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| Her Mission by the Mother of Grace Strong William G. Hubbard and Company, 1888 |
Mary Elizabeth Strong, author
Columbus OH: William G. Hubbard and Company, 1888.
108 pages. 5.5 x 6.75 inches, 18 cm.
Frontispiece portrait of Grace Strong, Dedication, Publishers Preface, September 1888.
Introduction by Mrs. Finch, the widow (Frances E.) of the Late Jno. B. Finch.
Author's Brief Preface.
Blog post by Mary Katherine May of QualityMusicandBooks.com.
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| Her Mission by the Mother of Grace Strong William G. Hubbard and Company, 1888 |
I have read this book as well as skimmed through it several times. Though it seems quite sentimental and overly descriptive to our 21st century mindset, I could not help but become involved in the drama of what happened at Spirit Lake and was moved by what I read. What also impressed me is that Mary Elizabeth Strong wrote this book after becoming blind.
To understand the total sense of what happened in Spirit Lake I suggest reading about the weather conditions of 1857, articles on Inkpaduta and other accounts of the events at Spirit Lake. Please remember that how white settlers viewed Native American people in the 19th century is reflected in the language used by Mary Strong in her narrative. By obtaining a more detailed picture of the preceding events and behavior of all involved the reader will view what happened with hindsight perspective.
We cannot change past events in history, nor can we place the 21st century into 19th century minds. What we can do, however, is develop a greater understanding and learn from history what not to be in the present and future.
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| Mary Grace Strong 1857-1887 Author of The Worst Foe |
In March of 1857, one of the coldest, snowiest, frigid winters in Iowa history still prevailed. Food was scarce for all and everyone was protecting their own to the point of murder.
Inkpaduta, Chief of the Wahpekute Band of the Dakota was leading his starving band into Iowa when he launched a series of raids on the white settlers in the area of Spirit Lake.
Dr. Ezra Barr Nelson Strong with his wife, Mary Elizabeth and two children were living in this area when the raids took place. Mary Grace was five weeks old and her brother, James Henry, was three years old. Whether Dr. Strong believed his family dead and left to save himself, or whether he ran as a coward in not clear. In this narrative the author mentions twice that she is waiting for him to return. Mary Elizabeth and her two children survived through a long march and starvation to safety.
Grace Strong wrote a temperance novel titled, The Worst Foe, which was very popular in its time and went through many printings. Grace, though she traveled south to improve her health, died on May 23, 1887.
Mary Elizabeth Strong, now blind, wrote as a memorial to her daughter this book, Her Mission, a story in rhyme. It begins with Grace's birth in 1857 and tells with deep sentimental passion of the Spirit Lake Massacre and following through to 1887.
Quote: O'er again I live the moments, Though long and weary years have passed..Mentioned in the story are Abigail Gardner, Eliza Gardner, Inkpaduta, Umpashio, Markham, Black Buffalo, Lieutenant Church, Griffith,
Places mentioned are Spirit Lake, Fort Ridgely, Camp Grove, and Fort Dodge.
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