The Wide Northwest: Historic Narrative of America's Wonder Land as Seen by a Pioneer TeacherLeoti L. West (1851-1933) had longed for the opportunity "to be west and grow up with the country." In 1878, at the age of twenty-seven, West left her Iowa home to teach at a new school in Washington Territory. Undertaking the two-week journey alone, the young teacher arrived in a Northwest that was still very much a pioneer territory. The school that West opened was one of the first in the area and soon attracted students from all over the Northwest. By the end of West's first term, her original class of seventeen had grown to nearly one hundred students housed in a small schoolroom. In 1881 the school was officially named the Colfax Academy. West taught in Washington for more than fifty years and influenced thousands of graduates. West's reminiscences first appeared in the Spokesman-Review as a series of pioneer sketches that were later collected and published as The Wide Northwest. Her memoir of her adventures details not only an impressive teaching career but also the pioneer experience of a woman in the late nineteenth century. Brenda K. Jackson's introduction for this Bison Books edition provides insight into the experience of female educators during the era. |
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Page 29
... lived to be near his six daughters , all of whom were married and , at this time , lived not far away . After grandpa had killed a couple of chickens in honor of our coming , he took his buggy and started to round up several of his ...
... lived to be near his six daughters , all of whom were married and , at this time , lived not far away . After grandpa had killed a couple of chickens in honor of our coming , he took his buggy and started to round up several of his ...
Page 81
... lived than Horatio Smith . His memory must ever be a bene- diction to all of us who knew and loved him for his sterling character . Such men make the world better for having lived in it . In the fall of 1878 in a certin eastern Oregon ...
... lived than Horatio Smith . His memory must ever be a bene- diction to all of us who knew and loved him for his sterling character . Such men make the world better for having lived in it . In the fall of 1878 in a certin eastern Oregon ...
Page 160
... lived happily until her passing years ago . Clifford Minnick induced Blanche Blackman to be his helpmeet and Tom Quinn is sure that Theresa Lyons is the finest girl on earth . Will Coleman succeeded in Steel ( ing ) Margaret for his ...
... lived happily until her passing years ago . Clifford Minnick induced Blanche Blackman to be his helpmeet and Tom Quinn is sure that Theresa Lyons is the finest girl on earth . Will Coleman succeeded in Steel ( ing ) Margaret for his ...
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able arrived asked attended Baker beautiful become began boys building called CHAPTER child church close Colfax coming decided delightful early fact fall father feel fine friends gave girls give given grade hand heard heart honor hour human interesting invited kind land later letter lines lived looked married meet miles Miss morning mother never night opened parents passed period picture present pupils received remarked remember resides secure sent soon Spokane story success sure teachers teaching tell territory things told took town true turned Walla Walla Washington weeks West Whitman wife woman women wonderful write young