 or many women, the West was a land of unusual opportunities. Laws governing property ownership, divorce, and voting rights were more liberal here than in the East. By 1910, women were filing ten percent of all homestead claims. Englishwoman Sarah Walker established her homestead north of Lyons in 1914, after separating from her husband. There, she tended chickens, a milk cow, and a garden. She embodied the successful homesteader, with a strong will, the ability to work hard, and resourcefulness under challenging conditions. Once, in exchange for lumber, she worked in a sawmill-a very unusual occupation for a woman at the turn of the century. For more than 15 years, Sarah Walker walked or hitched a ride for the long trip down the canyon to Lyons to sell eggs and cream and buy supplies. |
