In 1850, Mary Bell was burned alive under accusations of witchcraft. As a witch, that didn’t really do much. However, it did let her know that she had overstayed her welcome. And so Mary Bell packed her things, gathered all seven of her children, hitched an ox to their covered wagon and started the long journey west to Oregon. At this point, Mary Bell (or “Grams to her grandchildren) was pretty old. The hard road and hot sun did not suit her. Eventually, she couldn’t get out of bed without crying out in pain. But being the crotchety woman she was, Mary’s main concern was the poor excuse for food she was being served. Her kids took shifts serving her because no one could stand the sheer emotional trauma of serving her two meals in a row. It
