Olive Oatman: Captivity of the Oatman Girls

by Royal Stratton, Eric Miller

Olive Oatman was fourteen years old when her Mormon family was attacked by a Native American tribe in present-day Arizona. Her parents and four siblings were killed, while Olive and a younger sister were captured and later sold to a Mohave tribe. Her sister would later die of hunger, but Olive survived and spent several years among the Mohave people. She was returned to mainstream American society, however, at the age of nineteen when rumors of a white girl living among the Mohave began to circulate. Her re-introduction caused something of a sensation, partly because of the prominent blue face tattoos she received during her time among the Mohave. She would later speak of her time with the Mohave very fondly, and her transition to a very different culture and then back again were no doubt quite complicated. This story was originally published in 1857 under the title "Captivity of the Oatman Girls Being an Interesting Narrative of Life Among the Apache and Mohave Indians" by Royal B. Stratton. It is re-published here in its entirety.

199 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2019

Reviews

[Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to get used to the vernacular of the times in this book since it was written in 1857. The book is recounted events based on direct interviews with Olive and her brother so I would assume the facts are as close as possible to the actual events. He seems to take some liberty when describing native Americans in a disparaging way. It is somewhat understandable due Olive’s feeling about the Apaches and Mojaves after seeing her family massacred and other captives tortured to death in front of her. It was the beliefs at the time with only first hand experience not the oversight we can look back on. Overall easy entertaining read.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally written in 1857-9. Very interesting in what is included and not included. Definitely worth reading as one of the most outstanding and contemporary (with its occurrence) of the Indian "captivity literature." It also gives another picture of why and how people left the East to travel and settle the West.

[Kathy May · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book extremely difficult to read. The writing style was just not reader friendly. Just trying to get the story out of this book was impossible.

[Connie Becerra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read from a writer of that time. I found the story sad.