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The Terminally Ill 63-Year-Old Woman Who Rode A Horse 7,000 Miles Across The United States
In the 1950s, a sick woman with no family traveled across the country by herself with her loyal pets
Going back to the days of indigenous tribes and European settlers, traversing the land that now makes up the United States is a difficult but long-standing journey that has continued to endure. This has been accomplished by all manner of people and methods of travel. One of the most unique examples of a cross-country voyage occurred in the 1950s when a 63-year-old woman who had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness rode 7,000 miles coast to coast on her horses with no other company except for her dog.
Mesannie Mabel Libby Wilkins was a resident of Maine, born in 1891. Considered somewhat of an eccentric loner, she spoke her mind and regularly wore pants at a time when the practice was not common with women and raised eyebrows. She also drew attention for riding a mule to her job at a shoe factory in Lewiston out of convenience and necessity. This behavior all served to have many of her neighbors eye her warily.
It seems that Wilkins at times lived a lonely life. 1954 was a particularly difficult year, as she turned 63 and was finding it hard to make ends meet. She also…
