On this 51st Earth Day, let’s pay tribute to the woman that many of us in this group owe much gratitude. Today is Lottie Estelle Wiltse Heiland Steele’s 150th birthday. Her, a son (Elston), and three daughters (Lovie, Florence, Zell) arrived in Montana in July 1901. Met by her husband in Poplar, Frank, who had come the previous year, packed their things on a wagon, ferried them across the river and took the family to an unfinished shack on an unsurveyed piece of ground along the Redwater, a place most of us know pretty well. Here is her diary entry 100 years ago today, her 50th birthday. Folks throw a little shindig for her a couple days later.
Friday, April 22, 1921
I am 50 yrs. old to-day. it has been lovely all day. dady Just finished drilling 25 a. of wheat. it looks like rain this eve. I cleaned & scrubbed the house & baked bread & a cake.
