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Here is a picture of my great grandmother and great grandfather. Such a handsome couple. They are buried in the Caldwell Cemetery. Don't you think they could have been Fanny's Ma and Pa?

A character of interest in Fanny and Matt's story is the historical architectural beauty of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Matt’s gift to Fanny after her graduation from Medical School was a much needed respite to this picturesque location. He had two ideas. Firstly, he had a pile of gambling winnings burning a hole in his pocket, and next he hoped during this special time together he might invite Fanny once again to marry him. The Grand Hotel, less than ten ye

In Fanny's estimation, a bicycle performed better than a horse as it was completely under the control of the operator and did not have a mind of its own. Also, it did not require feed or stable. Fanny once again was thankful to Matt for her miraculous new transportation and the freedom and independence it brought to her life. Here are bicycles much like the one Fanny rode, though I suspect Matt and Fanny would be smiling.

As Fanny goes to school for eight years, her cowboy, Matt is pursuing his own adventuresome interests, one of which is to join up with Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders” in the Spanish-American War of 1898. Matt had already spent time as a drover escorting cattle from Texas along the Chisholm Trail and starred as a “Rough Rider” in the Buffalo Bill Show. It was not a giant leap for him to go to war as one of Teddy’s cowboy recruits. In fact he met up with Teddy previously at th

Introduction I traveled to many places while researching Fanny's Implausible Journey, starting at the Caldwell, Kansas cemetery where my great-grandparents and great aunts are buried. I have been to the quiet and well-tended cemetery many times and enjoy leaving flowers on my Aunt Margie's grave. I attended the lively Annual Chisholm Trail Festival twice. The campground, dancing girls, and gun fight are not to be missed. And don't forget the Last Chance Saloon. Membe