Most of the men who decided to expand westward did so because they were farmers looking for new land to cultivate. With reports of lush, fertile lands to the west and the looming depression in 1837, farmers searched for a way to improve their quality of life. One farmer said his reason for leaving was because he felt “people were settling right under his nose (Schlissel, 20),” even though his neighbor was over 10 miles away. So, like most men, he packed up and got ready for the grueling journey, whether his family liked it or not.

Some women only had a few weeks notice that the family was moving to Oregon, while others had enough time to prepare a

Women did not normally take on male roles, but they kept the definition of what it meant to be a proper woman. Andrietta Hixon wrote, “While traveling, mother was particular about Louvina and me wearing sunbonnets and long mitts in order to protect our complexions, hair and hands (Schlissel, 84).” Catherine Haun also wrote, “When we started from Iowa I wore a dark woolen dress which served me almost constantly during the trip. Never without an apron and a three-cornered kerchief, similar to those worn in those days, I presented a comfortable, neat appearance (Schlissel, 168).”

Childbirth on the trail was a common event.

Feeding a family on the trail was a huge task usually taken on by the women. Women coped with the cooking dilemma by sharing tips and tricks to cooking. Faced with limited cooking facilities and ingredients available to the pioneer women, many women took pride in their cooking. Miriam Davis stated that, “I have cooked so much out in the sun and smoke that I hardly know who I am and when I look into the little looking glass I ask, can this be me? (Schlissel, 83).” The saying “a woman’s place is in the home” had taken on a new meaning while on the coa

Some topics in this essay:
Jacksonian Era, Faragher Stansell, Miriam Tuller, Catherine Haun, , Overland Trail, Miriam Davis, Andrietta Hixon, Henderson Deady, British Oregon, journey women, women women,