Today’s guest blogger is Jodie Wolfe, a former columnist for 
Home School Enrichment who now creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is also the co-founder of the blog Stitches Thru Time. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, walking, and being a Grammie. Today, she’ll explore an aspect of being a pioneer and what it takes. And it is Valentine’s Day, right?
I’ve always had a fascination with the 19th Century. I think part of it is because of the pioneer spirit. A time when people left all that they knew in hopes of building a better life somewhere else, typically in the Midwest. I can only imagine the amount of work, planning, and building it would take to start with nothing in order to dig a well, build a house, plant crops, and eventually have a homestead or farm that could support life for you and your family.
One aspect of the pioneer spirit that’s always interested me is the idea of becoming a mail-order bride. Leaving your current life to become a complete stranger’s wife. Now of course, sometimes they corresponded long distance for quite some time before they decided to get married. Sometimes the fella sent for the gal and they were hitched right away, while other times he sent for her and they had a couple weeks of getting to know each other before they tied the knot. At times a photo of sorts was exchanged, but that wasn’t always the case.
Some guys advertised for a wife in order to cook and clean for them, or to help with children if he had a spouse who’d died, and he was on his own to raise his young ones. A whole slew of scenarios was possible. I contemplated and researched for a while before I came up with a story line for my new book, Taming Julia. I wondered what would happen if a pastor was dictated by his congregation to find a wife if he wanted to keep his job? Their real reason for their doing so was so that he would consider the daughters of those in his congregation. But instead, he decides to advertise for a wife who is willing to marry by proxy.
Proxy is another interesting component of the era of mail-order brides. Some married when they arrived while others chose to marry by proxy (while apart – more of a legal document of sorts) that made them legally married before the woman traveled to where the fella lived.
That’s what I chose to happen in my story. The preacher is given an ultimatum from his congregation to marry by a certain time. In order for that to happen, he advertises for a mail-order bride with the following qualifications:
Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition
Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.
During the era, there were many such advertisements in the newspaper for a bride. My twist to the story is that the wife who arrives isn’t anything like what the minister wanted. So now he’s faced with a dilemma of what can he do to tame his new bride. It made for a fun story to write. Here’s a glimpse of the back cover:
In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery’s sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation’s ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.
Jules Walker strides into Drew’s life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle–more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she’s not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.
How about you, can you imagine marrying a complete stranger and taking a chance on a new life?
Let’s hear some comments on that. And guys, you can offer what you think about ordering a bride off Amazon. Click comments below, or the little balloon at the upper right of this blog. Thanks.
Where you can find Jodie online: Website: https://www.jodiewolfe.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jodie-Wolfe-553400191384913
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15220520.Jodie_Wolfe
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jodie-Wolfe/e/B01EAWOHXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Purchase Links for Taming Julia:
A clever premise, Jodie.
Glad you stopped by and left a comment. Thanks, Lesley.
What a terrific post. I love the character of Jules already. I wish I didn’t already have a kajillion books in my Kindle waiting to be read. Sigh…
Thanks for stopping by, Maryann. And I’m sure that Kindle will handle one more book.
And how fortunate to have this post up on Valentine’s Day. Thanks.
Thank you for allowing me to visit today!
A pleasure to have you, Jodie. And your new book sounds interesting. Of course, mail order brides always is – but, you’ve put a different spin on it, making it a better read. Congratulations.
Thanks, Jim. 🙂