Category: Women’s History in the American West
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Breaking Trail: Mamie Francis
Elba Mae Ghent was born on September 8, 1885 in Nora, Illinois. She was raised on a ranch by her mother and had a deep appreciation for them. In 1901, she attended a performance by Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show in Wisconsin. She saw her favorite athlete, Lulu Bell Parr…
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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…
