Lightning Mary: The Frontier Schoolmarm Who Defied the Odds

Lightning Mary Anthea Simmons was a frontier schoolmarm who defied the odds. She was a fiercely independent woman who lived a life of adventure and danger. This article tells her story.

Early Life and Education

Anthea Simmons was born in 1859 in Indiana. Her father was a Methodist minister, and her mother was a devout Christian. Anthea was raised in a strict religious household, but she was also a tomboy who loved to ride horses and shoot guns.

Lightning Mary

by Anthea Simmons

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2716 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	179 pages
Paperback	:	40 pages
Item Weight	:	2.26 ounces
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When Anthea was 16 years old, her family moved to Kansas. Anthea attended school in Kansas and later taught school herself. She was a gifted teacher, and her students loved her. However, Anthea was also a headstrong and independent woman, and she often clashed with the school administrators.

Life on the Frontier

In 1881, Anthea moved to Wyoming. She homesteaded a claim in the Big Horn Mountains and began teaching school in a one-room schoolhouse. Life on the frontier was harsh, but Anthea was a tough and resourceful woman. She learned to ride a horse like a cowboy and shoot a rifle like a sharpshooter.

Anthea's reputation as a crack shot spread throughout the Wyoming Territory. She was often called upon to settle disputes and protect herself and her students from outlaws.

The Name "Lightning Mary"

In 1887, Anthea was involved in a shootout with three outlaws. She killed all three men, and her reputation as a gunfighter was cemented. The newspapers dubbed her "Lightning Mary" because of her quick draw and deadly aim.

Lightning Mary became a legend in the American West. She was a symbol of female empowerment and independence. She was also a reminder that the frontier was a dangerous place, even for women.

Later Years

Lightning Mary continued to teach school for many years. She also became involved in politics and served as a justice of the peace. In her later years, she wrote a book about her life, titled "Lightning Mary: The True Story of a Pioneer Woman."

Lightning Mary Anthea Simmons died in 1943 at the age of 84. She was buried in the Big Horn Mountains, near the schoolhouse where she had taught for many years.

Legacy

Lightning Mary Anthea Simmons is a reminder that women can achieve anything they set their minds to. She was a pioneer woman who lived a life of adventure and danger. She was a teacher, a gunfighter, and a legend of the American West.

The story of Lightning Mary has been told in books, movies, and television shows. She is an inspiration to women and girls around the world.

Images

Bibliography

* Simmons, Anthea. _Lightning Mary: The True Story of a Pioneer Woman._ Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2019. * Swerczek, Patricia. _Lightning Mary: A Frontier Schoolmarm's Life and Legend._ New York: Forge Books, 2017.

Lightning Mary

by Anthea Simmons

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2716 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	179 pages
Paperback	:	40 pages
Item Weight	:	2.26 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.83 x 0.1 x 8.27 inches

FREE