July 29th, 2010

Thought I would include a few tips on romance from some of my favorite frontier ladies. The love lessons learned by the women of the Old West are helpful and humorous. Agnus Lake – Agnes Lake Hickok is an overlooked and unique figure in American history. She first came to fame as a slack-wire walker and horseback rider who later went on to become the first American woman to own a circus, and after the murder of her first husband, she served as the sole manager of the “Hippo-Olympiad and Mammoth Circus.” Years later she met and married Wild Bill Hickok, and after his death she worked with Buffalo Bill Cody and P. T. Barnum. Her friends bragged that she was one of the most talented and joyful people they knew. Men were naturally drawn to her. Agnus learned if you find some happiness inside yourself, you’ll start finding it in a lot of other places too. Emma Walters – Actress who married famous lawman, Bat Masterson. She gave up a lucrative career to tend to her gun slinging husband and wound up one of the most neglected wives on the frontier. Emma’s lesson, why give up your own chance at fame just to be the wife of someone famous. Taz-Ayz-Slath – One of three of Geronimo’s wives. They pair adored one another. Taz-Ayz-Slath believed that Geronimo is had magical powers. He could see into the future, walk without creating footprints and even hold off the dawn to protect his own. She counted on him for everything – especially for holding onto their ancestral land. Geronimo surrendered himself and the land to the white man in 1894. Taz-Ayz-Slath learned that a woman who intends to lean on her husband for support better be sure he stands on solid ground. Josephina Jaramillo – Married frontiersman and farmer Kit Carson. The two raised a dozen children together. The entire family, along with several hundred members from the Ute Indian tribe, accompanied Carson to Washington D.C. to plead for the Indians land to be returned to them. Josephina learned that a lot of families settled the west with no more than bedding, buckets, Bibles, high hopes, and a good man with a vision. Etta Place – Companion to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. She was often described as the most beautiful and wildest of the women in the Old West. Romantically linked to the Sundance Kid. Etta learned it’s prudent to spend less time trying to figure out who’s right and more time trying to figure out what’s right.