Hearts Through History Romance Writers

Mary Low Sinclair: Pioneer Extraordinaire

by | December 7, 2011 | 4 comments

Photo by LaRoche, Courtesy UW Special Collections, (UW26773)The period of the Old West fascinates me because I wonder if I would measure up to the men and women who risked everything, including their lives, for the chance at a new beginning.  I love to research the women who made the journey, generally following their men folk .  These women were determined, persistent, and courageous.

 Such a woman was Mary Low, who came to WashingtonTerritoryat the age of nine with her family as part of the first settlers of what would become Seattle, Washington.  Presumably she had no say in the matter when her father decided to leave Illinoisfor the new land.  It was a cold and damp November when the family arrived by ship expecting a settlement with four cabins ready and found none completed.  One can imagine she had to work hard, even as a youngster, to help finish those cabins by Christmas.  According to an essay by Dorthea Nordstrand,( History Link.org), that first Christmas was celebrated not only with  four fully finished cabins but a feast consisting of two wild geese, salmon, wild potatoes and a few dried applies for pies as their bountiful supper.

If the rest of her life is any indication, the trek west and an upbringing in primitive conditions formed a life long pioneer spirit in Mary.  When she was old enough, she became a teacher inKitsap Countynear the lumber camps.  In fact, at the age of twenty, she married a lumberman, Woodbury Sinclair, in 1862. Woodbury was seventeen years her senior. And when her husband decided to strike out and establish himself as one of the first residents in what would become Snohomish City in 1865, Mary followed him.  On April 30 of that year she boarded a steamer with a month-old baby in her arms to make the trip across thePuget Soundand up the Snohomish River to her husband’s claim. She would be the first white woman in the area. Their new beginning would not come without cost.  Twenty days later the baby died.

In her book, “Sketches of Early Snohomish Life” (1911) she reminisced in almost Whitmanesque terms about those early days giving some insight as to how women coped during a time of deprivation and hardship, loss and isolation:

 “There was much to do, but the pioneers were hustlers and could turn their hands to anything — no specialists in those days.  The women, young and hopeful, fearing neither danger or privation, soon began to make things look homelike.  A large fireplace assisted considerably in clearing the dooryard, in which later bloomed old-fashioned flowers — Sweet Williams, Marigolds and Hollyhocks.  There was no time to be lonesome; frogs sang cheerily in the nearby marshes; mosquitoes kept the people busy building smudges.  Wild game was plentiful.  The Indians brought venison, wild ducks, fish and clams.  Also the ranchers from Snoqualmie Prairie brought delicious hams and bacons of their own curing.”   

Mary had two more children before her husband, then 46, died suddenly in 1872 and she was left, at the age of 29, a widow with two children.  Her husband, being one of the first settlers, had left her with prime real estate in the newly established city and it is reasonable to assume she used the proceeds from rents and land sales to maintain her household.  Besides being the first white woman in the area, she also became the first teacher when she opened her home as a classroom.  You can’t help but wonder if she imbued her students with her pioneer spirit.

She died in 1922 at the age of 79, still in residence in Snohomish City in her original home on Pearl Street. During her lifetime she had seen Washington Territory move from a wilderness to a thriving state, had witnessed the area’s struggle to give women the vote (Washington Territory had given women the right to vote two times in the late 1800’s only to have it repealed both times due largely to saloon interests who feared women would vote in support of prohibition) had lived through the Civil War period, the Nez Perce war and the First World War, had witnessed the invention of the car and the airplane and most importantly, had participated in claiming a wilderness.She had definitely lived through extraordinary circumstances.

Anne Carrole writes about cowboys who have grit, integrity and little romance on their mind and the women who love them. You can check out her contemporary romance, Re-ride at the Rodeo, at The Wild Rose Press. She also is co-editor of the review website, www.lovewesternromances.com

Blog previously appeared on www.annecarrole.blogspot.com (2008). Sources: www.historylink.org ., http://www.geocities.com/elechtle/texts/Denny-Pioneer_Days.txt .  Photo by LaRoche, from UW Special Collections, (UW26773)

 

4 Comments

  1. Paisley Kirkpatrick

    What an admirable life Mary lived. To live through so many major events in the history of this country is quite a interesting. I love reading and writing about strong women who help mold the beginnings of our country.

  2. Carrie

    What an extraordinary life to lead. You had to be tough as nails! We live in a very rural area & in many ways had to be ‘pioneers’ ourselves, despite all of the modern conveniences nowadays, so I can relate to her tougher beginnings when she had nothing to start with. There is a really good book along these lines called, “These Is My Words”. I can’t remember the author’s name right off hand, but what an amazing story it is too about a woman & her travels as a pioneer girl & throughout her life. It is based on actual events – a diary her great-granddaughter, I believe – found & created an intriguing fictional-non-fiction story. I, too, enjoy reading about what silent strength pioneer women often had in the making of our country.

  3. Anne Carrole

    Paisley, thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed Mary’s story. She definitely was one of those strong women.

    Carrie–I’ve read “These Is My Words” and loved it. We’ve lost electricity in my neck of the woods several times recently and for days at a time. It REALLY makes you appreciate what these pioneers had to go through because they had it so much more difficult and dangerous. Thanks for stopping by.

  4. Jacquie Rogers

    Anne, what a terrific article! I love reading about Mary Low Sinclair. She was amazing in her energy and determination and your article really brought that to life.

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