Once the westward movement began, things started to change for women. There was a need for teachers, so some women were luckier than others and were allowed to attend universities to learn. They also helped to run missions, churches and teach Native Americans. This was an opportunity for a woman to become independent.
Even banks out West didn't hesitate to loan money to women so they could start their own business as well. The bankers felt the women were much more reliable than men and they probably were right.
There were some women who wanted to forget their past and start over. They wanted a future with fewer restrictions like they had to deal with in the East. Some of these women had nothing to lose so they dug out a way of life that was best for them.
There were plenty of wealthy women too. Men were not the only ones who earned lots of money. Mattie Silks, whose real name was really Martha Ready came from Pennsylvania and went to Springfield, Illinois to become a madam. She rented an apartment and took in twelve girls. They were actually called Upstairs Girls.
The interesting thing was Mattie never prostituted herself. She was a smart businesswoman and started several places in Dodge City, Kansas, and Denver, Colorado. By then she was one of the best-known madams out west. It was said she took care of her girls, gifting each one with a knife to keep in case they needed to protect themselves.
Legend has it that she was the wealthiest madam of the west.
Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane are well-known women who found their own way out west. I won't repeat their stories since their names and stories are known by almost everyone today. So many women have gone west to start over or find their way. From dance hall girls to savvy businesswomen helped to tame the west and their daughters and granddaughters have done even more than them in some cases.
These unsung heroes are also in my stories as well. In my series, Pistol Ridge, strong women exist in a town that was taken over by a horrible sheriff who tried to run the town in a bad way. With the help of some ex-soldiers, the women find a hero and help to get rid of the evil sheriff.
Property Owners
Western
women were encouraged to hold property in their own name, so families
could increase their family’s holdings. This led to some women running
ranches and farms by themselves, including supervising male employees.
Professionals
The
demand for professionals led to people in the West to accept women as
doctors, lawyers and business owners much sooner than people in the
Eastern United States.
The Negative Side
The
negative side of women’s lives in the West was drudgery and loneliness.
Because of the shortage of labor, women often had to do farm work in
addition to housework and caring for children.
In Business
Some banks in the West preferred offering loans to woman to start businesses, because they were more reliable than men.
Educators
Because
of the need for teachers, Western women were allowed to attend
universities; many of them went on to become school administrators and
serve on state boards of education. They were also instrumental in
helping run missions, churches and schools for Native Americans.
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Property Owners
Western
women were encouraged to hold property in their own name, so families
could increase their family’s holdings. This led to some women running
ranches and farms by themselves, including supervising male employees.
Professionals
The
demand for professionals led to people in the West to accept women as
doctors, lawyers and business owners much sooner than people in the
Eastern United States.
The Negative Side
The
negative side of women’s lives in the West was drudgery and loneliness.
Because of the shortage of labor, women often had to do farm work in
addition to housework and caring for children.
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