Mementos offer a window into the past. As Mary Anne went through a trunk belonging to her Grandmother Florence (Florrie), she became better acquainted with the lives of Florence and her Grandfather Andy. Their love story was tragically brief, yet impactful. They might never have crossed paths if Andy hadn’t rebelled against his father’s authority and moved for greener pastures.
Andy had left Missouri and gone out west and found work in Montana. However, a death in his large family brought him back to the family farm in 1894. After the funeral and a semi-reconciliation with his ornery father, Andy received word of ranch work in Wyoming. Shortly thereafter, Andy and his younger brother Levi were herding cattle in the mountain west. As the brothers ride from town to town on their journey, the brothers get to know each other more. Andy resembles his father in giving Levi orders, but primarily he looks after Levi. By the end of their cattle drive, Andy decides to make cattle his life while Levi decides to go into homesteading.
By the time Andy met Florence Gardner in 1910, he had built a relatively successful life as a cattle rancher in Sidney, Montana. Andy was traveling for business when he met Florrie on a cross-country train. Andy was smitten and determined to court her despite them living in different areas of the country. Andy would write to Florrie over time and would gradually win her affection. The couple would marry and start their lives together in Montana. Fate would soon cruelly intervene and take Florrie from Andy’s life.
The loss of his dearly beloved shook Andy and left him reeling. Andy threw himself into work at the expense of his newborn son, Russell. Russell lost his mother far too early and his relationship with his father was distanced from that point. Life on the farm would continue for Andy and with it the inevitable setbacks. Despite the occasional woes, resiliency kept him moving forward.
Crossing the Yellowstone is a fond remembrance of one’s forebears who lived in a rapidly evolving nation while managing to make a reasonable living based on hard labor. Andy Mercer is the focus for much of the story and Andy’s life was often wracked with tragedy, including the early deaths of two sisters and the untimely passing of Florence. The grief that follows Florence’s death is palpable and Andy’s taciturn behavior towards his only son is poignant. The tragic irony is in how Florrie’s death led to a strained relationship between Andy and Russell, which closely resembles Andy and his father’s relationship. Mary Anne Mercer’s retelling of her family’s past is both rewarding and cathartic.
Crossing the Yellowstone: The Saga of a Montana Ranch Family
