Pioneer Women in Wisconsin facts for kids

Life was often very tough for women who settled in Wisconsin between 1850 and 1880. These brave women worked hard every day. They helped with farming, grew food in gardens, gathered wild foods, and managed their homes. Their first homes were usually small and not very comfortable. It was also common for them to get sick.

Life in Early Wisconsin Homes

The first homes for settler families were quite basic. When families arrived at their new homestead, they often built simple huts or shanties very quickly. These early shelters were not well-built. Their walls, roofs, and floors often had big cracks. This meant they were not always safe from bad weather.

Some stories tell of snow blowing inside and covering beds overnight! These first cabins were usually small, often only 12 by 12 feet (about 3.6 by 3.6 meters). The main room often had a floor made of split logs. Sometimes, there was a second room in the attic, reached by a ladder.

Hard Work on the Farm

Life on the frontier was very challenging. Clearing land and farming was extremely hard work. Women often worked alongside the men, even doing the toughest jobs. Women could also help their families earn money if they had farm animals.

Having milk or eggs helped make their meals better. Many women could sell extra eggs or butter. They could also trade these items for other things their families needed.

Growing Food in Gardens

Gardening was a very important job for frontier women. Families depended on these gardens to have enough food for the winter. The more food a family could grow, the less they had to buy. This made their winters much more comfortable.

Summer was a super busy time for women. They spent most of their daylight hours harvesting food from their gardens. Then, they would store the food for the long, cold winter ahead.

Gathering Wild Foods

Another common way to get food was to forage for it. This means finding food growing wild. Berries were plentiful in Wisconsin during the summer. Women spent a lot of time picking, drying, and canning many kinds of berries. These included strawberries, currants, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, blueberries, and gooseberries. Women would spend days or even weeks picking berries while they were ready.

Daily Chores for Pioneer Women

Pioneer women had many daily chores. They managed the whole household, cooked meals, and kept the home clean. They also raised their children and helped with farm tasks. These farm chores included feeding chickens and collecting their eggs. They also milked cows and churned butter. Besides all this, women were responsible for sewing clothes and preparing all the family's meals.