3 cobs if we win. He got his corn and I got a shiny silver dollar and a tin can full of chewing tobacco. I traded the can for a bunch of fancy ribbons at old man Bailey’s haberdashery.
____________________
My name is Mary Faraday Huntington and I was born in 1834 at Independence, Missouri. My mother died when I was 9 months old and an Indian woman working at a whorehouse was the only one Christian enough to take me in. Don’t know who my father was but he must have been big, strong, and sharp as a whip. Probably an army man having a little fun. Sure they call me a bastard, but they learned quick enough not to do that to my face.
Jennie is a Blackfoot spirit woman and a real good mother who cooks and cleans at Polly’s Paradise. We have a little room in the basement. Her real name is Aokii’aki, Water Woman. She taught me sign and Blackfoot, how to live off the land, and how to fight with my hands and feet and knife. And she is teaching me the ways of a spirit woman.
The handwritten story was in an old chest I bought at an auction. There are many corrections and many notes stuck between the pages, and the ink and pencil are faded and often difficult to read. I have had to guess at the meaning a few times and hope I haven’t done too much harm to her intent.
Many changes were made in punctuation, spelling, paragraphing and chapters, and I’ve updated a few words, like Black Feet to Blackfoot. She made a few mistakes I did not correct, like mixing up the locations of the Little Blue and Big Blue rivers.
The name Mary Faraday Huntington does not appear in any of the old records. Whoever wrote the words was neither shy nor humble, has a very foul mouth, and shamelessly talks about things rarely mentioned in stories of the Wild West. Her story is the way it was long ago, not the sugar coated fairly tales of book and film.
Her story reminds me of something Jamake Highwater wrote:
“The outward rusticity of primal behavior makes Western people devise a self-serving ideal of themselves as civilized, which sets them widely apart from other peoples and from nature. Their withdrawal from an awareness of their place in nature is nearly complete…primal peoples live among animals and vegetation constantly in close contact with the sources of nourishment and death, understanding their environment and expressing their ideas and feelings in terms of the natural world. In contrast, people in the West have created an idealization of their relationship with nature which has neither life nor spirit.”
ADVENTURES IN THE WILD WEST OF LONG AGO
Mary Faraday Huntington
I’ve led a wild life and had a hell of a good time. I still have my nose, all my fingers and my scalp thanks to my high intelligence, strength, quickness, excellent judgment, and a little help from all my many, many friends. I promise not to lie too bad. If you are a prissy little thing, best to pass on by. If you are a refined gentleman, pass on by.
1. You’re just a girrrrrrl
2. The Under Water People
3. Fort Childs
4. Rising Wolf
5. The second best whorehouse in town
1 YOU’RE JUST A GIRRRRRL
“You can't race. You’re just a girrrrrrl!”
I bounced him a good one and he shrieked and jumped up and down with blood spurting out of his big, ugly nose. Oh my, how he did carry on.
I got on my pony and went to the line. The flag dropped and off we went. No problem, I promised Charlie 3 cobs if we win. He got his corn and I got a shiny silver dollar and a tin can full of chewing tobacco. I traded the can for a bunch of fancy ribbons at old man Bailey’s haberdashery.
____________________
My name is Mary Faraday Huntington and I was born in 1834 at Independence, Missouri. My mother died when I was 9 months old and an Indian woman working at a whorehouse was the only one Christian enough to take me in. Don’t know who my father was but he must have been big, strong, and sharp as a whip. Probably an army man having a little fun. Sure they call me a bastard, but they learned quick enough not to do that to my face.
Jennie is a Blackfoot spirit woman and a real good mother who cooks and cleans at Polly’s Paradise. We have a little room in the basement. Her real name is Aokii’aki, Water Woman. She taught me sign and Blackfoot, how to live off the land, and how to fight with my hands and feet and knife. And she is teaching me the ways of a spirit woman.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2015
1294 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
August 12, 2022
This material was written about in another work by this author. This ebook needs a professional edit.
October 6, 2018
Entertaining but.........
I enjoyed the story and it kept my interest; however I felt it was a work of fiction rather than true. Some of the language and words were not from the time period that the book is supposed to be from. Enjoyed it but was not believable as nonfiction.
I enjoyed the story and it kept my interest; however I felt it was a work of fiction rather than true. Some of the language and words were not from the time period that the book is supposed to be from. Enjoyed it but was not believable as nonfiction.
December 15, 2020
Nothing you would see on movies
Mary, A handwritten story found in a trunk by Janis Hoffman is a true story of an orphan raised by a prostitute Indian woman in the wild west. She then goes on a wagon train, works briefly for the military as Indian interpreter, then returns and becomes part owner of a whore house and gold digging outfit. There is nothing boring about this girl's life! She has to kill to survive, loses friends, and sees horrible atrocities. I learned a lot of what it really might have been like living back then, not the Hollywood glamourized version.
Mary, A handwritten story found in a trunk by Janis Hoffman is a true story of an orphan raised by a prostitute Indian woman in the wild west. She then goes on a wagon train, works briefly for the military as Indian interpreter, then returns and becomes part owner of a whore house and gold digging outfit. There is nothing boring about this girl's life! She has to kill to survive, loses friends, and sees horrible atrocities. I learned a lot of what it really might have been like living back then, not the Hollywood glamourized version.
August 17, 2018
THE MS'EDUCATION OF MARY MARY
There have been many stories true or untrue regarding the adoption of White and Native American children raised by either race. These types of stories have no ending. I've heard many stories such as "MARY" from my Aunts, Uncles and Grandmothers. Mary was lucky that Native American Medicine Woman raised and taught her how to live from the land and to protect herself, which she utilized many times during her life.
This semi-biography of Mary's life also illustrates what man thought of woman as nothing but a tools and we're treated as such, fornication, domestic violence and what's yours is mine. Doggone-It they still think that way, no matter how educated or modernize we are, things haven't changed that much.
Hope this author finds more information...sad but a quick read. Mary is someone to ride the river with and protest the mistreatment of women and the downtrodden....it's not where you been but it's where your going.
There have been many stories true or untrue regarding the adoption of White and Native American children raised by either race. These types of stories have no ending. I've heard many stories such as "MARY" from my Aunts, Uncles and Grandmothers. Mary was lucky that Native American Medicine Woman raised and taught her how to live from the land and to protect herself, which she utilized many times during her life.
This semi-biography of Mary's life also illustrates what man thought of woman as nothing but a tools and we're treated as such, fornication, domestic violence and what's yours is mine. Doggone-It they still think that way, no matter how educated or modernize we are, things haven't changed that much.
Hope this author finds more information...sad but a quick read. Mary is someone to ride the river with and protest the mistreatment of women and the downtrodden....it's not where you been but it's where your going.
August 31, 2019
Enjoyed
I have 5 stars because of the history seen and lived . Nothing has changed in the way nationally are treated and seen by others. Be it 1845 or 2019- we learn and treat others according to what we learned at a young age by people we admired. You truly do not know someone unless you live with them and see how they interact .
I have 5 stars because of the history seen and lived . Nothing has changed in the way nationally are treated and seen by others. Be it 1845 or 2019- we learn and treat others according to what we learned at a young age by people we admired. You truly do not know someone unless you live with them and see how they interact .
January 27, 2020
Sat down and read this easily in one afternoon. It's a fascinating read simply because it's raw and appears to be basically a diary of a young woman as she travels west. She lives a life that Hollywood couldn't conjure up and offers a rare look into a little-known lifestyle of the west.
January 20, 2020
Wow!
What a story. Hard to believe impossible but given a time frame in which it was written probably very true. Wild!!!!
What a story. Hard to believe impossible but given a time frame in which it was written probably very true. Wild!!!!
August 26, 2018
Interesting History
I love historical fiction from this era, especially the social aspect of it, but have always done a bit of an eye roll at the depiction of prim and proper from that era, and the glorification of whores, aka Soiled Doves. This story tells of a different social class of the old West. I think there were probably many pockets of culture then as there are now. This book glorifies the prostitute as well, but in a different way. The protagonist is Our Heroine and she is all around sharp and cool and badness with nary a smidge of self doubt. I prefer characters with more depth but the seeming history made up for that. Written in charming style as a diary with photographs, the book has the feel of a biography called novel to make up for historical accuracy. I thought the book would focus on being raised in a brothel but tells the story of Mary's life once she leaves the whorehouse at age 15.
I love historical fiction from this era, especially the social aspect of it, but have always done a bit of an eye roll at the depiction of prim and proper from that era, and the glorification of whores, aka Soiled Doves. This story tells of a different social class of the old West. I think there were probably many pockets of culture then as there are now. This book glorifies the prostitute as well, but in a different way. The protagonist is Our Heroine and she is all around sharp and cool and badness with nary a smidge of self doubt. I prefer characters with more depth but the seeming history made up for that. Written in charming style as a diary with photographs, the book has the feel of a biography called novel to make up for historical accuracy. I thought the book would focus on being raised in a brothel but tells the story of Mary's life once she leaves the whorehouse at age 15.
September 16, 2018
Good, honest book
This was really a good book that told a completely different version of how life was during the beginning of the Good rush and Oregon trail. It tells how the prostitution business got started in the Good rush towns Nd how an individual could reinvent themselves and be an entrepreneur in any type business. Really a fast and easy read. Wish the other pages had been found so we knew how this ended or how Mary's life turned out and what choices she made and if she ever married and had children. Glad I found this book and read it
This was really a good book that told a completely different version of how life was during the beginning of the Good rush and Oregon trail. It tells how the prostitution business got started in the Good rush towns Nd how an individual could reinvent themselves and be an entrepreneur in any type business. Really a fast and easy read. Wish the other pages had been found so we knew how this ended or how Mary's life turned out and what choices she made and if she ever married and had children. Glad I found this book and read it
September 5, 2018
An unusual tale of survival
I choose this book because after reading a book on Calamity Jane my interest was piqued about women's lives on the Western frontier. Mary certainly did not disappoint . Janis Hoffman is an excellent first person novelist. I recommend this to anyone who has an interest in a story of the West in the 1840's. This novel has feeling of genuiness that few others have .
I choose this book because after reading a book on Calamity Jane my interest was piqued about women's lives on the Western frontier. Mary certainly did not disappoint . Janis Hoffman is an excellent first person novelist. I recommend this to anyone who has an interest in a story of the West in the 1840's. This novel has feeling of genuiness that few others have .
December 12, 2018
Portrayal of a Very Hard Life
An interesting biography of an enterprising young woman & the time in which she lived. What Mary experienced made me glad that I'm not a female living then. Though her story wasn't long, it gave what felt like an accurate description of day-to-day challenges. Enjoyed it tremendously & wish we could know more about what happened to Mary.
An interesting biography of an enterprising young woman & the time in which she lived. What Mary experienced made me glad that I'm not a female living then. Though her story wasn't long, it gave what felt like an accurate description of day-to-day challenges. Enjoyed it tremendously & wish we could know more about what happened to Mary.
January 19, 2019
Great
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love history and to read it in the first person and in the words of a woman who had "grit" and enjoyed life and adventure was very entertaining. I smiled when she used the term "The States" and I am so glad that she inserted pictures. I am so glad that this was published, even though we don't know the whole story, yet.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! I love history and to read it in the first person and in the words of a woman who had "grit" and enjoyed life and adventure was very entertaining. I smiled when she used the term "The States" and I am so glad that she inserted pictures. I am so glad that this was published, even though we don't know the whole story, yet.
August 10, 2019
Adaptability, best human resource.
Interesting and quick read about Mary's life and the sad treatment of native americans. Straight forward story of events and choices, without emotional drama or psychological examination. A story about kindness, evil, and survival. The reader is left to make their own judgements about good and bad.
Interesting and quick read about Mary's life and the sad treatment of native americans. Straight forward story of events and choices, without emotional drama or psychological examination. A story about kindness, evil, and survival. The reader is left to make their own judgements about good and bad.
August 9, 2018
A short but fun read. The Lonesome Dove series is about the only thing to compare Mary with. The characters are well done but the dialog mix is spread over 150 years. No matter, it was a pleasant evenings read.
August 21, 2018
This was a really fun, quick, easy read. The title on Amazon is actually "Mary, Raised in a Whorehouse," which immediately grabbed my attention and made me spend 99 cents. Mary is a tough lady of the night who cashes in on the Gold Rush. After that, who knows!
September 8, 2018
All I can say about this book is it ended way too soon! Loved the author's way of writing so very much and just read it in one sitting. To be fair though it was too short but I will look f. or more of her books. You need to read this book so buy it now! You won't be disappointed🎉
September 23, 2018
Mary
I was quite surprised by some of the modern language and slang. I've read 100s of books about that era and never heard many of the expression used.i hope this little diary is authentic. Its incomplete due to the faded writing.
I was quite surprised by some of the modern language and slang. I've read 100s of books about that era and never heard many of the expression used.i hope this little diary is authentic. Its incomplete due to the faded writing.
October 24, 2018
Perfect Title
I read this in one setting. The author put a lot of work to bring this story back to life.
I adored the characters, and the timeline. I lived in California, Southern and Northern. All her references and settings.
Thanks
I read this in one setting. The author put a lot of work to bring this story back to life.
I adored the characters, and the timeline. I lived in California, Southern and Northern. All her references and settings.
Thanks
December 28, 2018
unfinished
I wish the author was able to find more of Mary, but the story I read about her in this book will make you laugh. the author warns that if youre a child or a high class lady this book isnt for you. I love marys sassiness. she doesnt take crap from anyone.
I wish the author was able to find more of Mary, but the story I read about her in this book will make you laugh. the author warns that if youre a child or a high class lady this book isnt for you. I love marys sassiness. she doesnt take crap from anyone.
January 8, 2019
Mary
I found this to be very intriguing. It was as if you got a look at the times by sneaking a peak at a young ladies diary. True or not, I found myself trying to imagine what it was like to live in a wild and raucous time as that.
I found this to be very intriguing. It was as if you got a look at the times by sneaking a peak at a young ladies diary. True or not, I found myself trying to imagine what it was like to live in a wild and raucous time as that.
April 7, 2019
Good story
This is a good story but I think I would have rather had the author improvise the missing pieces Instead of telling us to just make it up. It was ta great premise for one heck of a story.
This is a good story but I think I would have rather had the author improvise the missing pieces Instead of telling us to just make it up. It was ta great premise for one heck of a story.
November 14, 2019
What a wonderful surprise
Literally not one dull moment in the entire book; it was extremely engaging. I bought this book on accident, but now I think it may actually have been serendipity.
Literally not one dull moment in the entire book; it was extremely engaging. I bought this book on accident, but now I think it may actually have been serendipity.
October 13, 2018
Mary
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to this book , I look forward to reading more of her books.Kattie
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to this book , I look forward to reading more of her books.Kattie
October 16, 2018
Mary
This was an interesting story that caused me to rethink the hows and whys of history. It really changed how I thought about those that lived before us. Very, very good!
This was an interesting story that caused me to rethink the hows and whys of history. It really changed how I thought about those that lived before us. Very, very good!
January 12, 2019
3
I expected more of a story. Disappointed that the story did not continue after she met Huntington. What was their life like.
I expected more of a story. Disappointed that the story did not continue after she met Huntington. What was their life like.
March 4, 2019
A Great read.Have read it twice with the same results.The version I have has 10 Chapters and I was looking to see if there are any more...
July 10, 2019
Very disappointing, don’t spend your money or your time.
I kept reading and hoping for something worthwhile, but was very disappointed. I am grateful that the book was short.
I kept reading and hoping for something worthwhile, but was very disappointed. I am grateful that the book was short.
August 2, 2019
Wish there was more I loved it.
November 29, 2019
Wonderful story
Thank you so much for your hard work in bringing Mary's story to us readers. I love reading about the Wild West and the history of my home state of California.
Thank you so much for your hard work in bringing Mary's story to us readers. I love reading about the Wild West and the history of my home state of California.
December 22, 2019
Not my sort of book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews