The Memoirs of Elinore Pruitt Stewart

Amazing person Elinore was through the fours years that she shared with us. While reading each piece, it seemed as though she had endured the hardship from losing her husband and decided to seek opportunities in the future for her and her daughter. which eventually brought her life and Jerrine's to Wyoming and all life had to offer.

Although she was a housekeeper for Mr. Stewart, her own ways seemed to brush the back of her mind at all times. When she filed and became a landowner, the curiosity was rising in my head as to what she was actually going to do with this land until she told Mrs. Coney that she had filed adjoining Mr. Stewart's land.

Elinore was quite a resourceful person and felt that she had to prove that she could take care of herself without help from Mr. Stewart, or any other man for that matter. During those times it was common for the women to feel this way, although very few acted upon their beliefs. As was stated in her fourth letter to Mrs. Coney, "I kept thinking how superior I was since I dared to take such an outing when so many poor women down in Denver were bent on making their twenty cents per hour in order that they could spare a quarter to go to the show". She showed herself, her daughter, Mrs. Coney and all others that a woman could take care of herself and her family without the help of a man.

For many years women were upheld as at home laborers. Where meals were prepared, laundry was done, and the the house was cleaned. Borderline of being the next best thing to a slave. "Why, I would jist as soon talk to you as to a nigger", was a remark that was made by Zebulon Parker after a long night of conversations with her. He didn't mean any harm in saying it, but Elinore knew that if had been someone from the north she would have wanted an apology on the spot.

Even though she felt belittled by her boss at times, she still found everything about life absolutely beautiful, and wanted to share it with everyone around her. There are many instances throughout her letters, sharing stories of hope for others and triumphs that came to past thereafter as she worked her magic. In one instant she is introduced to a Miss Lane, who has twin daughters, one of which who is to be married(Sedalia, so she thinks) to Mr. Patterson, until Elinore finds out that Mr. Patterson is longing for the other Regalia(Gale) instead. Eventually Gale marries Mr. Patterson with help from Elinore and her thoughtful, yet deceitful ways.

One pattern that is noticed throughout the letters is the friendship between all the women. When the men must head off as they tend to business, the women gather for reasons of their own. Most notably to cook for someone. They seem to know their part during this period, and grew accustomed to making others feel good with a home cooked meal. As long as there was no one at Mr. Stewart's homestead to feed or clean up after, Elinore was free to leave as she so chose. Usually meeting a friend to help prepare a meal for others.

Later throughout her mail conversations with Mrs. Coney she tells a story of a young girl named Cora Belle. Cora Belle's father died getting shot in the back, and the mother died giving birth to her. It was a classic story of the parents not approving of the man, and the woman becoming pregnant before she was married. As the parents disowned their daughter she asked to have Cora Belle sent back to them in her place. So her grandparents raised her, and as years passed they both had rheumatism which caused them not to be able to take care of the land,in which Cora did it on her own. Elinore brought clothes that her and some of her friends had sown for Cora Belle, and prepared meals for her and her grandparents as well. The woman that saw good in everything, and in doing so, it was like a chain reaction through everyone she met helping each other more and more as the stories go on.

This went on throughout many letters, Elinore would help many people including things such as keeping a secret that Zebulon had told about his past and the love of his life. Mr. and Mrs. McEttrick were a couple that came to Mr. Stewart's stead, but would not eat Elinore's meal because of their own preferences. Yet, during their trip the couple was fighting and Mrs. Stewart offered for her and Aggie to ride together so Aggie could vent a little. Eventually it turned out that Elinore helped relieve the quarrels between them.

Nonetheless, there were other thoughts going through Mrs. Stewart's mind. Although there was so much to be done on a daily basis at the ranch, it was never a dull moment to Elinore. Every time there was a trip to be taken, or even a letter to write, she pictured a beautiful picture for all to imagine. At one point, she was constantly feeling ashamed that she was writing long letters to Mrs. Coney, that she asked her if she had others that would listen to her long drawn out adventures. Suddenly she was a hit with all of Mrs. Coney's friends and acquaintances throughout Denver. What started as a letter to a friend, became nothing short of an inspiration to many other women.

Her wording and canvasing of the mountains and everything else around her, provided a sense of freedom for all those who would read her stories. If anything, it proved that women could do more then the men actually believed, they just needed a chance. Soon more and more women were reading her entertaining stories, and couldn't wait for her next one to come in the mail. Even little Jerrine wrote to Mrs. Coney at one point when Elinore could not write and thanked Mrs. Coney for the books she had sent to Jerrine as a gift.

In the end it was all about helping others. More importantly other women, as you will see it is the basis for her final letter. Through the years Elinore was told that she couldn't do this or couldn't do that. During this period all women were treated just as such. However, her persistence paid off eventually by experimenting different ways on how to grow vegetables. She was told she would not even be able to grow common beans, which of course she did. Milking ten cows twice a day during the summer she was able to make and sell enough butter to pay for flour and gasoline for a year.

Chickens were plentiful as she bred them well, and renewed the stock along with enough turkeys for the special occasions throughout the year. Everything from growing flowers, to mowing the fields, it was all done with hard work and determination that started with the death of her husband. Which subsequently created a new life in Elinor Pruitt Stewart.