One Gutsy Lady - History Blog
This is the beginning of several history blogs about women who traveled west during the mid-1800s. These are real women and much of what I’m including are words from their diaries. I find their lives to be absolutely fascinating! Not only fascinating but also powerful in their ability to change our perspective if we allow it.
The first woman I want to introduce you to is Catherine Haun.* She and her new husband, a lawyer, decided to head west in 1849 to the goldfields of California. They hoped to strike it rich so they could return to their home in Iowa and pay off their debts.
In Catherine’s words:
“It was more than 3 months before we were thoroughly equipped and on April 24th, 1849 we left our comparatively comfortable homes - and the uncomfortable creditors - for the uncertain and dangerous trip, beyond which loomed up, in our mind’s eye, castles of shining gold.”
They initially traveled with a party of 6 men and 2 women (Catherine and a hired cook). Only one day into their journey, the cook abandoned them and returned home.
"Our 1st impulse was that we should have to return, but after a day's delay during which our disappointment knew no bounds, I surprised all by proposing to do the cooking, if everybody else would help. My self-reliance and the encouragement of our fellow travelers won the day and our party kept on. Having been reared in a slave state my culinary education had been neglected and I had yet to make my 1st cup of coffee. My offer was, however, accepted, and as quantity rather than quality was the chief requisite to satisfy our good appetites, I got along very well, even though I never became an expert at turning pancakes by tossing them into the air, a peculiarly scientific feat universally acquired by the pioneer miners of '49."
What fortitude and downright gutsiness she exhibited. This was not a woman used to the rigors of pioneer life or even farm life, for that matter. She was from a well-to-do family and was apparently used to a life of ease. Yet she stepped up to the plate and offered what was needed. I am amazed that such a young woman would be willing to cook for 6 men for the many months that it would take for them to reach California.
When they arrived in Council Bluffs, Iowa, they met up with the much larger wagon train that they were to join. For the common good, every party was sized up. If they didn't have enough food, other provisions, guns, and ammunition they were rejected. Luxuries such as rocking chairs, mirrors and other fancy furniture were frowned on. They were also rejected if the health of anyone was in question or if there were too many women or children in the party.
The first river crossing was the Missouri River. It took this particular wagon train a full week to get the entire train across. (Today you can drive from New York City to Sacramento California and back again in half a week if you drive continuously with no breaks.) The wheels had to be taken off each of the wagons before they were loaded onto rafts and floated to the opposite bank. They had to reassemble the wagons once they got across, but because each crossing took them far downstream, they had to make their way on land back upstream to the rendezvous point.
Six months later they reached California after almost two thousand miles of hardship, hunger, and fear. Terrible weather, rough terrain, constant threats from Indians, sickness, even a buffalo stampede. Catherine wore a wool dress for most of the trip. Six months of trekking along a trail through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California in every kind of weather.
Their most difficult time was when they traveled through the Great Basin desert in Nevada. Catherine wrote:
“Our wagons were badly worn, the animals much the worse for wear, food, and stock feed was getting low with no chance of replenishing the supply. During the month of transit we, like other trains, experienced the greatest privations of the whole trip. It was no unusual sight to see graves, carcasses of animals and abandoned wagons.”
“The alkali dust of this territory was suffocating, irritating our throats, and clouds of it often blinded us. The mirages tantalized us, the water was unfit to drink or to use in any way. Animals often perished or were so overcome by heat and exhaustion that they had to be abandoned...”
They arrived in Sacramento on November 4, 1849. It took no time at all for their plans to completely change. They had set out to find gold then return to Iowa. They forgot the gold and happily started a new life in a new home. According to Catherine:
“Although very tired of tent life many of us spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in our canvas houses. I do not remember ever having had happier holiday times. For Christmas dinner, we had a grizzly bear steak for which we paid $2.50, one cabbage for $1.00, and - oh horrors - some more dried apples! And for a Christmas present, the Sacramento River rose very high and flooded the whole town! …It was past the middle of January before we reached Marysville - there were only a half dozen houses; all occupied at exorbitant prices. Someone was calling for the services of a lawyer to draw up a will and my husband offered to do it, for which he charged $150 (the equivalent today of $5000). This seemed a happy omen for success and he hung out his shingle, abandoning all thought of going to the mines.”
Catherine said that as a whole she enjoyed the trip in spite of the hardships and dangers. She told of many instances of courage in the face of horrendous circumstances. One story was of a young father that was bitten by a poisonous snake. He survived but not after his leg was amputated. With a common handsaw, I must add. She told of how quickly he returned to as much of a useful life as he could, making himself invaluable to the rest of the train with his mechanical and leatherworking skills. Catherine said, “He was one of the most cheery members of the company,” and put the rest of them to shame.
What courage and determination! When immersed in difficult times, it takes intentional effort to live each day with a positive attitude. It’s not easy I realize, but it’s possible. And I want to learn from these examples from our history.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. “ (Joshua 1:9)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
*The portions of Catherine’s diary that I quoted from are from the book, Women’s Diaries of the Westward Journey, by Lillian Schlissel, published by Schocken Books, New York
