Under the terms of the will, Matilda was to obtain half of the land. In actuality, this was only a paper agreement. Women weren’t regarded in high esteem in 1870. Uncommon as it was, Matilda’s father had willed half of the farm to her and the other half to her brother. Still, trying to convince any court system to listen to the cause of a woman fighting against a man in her small town was futile. Right after her father’s death, Matilda’s brother had forced her to leave. Without her in the way, he would be able to keep all of the profits that were earned from the farm. She had hidden in the barn of her friend Agatha at night. Matilda knew that this would not be a suitable long term option. There were very few job opportunities for women. Her only chance was to disguise herself as a man and apply for work at the lumber mill.