Hearts West

True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier, First Edition

Chris Enss

Complete with actual advertisements from both women seeking husbands and males seeking brides, Hearts West includes twelve stories of courageous mail order brides and their exploits. Some were fortunate enough to marry good men and live happily ever after; still others found themselves in desperate situations that robbed them of their youth and sometimes their lives.

Desperate to strike it rich during the Gold Rush, men sacrificed many creature comforts. Only after they arrived did some of them realize how much they missed female companionship.

One way for men living on the frontier to meet women was through subscriptions to heart-and-hand clubs. The men received newspapers with information, and sometimes photographs, about women, with whom they corresponded. Eventually, a man might convince a woman to join him in the West, and in matrimony. Social status, political connections, money, companionship, or security were often considered more than love in these arrangements.

Globe Pequot / TwoDot

Pages: 128 •

978-0-7627-5164-8 • eBook • June 2005 • $11.99 • (£8.95)

Subjects: History / United States / 19th Century, History / General

Hearts West

True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier, First Edition

eBook

Summary

Complete with actual advertisements from both women seeking husbands and males seeking brides, Hearts West includes twelve stories of courageous mail order brides and their exploits. Some were fortunate enough to marry good men and live happily ever after; still others found themselves in desperate situations that robbed them of their youth and sometimes their lives.

Desperate to strike it rich during the Gold Rush, men sacrificed many creature comforts. Only after they arrived did some of them realize how much they missed female companionship.

One way for men living on the frontier to meet women was through subscriptions to heart-and-hand clubs. The men received newspapers with information, and sometimes photographs, about women, with whom they corresponded. Eventually, a man might convince a woman to join him in the West, and in matrimony. Social status, political connections, money, companionship, or security were often considered more than love in these arrangements.

Details

Globe Pequot / TwoDot

Pages: 128 •

978-0-7627-5164-8 • eBook • June 2005 • $11.99 • (£8.95)

Subjects: History / United States / 19th Century, History / General

Author

Chris Enss is a standup comic and comedy writer with an extensive background in radio and television. Her hobbies include historical research and writing about women of the Old West.

Table of Contents

(1) Introduction (2) Mary Richardson & Elkanah Walker (3) Eleanor Berry & Louis Dreielbis (4) Asa Mercer (5) Matrimonial News (6) Phoebe Harrington & William Silbaugh (7) The Forlorn Bride (8) Bethenia Owens-Adair & Legrand Hill (9) The Benton Brides (10) A Happy Ride (11) Rachel Bella Kahn & Abraham Calof (12) Elinore Pruitt & Clyde Stewart (13) Trouble on a Bridal Tour (14) The Red Stocking Snoozers (15) Eliza Farnham (16) Bridal Couples (17) Kathleen Forrestall (18) The New Plan (19) Afterword (20) Bibliography

Hearts West

True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier, First Edition

Chris Enss

Hearts West

True Stories of Mail-Order Brides on the Frontier, First Edition

ALSO AVAILABLE