The Women The Women Cecilia and Parthenia Adams Twin sisters who traveled the Oregon Trail with their family in 1852. In 1857, Helen Carpenter wrote about the endless chores a woman had to perform during the trip. She wrote with revealing detail and humor. Although there is not much to cook, the difficulty and inconvenience in doing it amounts to a great deal. Then there is washing to be done and light bread to make and all kinds of odd jobs.
Some women have very little help around the camp.
Being obliged to get the wood and water, make campfires, unpack at night and pack up in the morning. 1857 Lucy Ann Henderson Deady Lucy was only eleven when she traveled the Oregon Trail in 1846, but she wrote with great detail about the agony of leaving prized possessions on the side of the trail and the fascinations of meeting groups of Indians. When we reached Portland our family consisted of my mother and nine children. Mother had no money and had nine hungry mouths to feed in addition to her won. So she would go to the shops that came and get washing to do.