And So It Ends as It Began

In 1893 the pioneer era had ended in the west.  The original pioneers began to look back with memories, write memoirs, and hold reunions.  They attempted to set the frontier experience down in some perspective for future generations.  They didn't all agree on what had happened in the last 50 years, but they agreed they had made history.

Women realized how strong and successful they had been in meeting the many challenges of the frontier.  They recalled hardships and privations of the frontier with just a little more sweetness that they had lived it.  Had they known what lay in store, some admitted they would have not have set out so light-heartedly all those years ago.  But they did and whether the past had been the best of times or the worst, women knew they, themselves had given it their very best.

They came with Bibles, schoolbooks, and values.  They became teachers, missionaries, domestic laborers, mothers.  When you or I might have given up and went home, they built towns, schools, churches, families - foundations of our civilized society today.  I am proud to be an ancestor of those tough, determined, sacrificing women! 

After a short break - we will change cultures and look at the relationship between the settlers andNative Americans in the West.