Trials of the Earth: The True Story of a Pioneer Woman (by Mary Hamilton) and biscuits
Biscuits? yes, but made like my grandmother makes them, with one big substitution. These biscuits are made out of powder milk (a staple in my household) and self-rising flour. I did not have any shortening, like my grandmother uses, so used butter instead. I normally use all purpose flour, butter and milk to make biscuits. I have to say, however, that not only were these easier to make but were oh so good! Notice the “baby” biscuit? My grandmother always made the grandkids baby biscuits. Today, she still has baby biscuits for her great-grands!
The book…loved the book. I do know some had difficulty reading it. I think you need to get through the beginning. Once they get to Mississippi, it picks up. It was the same with me until I realized the author’s story takes place close to where my grandmother grew up in the Delta. From that point, I read this book through the eyes of my great-great grandparents.
When non-Mississippians think about Mississippi history, they normally think the entire state was full of large plantations during the 1800s. That could not be farther from the truth. Only 3% of Mississippians had large plantations. 19% had a few slaves (not connected to large plantations). The rest had no slaves nor plantations. First, let me say these are stats from my college Mississippi History class (so they may be different considering your source…but I am not here to debate statistics). Considering those stats, have you ever thought about how some Mississippians lived and worked during the 1800s? If you haven’t, then this book is for you. Majority of the book takes place in the 1880s,1890s. Mary Hamilton and her family moved to the Delta. They moved several times but settled in areas you would be familiar with, such as Parchman (Webb, Tutwiler, Drew are other places mentioned in the book). The book traces the hardships of establishing a “home” in unsettled lands – the elements, the panthers, epidemics, infant mortality (to name a few). As I read the book, I couldn’t help but think about my ancestors establishing their own lands during this time. It also made me realize why so many did not have a lot of schooling. I found a census record of my great-grandfather which stated he had a 3rd grade education. I didn’t know that until then but this book made me understand the difficulties of sending kids to school. It also stated he was a tenant farmer (similar to sharecropping). I guess the one aspect I appreciate, from growing up, is the importance of education BUT ALSO that education does not deem your value as a person. Integrity and a strong work ethic are two values instilled in us by our parents. It is what was instilled in my grandparents. It is what Mary Hamilton even mentions in her book. There was a part in the book where they made the kids help build the house – not because they thought they should but they would value their home more if they were part of building it. I personally think that is missing today (this idea of entitlement and taking value in your work).
My grandmother was born in Cascilla, MS (south of Charleston in Tallahatchie County). I grew up going to my great-grandparents place twice a year (once on Christmas day which I hated…seriously, what child wants to leave Santa’s toys to go to the middle of nowhere…as an adult, I now appreciate my parents making us go). A few years ago, I went with my grandmother (and a few others) to see my cousin graduate from Delta State University. Once we left the “hills” and hit the Delta, my grandmother looked out the window and mentioned how the “big boss man” did everything to hold them down (made sure they were always indebted to him). It was the first time I heard anything about her sharecropping/tenant farming days. This book made me realize that her stories need to be told and passed down to my girls. I talked to my mom about taking my grandmother riding through the Delta to tell us stories of her growing up. Hopefully, we can make that happen pretty soon (so stay tuned…).
Side note…I hope I get this story right but will ask my dad to double-check facts…before my grandfather passed away, he told my dad that he and his cousin walked all the way to the Delta for work, sleeping under bridges along the way. It was through this work he met my grandmother. He married my grandmother. His cousin married her sister (she was one of five girls). Today, my grandmother lives about one mile from her sister (which is down the road from my parents). I always thought it was cool (weird, funny) to tell people that “so-in-so” was my second cousin and (whatever number) cousin. They would look at me like I was weird until I told them my grandfather and his cousin married sisters. Oh, and to put his walking distance in perspective…from my grandparents house to Grenada, MS is about 45 minutes in a car (and Grenada is before you get to where my grandmother lived…I think she lived in Webb some, too).
Another side note… Merigold is a town mentioned several times in the book. For those of you who love McCarty’s pottery, Merigold is where the store and restaurant is located. If you haven’t been there, you are missing a treat!!!!
