Memories of a Pioneer Woman
The True Life Story of Mrs. Fannie Highsmith
Memories of a Pioneer Woman is the autobiographical life story of Mrs. Fannie Highsmith. She begins with early childhood memories before the American Civil War and continues through to her retirement at Jones Valley in Caddo Gap, Arkansas. The story was originally spoken by Fannie to her niece, Annie Smith Jones, who recorded it on typewritten paper.
Stories told by Mrs. Fannie Highsmith
Written by Annie Smith Jones
Fannie’s niece
Edited by Heidi Ann Lewis
Annie’s great granddaughter
Book design by Ariel Fogden Bibeau
Heidi’s daughter
Proceeds to benefit the maintenance of Jones Valley in Caddo Gap, Arkansas.
Mrs. Fannie Highsmith
Fannie told her story to her niece, Annie Stevens Jones of 744 Quapaw Street, Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the mid-1900's who recorded the story on typewritten paper. The manuscript came into my hands several decades later at Jones Valley, our family camp, in Caddo Gap, Arkansas. I chose to publish this book-form edition to celebrate the Jones Family’s 100th reunion at Jones Valley,
It has been my intention to keep as much as possible to the original manuscript. Therefore, except in the case of obvious misspellings and grammatical errors, the terminology, quotes and colloquialisms have been retained. Unfortunately, one page of Fannie’s story was missing and is noted just as it appears in the original manuscript.
— Heidi Ann Lewis, May 2023
Founders of Jones Valley and their spouses