Mattie: A Woman's Journey West

by Nan Weber

Not unlike today, life for women in the nineteenth century served up hearty challenges on a daily basis, though the burdens of 100 years ago certainly were of a different flavor. A Woman's Journey West offers a taste of that life through he story of Martha "Mattie" Shipley Culver, whose life passage took her from her childhood in industrial New England and work in the New York textile Industry to her role as the wife of a winter caretaker in Yellowstone National Park, where she died and was buried in 1889, at the age of 32. After discovering Mattie's grave, between Nez Perce Creek and the Firehole River, author Nan Weber followed her own curiosities through four years of research to trace the steps of this mystery woman's spirited life. The result is the inspiring story of a strong woman trying to better her life during difficult times- and leaving her mark along the way, whether she knew it or not. Mattie's story is one of both hope and despair, of joy and sorrow. But most important, it is a reminder that ordinary individuals do affect the lives of others, and that each us is part of a bigger picture.

127 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

Reviews

[Sep · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It is a must for anyone trying to put together a family history. "Mattie" presents a fascinating picture of how real people lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

It begins when Weber was visiting Yellowstone when she comes upon the grave of Mattie Culver who died and was buried there in 1889. She was inspired to go back and find out just who this Mattie Culver was.

In some ways this is the story of an investigation as involved in any mystery. Weber's tale of research is as engrossing as Mattie's life. Weber brings to the reader her joy and frustrations as she struggles to turn a handful odd facts and myths into a story. Her excitement at each discovery gives the book a warm glow. Weber's ability to turn dry facts into a flowing narrative kept me turning pages.

"Mattie" affected me personally in that Mattie's daughter grew up in a house a half a mile from my sister's house in Spokane. If Spokane had not been covered with snow in December of 2016 (I am told this happens a lot in December.), I would have been out in the middle of Fairmont Cemetery visiting the graves of the people that Weber wrote about so vividly.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this book on my shelf from a trip to Yellowstone which I don't think I read at the time. With an upcoming trip to the Dakotas, I was interested to read about Mattie's journey from Lowell MA through Bismarck North Dakota and on to Montana for a new life in the late 1800s. The author did some impressive sleuthing to piece together the story after finding Mattie's grave in Yellowstone. I love reading about the real people who have lived in the places I visit. But the author inserts herself a bit too much in this account whenever the facts are missing - speculating on what the characters might have been thinking or feeling, which was a bit jarring in the midst of an otherwise well-told story.

[Susanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weber, intrigued by a gravestone that she found of a nineteenth century woman, searches for the story behind this woman's life. I truly enjoyed reading about all of the work that Weber went through in uncovering Mattie's story, and I understand her satisfaction in being able to add the history of women in the West. I have done that in my books, too. She also did a great job of setting up the context for Mattie's life. However, this book is for readers who are serious about such topics, for the details make the reading slow. I would have liked a little more description of the people and places.

[Fay Klingler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Like reading a mystery, but one from real life. Amazed at the research trails that were followed to find so much pertinent information. Inspired me to do more research on my own intriguing ancestors' life stories. Loved the author's concluding Afterword statements.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of information. Impressed by the research done.