| Drove the opposite direction to Cahokia Mounds, an | | | | married. Her husband and children died in Memphis, TN |
| UNESCO site. This was the largest city, about 20,00 | | | | in 1867 from disease. She saw the poverty of the |
| inhabitants, North of Mexico. It flourished from about | | | | people in Chicago while working as a seamstress for |
| 1100 AD to 1400 AD when it died out. What remain | | | | the rich patrons on Lake Shore Drive. She devoted her |
| today are many mounds, which served as elevations | | | | life to helping the poor immigrants receive fair pay for |
| for temples, royal housing, and tombs. The largest is | | | | their wages. Since Illinois was a heavy mining area for |
| Monk's Mound, fourteen acres at its base and one | | | | coal she took up the cause of the miners rights to |
| hundred feet high. The Mississippian Indians build it and | | | | strike for better working conditions. |
| the other mounds by carrying the dirt in baskets. The | | | | She traveled the country from Pennsylvania to |
| primary occupation of the citizens was agriculture. | | | | Colorado organizing and stirring up the workers. Short |
| They also employed potters, metal workers, and other | | | | in stature, she was a firebrand when she ascended |
| artisans. The only thing they did not have is a written | | | | the podium. All eyes riveted on her when she spoke in |
| language. No one knows why the city was abandoned. | | | | her deep voice. As her emotions grew stronger her |
| On the way back home a sign fascinated us for | | | | voice deepened more. In 1905 she helped found the |
| Mother Jones' Monument. Of course we had to | | | | IWW and was instrumental in forming the Socialist |
| investigate. We followed the signs, which lead us to a | | | | Workers Party. She was on the staff of the UAW, |
| small cemetery outside of Mt. Olive, IL. At the Union | | | | quit, but came back later when she felt that the union's |
| Miner Cemetery was a monument dedicated to Mary | | | | policies had improved. She died at the age of 100 |
| Harris (Mother) Jones. Born in 1830 in Ireland, she came | | | | years in 1930 and was buried with her beloved miners |
| to the USA and was a seamstress in Chicago. She | | | | in the cemetery. |