Letters on an Elk Hunt by a Woman Homesteader

by Elinore Pruitt Stewart, Elizabeth Fuller Ferris (Foreword)

A continuation of Letters of a Woman Homesteader, Letters on an Elk Hunt is set in the same corner of southwestern Wyoming, the time is the fall of 1914, and (despite the title) Mrs. Stewart is far less concerned with elk hunting than with people—old friends and new acquaintances—and with the land in which she found so much beauty. Her letters, as Jessamyn West said of the earlier volume, "are, in fact (though not that alone), a collection of short stories." She added that "what makes these letters so good are not these stories, but the character of the storyteller, of Elinore Stewart herself. Her letters endure and give pleasure because she does what the great letter-writers she reveals herself. . . . It is the woman in this vanished landscape, the homesteader with her enormous vitality, humor, and tenderness who holds our attention." Jessamyn West's wish to know more about the author herself is fulfilled in the foreword to Letters on an Elk Hunt—an appreciative biographical sketch, incorporating material from some of Mrs. Stewart's unpublished letters as well as the reminiscences of her children. Elizabeth Fuller Ferris, of the Wilderness Women Project, Missoula, Montana, is the writer and producer of Burntfork, a film for public television funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities based upon the life of Elinore Pruitt Stewart.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Westerns, Memoir, Historical, Biography Memoir

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Elinore Pruitt Stewart was an American homesteader and memoirist whose vivid letters from Wyoming life in the early 20th century offer a rare and compelling portrait of the American West through a woman’s eyes. Born Elinore Pruitt in White Bead Hill, Chickasaw Nation, in 1876, she faced early hardships, losing both parents by her teenage years and taking responsibility for her younger siblings. After a brief marriage that ended with her husband’s death, she relocated to Denver, Colorado, where she found work as a laundress and later as a housekeeper.
In 1909, she answered an ad from widowed homesteader Henry Clyde Stewart seeking a housekeeper in Burntfork, Wyoming. Within months of arriving, she filed her own homestead claim and married Clyde Stewart. Though married, she concealed her status for years in order to maintain her independence and her legal claim to land as a single woman under the Homestead Acts. During this time, she began a correspondence with her former employer, Mrs. Juliet Coney, in Denver, writing detailed and spirited letters about her life on the frontier.
These letters were first published in the Atlantic Monthly and later collected in two volumes: Letters of a Woman Homesteader (1914) and Letters on an Elk Hunt (1915). The former inspired the 1979 film Heartland. Her writings, though often embellished for literary effect, present a strong, resourceful, and intelligent woman navigating homesteading, motherhood, and the harsh Wyoming landscape with grace and humor.
Elinore and Clyde had five children together, though two died in infancy. Her daughter from her first marriage, Jerrine, survived into adulthood. Stewart used the modest income from her writings to support her family and homestead, gaining recognition as the “Woman Homesteader.” She died in 1933 following complications from surgery and is buried in Burntfork Cemetery alongside her husband.
Her homestead was later recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and her letters remain a lasting literary testament to women’s roles in settling the American West.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another collection of letters written by Elinore Pruitt Stewart to her friend and former employer Mrs. Coney, this book was originally published in 1915.

According to the foreword, the original book had most likely not been written for publication, they were truly just letters written to keep in touch with and entertain her friend. Mrs. Coney sent them off to the Atlantic Monthly and they were published, and EPS used the proceeds to buy seed and horses for her ranch. The foreword goes on to say that the letters in this book were written with publication in mind, and after reading that I was curious if there would be a change in the 'feel' of this book compared to the first one.

The topic of this book is an elk hunt the author participated in with her husband and other people in the area. They were dated from July 8, 1914 to October 25, 1914. That might seem like a long time for an elk hunt but remember that even in those not all that far ago years this area of Wyoming was quite remote. At more than one phase of the journey to the hunting fields there were no tracks for the horse drawn wagons to follow, and the author's core party also spent time here and there with the people they met along the way, not to mention that one time when they took the wrong path and found themselves lost for a bit. Luckily, a rancher told them that the road they were on was actually a better route to where they wanted to go, so it all worked out in the long run.

What was most moving here were the stories of the other homesteaders in this area. Our author brought them all to life and moved me to tears more than once. So whether she was trying harder to create something for publication or still merely intending to take her friend along on the journey into the high mountains, she shared moments with all readers that we would never get to experience without her stories.

[Linda Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful, easy read, collection of true life experiences on a 4 month elk hunt in 1914. Highly recommend.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really fantastic read. I picked this up immediately I finished the "Letters of a Woman Homesteader" and have enjoyed every minute of going on a community excursion into hunting even wilder country to hunt for Elk. Not only for recreation and diversion, as modern day hunting is, even though the entire experience added layers of enjoyment and variety to these pioneers hard lives, but to lay aside a source of meat for the winter ahead.

You get so many glimpses into the daily existence and daily toil of these folk. And again I found myself wondering if I would be up to making a success of such a life. Or would it just be too hard for us soft, modern-day folk.

Is it factual reporting, or does the writer add her own embellishments to bring her experiences to life and full colour for her friend who is the recipient of these letters? Who cares. It is some of the most enjoyable reading I have done is a while.

[Tabuyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una delicia de lectura.
Mi reseña: http://contandoteunlibro.blogspot.com...

[la_circe_lectora · Rating 5 out of 5]

En esta ocasion Elinore escribe a su querida señora Coney y le explica que se va de viaje, una escapada que las hará disfrutar a ambas.
Viajaran de Wyoming al desierto y a los bosques. Pruitt nos trasladará a esos paisajes, conoceremos a gente maravillosa, indios escapados de su reserva, abuelitas sanadoras y a maleantes cazadores de dientes.

Las cartas de otras mujeres es una antología de relatos de escritoras que vivieron en el oeste norteamericano. Algunas con nombres tan conocidos como Calamity Jane.
Esta antología no me ha gustado.
No lo he disfrutado porque son relatos sueltos, sin cronología . Un puñado de cartas simplemente.

Creo que Elinore es una de mia autoras favoritas, su sencillez, su bondad ... Me habría encantado conocerla.

No le pongo cinco estrellas porque las cartas de otras mujeres .. no me ha gustado. Si no sería un libro de 10 ¡¡

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sequel to Letters from a Woman Homesteader. After Elinore's former boss nicely got her letters published to some acclaim, Elinore wrote up a new batch more intended for publication. This is a great follow-up. I couldn't quite believe how many things could happen in one trip. But it seemed like loads of fun.

[Deevena Jemima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly cannot remember when I've enjoyed books more than Elinore's true homesteader books. Her story is told through her letters to a friend and they're a fascinating window into that period of the American West. Her writing was intelligent, amusing, interesting, poetic, and incredibly heartfelt. Life wasn't easy, but she always made the best of the situation and helped her fellow man/woman/child/animal. She was a hardworking, brave, loving wonder of a woman. I always enjoy books that leave me with a warm, fuzzy feeling and hope for mankind. Her books do that in spades.

[Rebecca Jane Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so happy I found this book - what an artifact! The experiences of the people and the determination and suffering that pioneers faced is incredible to me (especially in this life of convenience we now have).

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1909 Elinore Pruitt went out west to Wyoming and married Clyde Stewart. Her interesting story is told in "Letters of a Woman Homesteader." This second book (a series of letters to a dear friend) was written five years later on a elk hunting trip. Her descriptions of people and places make this a fascinating read.

Describing abandoned houses she wrote, They were "hope's skeletons with their yawning doors and windows like eyeless sockets. (p. 25)

On life's challenges: "It had made her swim when she wanted to float."

In one scene the horses will not budge until someone remembers that their previous owners cussed at them. So the women cover their ears while the men get them moving in the only way they know how. (!)

Elinore's good humor mixed with the pathos of real-life hardships make this a pleasant excursion into American history. It was intriguing to think that there were still homesteaders and a "wild west" atmosphere as late as 1914.

[Kirstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this even more than Letters of a Woman Homesteader but why bother writing your own review when the author provides one herself?

“I have experienced about all the human emotions. I had not expected to encounter so many people or to get the little inside glimpses that I've had, but wherever there are human beings there are the little histories. I have come home realizing anew how happy I am, how much I have been spared, and how many of life's blessings are mine.”

[Pirate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy to find another book by Mrs. Stewart, although I had some trepidation about the subject in the title. And while they do eventually get to hunt and it is described in matter-of-fact detail, it's not what was most memorable to me.

What I liked best (told through a series of letters from Mrs. Stewart to her friend back east) was seeing the relationships sustained between the homesteaders. As they traveled to and from the hunt, the hunting party depended upon the kindness of strangers -- and always found it. What a charming way of life. And yet, still very rough. I cannot imagine camping with small children in the snow!

All in all, it's a very nice "slice of life" book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the first book ("Letters from a Woman Homesteader") discussed Pruitt's adventures homesteading, this one is all about an elk hunt she and her husband go on with some of their friends. They encounter all kinds of interesting people, help some folks out, get helped out by others, and generally enjoy being out in the wide world. I found it enthralling. Not quite as wonderful as "Letters from a Woman Homesteader," but nearly so.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a hard time of year for me. The anniversary of my husband's death approaches, and I get sad and wistful. This was the perfect book. It got me up and about, scrubbing the house and feeling better about things. I hated the hunting scenes, but not too many homesteaders went in for the vegetarian thing.

[Kris Irvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as Letters From a Woman Homesteader, but still worth a read. This book will make you want to go camping in the high mountains of Wyoming. It made me yearn to be a homesteader/pioneer myself, but I would have died and also, I love indoor plumbing.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent 2nd book to the Letters of a Woman Homesteader. These are the real letters from a real woman and I found them to be amazing. It is a very quick read.

[Antonio Ceté · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hay una parte de niños chupando limones que casi me mata de alegría. Alerta: un poco timo, que más de la mitad es de otras mujeres del oeste. La parte buena es que también está muy bien.

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. Since it's altogether a "tidier" book because the letters are concerned only with Elinore's elk hunt journey, its storyline might stick with me a little longer. I loved the descriptions of people and places. I just wish it had been a little longer and a bit more fleshed out because I had a hard time keeping the characters straight. If possible, the stories of the people Elinore met on the journey were even more engaging than in the first book. I was thankful the actual passages about the elk hunt proper weren't long because I still have a hard time with hunting scenes.

My favorite quotes:
"The very root of independence is hard times. That's the way America was founded; that is why it stands so firmly. Hard times is what makes sound characters." (Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's strong opinion)

"Just do the very best you can and trust God for the rest.... Never be afraid to help your best." (Grandma Mortimer)

"The first rays of the sun turned the jagged peaks into golden points of a crown."

"He started again to where the lantern was gleaming like a star fallen among the sage."

[Chrystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This 2nd volume contains the letters written from July 8, 1914 through October 25, 1914 when Elinore was out on an elk hunt. She sends letters to Mrs. Coney in Denver as the events are taking place. True to form, Elinore enthralls the reader with descriptions of the landscape, but mostly focuses on the people who she meets along the way. There are many sad stories in these letters; stories of suffering, hardship and loss. But she always finds the positive in each situation and always strives to learn humility from the people she meets.

"I have had a fine trip; I have experienced about all the human emotions. I had not expected to encounter so many people or to get the little inside glimpses that I've had, but wherever there are human beings there are the little histories. I have come home realizing anew how happy I am, how much I have been spared, and how many of life's blessings are mine."

[Colacaracola · Rating 3 out of 5]

La primera parte, las Cartas de una cazadora propiamente dichas me gustaron tanto como las Cartas de una pionera. Me resultaron igual de frescas y deliciosas de leer. Los textos de Otras mujeres de la frontera que aporta la editorial para completar un volumen de tamaño medio, me gustaron unos más que otros, aunque todos me resultaron curiosos de leer. Me gustó especialmente Una matiné wagneriana de Willa Cather, Mary Hunter Austin, sobre todo con Lactantes del cielo y Helen Hunt Jackson con los textos de Un siglo de deshonra.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging sequel to Letters of a Woman Homesteader, this follows Elinore Pruitt Stewart on a winter hunt for elk.

Short compilation of published letters, available for free download from Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho...

[Marie S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intrinsically thoses letters are not bad, they are not just as charming as Letters From a Woman Homesteader was.
It might be that we meet so many people and we spend just a few pages with them, that we don't have time to care for them.

[T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this very interesting; letters written in 1914 about a trip through Wyoming, from a woman's point of view and detailing the people met along the way. It really shows the tenacity, and adversities of settlers in the US West at that time.

[Jess]

(nota a mí misma: las fechas de lectura me las acabo de inventar porque sé que lo terminé hace meses y no recuerdo cuando)

La parte de Elinore me gustó como la anterior. La parte de "Otras mujeres de la frontera" me parece muy interesante pero la manera en la que están ordenadas me confundía.

[Rhonda Ketterling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably 3.5 as a rating. In 1914 the author and her husband/children head out on an elk hunt in Wyoming. During that hunt she chronicles daily routine, people and adventures via letters to a friend.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost as good as Letters of a woman Homesteader.

[Madalene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice sequel to Letters from a Woman Homesteader, covering a journey along western Wyoming in 1914. Her good friend, Mrs. O'Shaughnessy sounds like a riot and a good soul.

[Ash Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 glowing stars! This book is as good as the first one albeit shorter in page numbers. I wish the late Mrs Stewart had published more books because I really enjoyed her writing.

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I enjoyed the first book, "Letters of a Woman Homesteader", and I had this book on my shelves... time to read it! Taken together, the books give a wonderful portrait of Elinore Pruitt Stewart, her neighbors, her landscape (SW Wyoming), and her "good mon" Mr. Stewart.

Lots of hard work establishing a homestead in the early 1900's in a harsh environment, but she also took the time to notice, and write about, the beauty surrounding her.

I'm happy to be living in my time and place but can admire the pluck, an old-fashioned word, of Ms. Stewart. Lovely, and strong, woman.

[Martin Porter]

Fabulous book - and a free Kindle download. What is most striking, if you believe this to be fact, is the extraordinary bravery and adventurousness of the protagonist.