Helga Estby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helga Estby
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Helga (left) with her daughter Clara, 1897
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| Born |
Helga Avilda Ida Marie Johanssen
May 30, 1860 Oslo
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| Died | April 20, 1942 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | suffragist |
Helga Estby (born May 30, 1860, died April 20, 1942) was an amazing American woman. She is most famous for walking all the way across the United States in 1896! She was also a suffragist, which means she supported women's right to vote.
Helga Estby's Early Life
Helga Avilda Ida Marie Johanssen was born in Oslo, Norway, on May 30, 1860. Back then, Oslo was called Christiania.
In 1871, when Helga was about 11 years old, she moved from Norway to America with her mother. They arrived in Manistee, Michigan.
A few years later, in 1876, Helga married Ole Estby. He was also an immigrant from Norway. They started their life together by settling on land in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. Later, they moved to a farm in Mica Creek, Spokane County, Washington.
The Big Walk Across America
Life became very hard for the Estby family. In 1893, there was a big financial crisis called the Panic of 1893. This made it tough for many people to find work or keep their money. On top of that, Helga's husband, Ole, had some accidents. Because of these problems, the family couldn't pay the mortgage (a loan for their home) or taxes on their farm. They were in danger of losing their home.
To save their farm, Helga came up with a daring plan. She decided to walk 3,500 miles across the country to New York City! Her 17-year-old daughter, Clara, joined her.
Helga had made a special agreement with someone who promised them $10,000 if they could complete the walk in seven months. This was a huge amount of money back then!
Helga and Clara started their incredible journey from Spokane on May 5, 1896. They walked about 25 to 35 miles every single day. Along the way, kind people often offered them places to stay. They only spent nine nights sleeping outdoors without a roof over their heads.
On Christmas Eve, 1896, the New York World newspaper reported that Helga and Clara had finally arrived in New York City.
However, when they reached New York, the person who had promised the money refused to pay them. They claimed Helga and Clara had missed their deadline. This was a terrible disappointment.
Helga managed to find her way back home to her farm. Sadly, she returned to heartbreaking news: two of her children had passed away from a serious illness called diphtheria while she was gone.
Life After the Walk
After all their efforts, the Estby family still lost their home in Mica Creek. Ole Estby then started a construction business in Spokane, Washington.
Helga faced some difficulties in her community. Some people in the local Norwegian-American community were not supportive of her long journey away from home.
Despite these challenges, Helga became a suffragist. This means she actively worked to gain voting rights for women. She also tried to write down her amazing story later in her life. Sadly, her notes were destroyed. However, her story lived on through her family, who shared it by telling it, and through old newspaper clippings saved by her daughter-in-law.
Helga Estby passed away on April 20, 1942. She was buried in the Mica Creek cemetery near Spokane.
Legacy
- The Helga Estby Lodge #47 of the Daughters of Norway in Mountain Home, Idaho was named in her honor.
- The Helga Estby Bold Spirited Scholarship Award was created in her memory by the Women Helping Women Fund in Spokane, Washington.
