Category: Western History
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Breaking Trail: Bea Kirnan
Beatrice “Bea” Brosseau was born in Turton, South Dakota on October 9, 1892. She was the daughter of Virginia and David Brosseau. Bea was a great relay racer, Roman rider, and bronc rider. She began competing when she was 16 years old. She married Thomas “Tommy” Francis Kirnan on November…
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Breaking Trail: Goldie St. Clair
Irene “Goldie” Wooden was born in Kanas in 1890/91 to Stephen and Katie Wooden. The Woodens lived in Kansas during Goldie’s early childhood, but they eventually packed their belongings and moved to Oklahoma. By 1900, the Wooden family was living in McElroy, Oklahoma. Goldie loved riding and often chose some…
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Breaking Trail: Tillie Baldwin
Anna Matilda Winger was born in 1888 in Avendale, Norway. She emigrated to the United States in 1902 and lived with her aunt in New York. She was 14 years old at the time and would go on to become a very talented rodeo cowgirl despite never riding a horse before…
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Breaking Trail: Ikua Purdy
Ikua Purdy was born on December 24, 1872, at Waimea, Hawaii. He was a descendent of John Palmer Parker and Kipikane (granddaughter of King Kameameha The Great). Purdy grew up on the Parker Ranch learning to rope and ride. Many considered him a “master of the rope” by age 20.…
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