The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-19
PIONEER WOMEN.


We have all listened and many of US
Joined in laudations of the sturdy piO-
neer men who, when the very name of
Oregon had a far-off sound, synonymous
with wildness and desolatiop, braved /
the dangers and endured the hardships
of the frontier, and resolutely turning
their faces toward the setting sun, de-
termined to make them a home in its
light. But how infrequently do we hear
syllable breathed that would lead US
to suppose that these men were accom-
panied in the wild Businesses of Oregon
by women who shared with them every
hardship, privatiOn, and toll, and in adj
dition thereto bore the cares and suffer-
ings which accompany motherhood? a.?
Occasionally some man, seeing the in
Justice of this one-sided laudation, will
call attention to it, and all who hear his
words will agree with them, and there
the subject drops, and 'our brave pio-
neer men" are lauded as before. A
pleasing instance of such occasional re-
minder occurred not long since in East
Portland, when Hon. a. ]. Dufur was
the recipient of many well-merited COM
pliments by company who had gath
cred to do him honor for the work he
did for our State at the Centennial.
Reference was properly made to the
early days when he, poor in purse but
strong in hope and purpose, labored to
secure a home and competence, the re-
marks being prelude to the presenta-
tiOn of an elegant silver pitcher. The
woman who had worked side by side
with him through all the years referred
to, sat quietly by, unmentioned, enjoy
ing, as loyal wives are wont to do, the
well-deserved eulogy pronounced upon
| her husband. At the conclusion of the
remarks, made, we believe, by Hon. NJ.
/ c. George, Mr.. Jos. Buchtel stepped for
ward and begged leave to add some
thing thereto. Sanctioning all that had
been said about Mr.. Dufur, he turned to
where the gentle, kind-faced lady sal
and asked, "Where was this lady while
these scenes were being enacted anC
this labor that had resulted in honol
and competence performed? Was she
sitting idly by, or enjoying life of east
and freedom from labor and care? ? No
She was bravely bearing her part, anc
was entitled to her share of the honorI
of the present occasion" And taking
the silver pitcher from the gentleman
hands, represented it, this time to Mrs
Dufur. The gallantry with which he
husband accepted the amendment
showed that he was ready to accor'
equal commendation to the wife wht
had so faithfully shared his lot.
That this oversight, this according al
the credit of joint labors of men an,
women to men alone, is from habit fos
tered by thoughtlessness, we believe
and a few instances like the one abov
: recorded may tend to make men an
= women think and accord honor wher
! honor is due, alike to sturdy pionee
: men and toiling pioneer women.
The editor of the Exponent, woman
= paper published at Salt Lake City
e touches the subject of pioneer life i
S Utah, and the part women have born
in it, in this way:
The story can never be told in words, of tn
: courage and heroism under the most painfI
circumstances, of these pioneer women. On
gentleman from New York City, in conversi
{ tion with us, remarked, that the AIormo
women must have tale 10 tell of pioneer lii
equal in importance TO that Of the men. "
: replied that in point of pathos and intensit
e Of suffering there could be little compariso
s between the two. And here we beg leave
: say that when women undergo the same ex
gencies as men, it should be remembered tina
i aside from the difference in physical strengt
: there are also added the pains and anxieti
o incidental to maternity and motherhoo
4 When we think of the babes born in tents al
wagons, some even with scarcely shelter
n all, under the most painfully aggravated ci
u cumstances, we are Mortified with even Il
r recollection. Some of those little babes, Il
fraiI for endurance, were buried upon the opC
plains, and afterwards torn up by the wOlv
u and their bones scattered upon the groun
This is but glance at the fearful picture.
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