Martha Gay Masterson facts for kids
Martha Gay Masterson (born November 8, 1837 – died December 12, 1916) was an American pioneer. She kept a diary throughout her life. Her diary started when she was just 13 years old. This was during her family's journey west on the Oregon Trail. Her diary was published long after her death. It gives us a look at what life was like for girls and women in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1800s.
Martha's Early Life and Journey West
Martha Ann "Mattie" Gay was born in 1837. She was the sixth of 12 children. Her parents were Johan "Ann" Stewart (Evans) Gay and Martin Baker Gay, a farmer. Her father moved the family to different southern states. In 1851, they decided to move from Springfield, Missouri, to Oregon. They traveled along the famous Oregon Trail.
The journey took five months. It was a long and challenging trip. Martha kept a diary during this time. She wrote about her family's difficulties and adventures. The family eventually settled in Lane County, Oregon. Martha continued to write in her diary. She kept it up until she died.
Family Life and Later Years
In 1871, Martha married James Alfred Masterson. He was a widower. They had three children together. The family moved around quite a bit. After twenty years, Martha and James separated. Martha spent her later years with her only surviving child, her daughter Frances.
Martha Gay Masterson passed away in Eugene, Oregon, in late 1916.
Her Diary's Legacy
Martha's diary is very important. It helps us understand history. In 1990, a historian named Lois Barton published Martha's diary. It included extra notes. The book was called One Woman's West: Recollections of the Oregon Trail and Settling of the Northwest Country.
In 1995, writer Rebecca Stetoff used Martha's diary for a new book. This book was for young readers. It was called Children of the Westward Trail. It had old photographs and drawings. This book has been used in Oregon schools. Students learn about the settlement of the American West and Oregon history from it.
In 2014, a poet named Jana Harris wrote a book of poems. It was called You Haven't Asked About My Wedding or What I Wore. The poems were based on writings by American pioneer women. One poem, "The Stove," was inspired by Martha's diary. It included these lines:
- If we found graves, we'd read their inscriptions.
- If wolves had broken in
- we'd look for the ropey yellow braids
- of young girls like ourselves.
