The Nancy Welch Story

In 1843, Nancy and James Welch along with their 3 year old son, went west from Iowa.  In the winter Nancy's 2nd son was born while they wintered in Independence, Missouri.  They started out again in the spring, following only notices posted on trees by previous travelers.  The season was rainy with the rain drenching the wagon tops, and the roads were muddy.  When they reached the Deschutes River in Oregon, they loaded everything they had onto rafts and let the Indians guide them across.  It was a cold, wet December.

When James and Nancy arrived in Oregon, they bought 300 acres of land.  They built the first wooden house and a lumber mill.  In 1849, James Welch went off after gold, leaving Nancy alone with the eventual 11 children to stave off the Indians.

Nancy's journals illustrate that child-bearing did not delay or deter travel west.  19th century men did not excuse women from daily responsibilities to prepare for children.  There was no maternity leave, few if any baby doctors and women were on their own in childbirth. 

I have shared these two women's stories because it amazed me that most settlers started out west with no maps, no plans of how to get there - and without even a compass to guide them!  By the Grace of God they arrived for the most part unharmed to build a new life in the unknown wilderness.  That would be comparable to us going to Antarctica or even Outer Space without  a compass or any idea of how to get there!  Simply amazing...

Next time...The Journey from a 13 year old's Eyes

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Today in Pioneer History:  On July 10, 1889, hotel owner, "Buckskin" Frank Leslie murders his lover, the Tombstone prostitute Blonde Mollie Williams in a drunken rage.