The frontier farmers in the late 1800's were a tough group of people. They were rushing to take their families to settle in the Western half of the United States. Sometimes they were so poor that they would let part of their family behind, hoping to get them later. Often that reunion never happened.

Sometimes they would rush to places that had been known to have abundant rainfall for crops, and all of a sudden there would be a drought.

There were few machines used for farming in those days, but horses and oxen supplied the power. The families were pretty much self-sufficient. They did not have stores to go to, they traded their food and crops and items they made between themselves.


The farmers tried to treat their families with home remedies and many times their loved ones died. People were afraid of being buried alive so they kept the bodies around for weeks after they died. Most all of the medicine was home made.

One man in a crowd made all the shoes. The width didn't matter and one shoe could be worn on either foot. And today we have to have a different pair for everything we do.

Travel was in wagons and took a long time. There were no quick runs anywhere. For the most part people were laid back, hard working, and overworked. But they made do, and seldom complained, and appreciated life. Maybe we have too much today.