I have one Civil War story about my grandmother who was a Southern belle who went to Virginia City, Montana, with her family upon news of discovery of gold there reaching them in the South. En route on the boat she met a young Union Army officer who was being sent to Virginia City by President Ulysses S. Grant to be postmaster. Although he was Union and she was Rebel they fell in love and married, and lived there through the exciting days of the gold rush – and upon his being injured she was appointed by his friend to the office as “postmaster.” She returned with her two small sons to Virginia after his death, and met my grandfather. He had been married to grandmother’s cousin, and upon her death, had returned to Virginia seeking solace. They were then married and returned to Nebraska, where they pioneered. She was the only grandmother I ever knew. We children always called her “Cousin Mary Grandma.”
Mrs. Leslie Laughlin
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Back in 1955 a call went out from the editors of the then CAPPER’S WEEKLY asking for readers to send in articles on true pioneers. Hundreds of letters came pouring in from early settlers and their children, many now in their 80s and 90s, and from grandchildren of settlers, all with tales to tell. So many articles were received that a decision was made to create a book, and in 1956, the first My Folks title – My Folks Came in a Covered Wagon – hit the shelves. Nine other books have since been published in the My Folks series, all filled to the brim with true tales from CAPPER’s readers, and we are proud to make those stories available to our growing online community.
