Within my personal library, “Pioneer Women: The Lives of Women on the Frontier” by Linda Peavy and Ursula Smith is quite a gem. It reveals the untold stories of women who faced and overcame incredible challenges in the early days of the American frontier. It was such a valuable resource when writing my novel, “A Profitable Wife“.

The book dives deep into personal accounts, letters, and diaries, painting a vivid picture their lives as they carve out a home in the wilderness.

An essential aspect that “Pioneer Women” highlights is the unyielding spirit of countless women who, with their children in tow, journeyed across untamed landscapes in ox-drawn wagons to reunite with their husbands who had gone ahead. These women were not mere passengers of their husbands’ pioneering dreams but active participants, fully sharing in the aspirations and trials that came with conquering the frontier. Peavy and Smith paint an intimate portrait of these resilient women, often left to their own devices amidst this unforgiving environment. With every account, we are invited to witness their unwavering strength, as they built homes from inadequate resources, and improved living conditions by starting schools, churches and social organizations similar to what they had left behind. These women constantly adapted and reinvented their lives with each new dawn, epitomizing the indomitable spirit of the American frontier.