Staking Her Claim (Nonfiction)

Homesteading on the wind blown prairies of the West was no picnic for anyone, let alone single women. In this book, Hensley masterfully weaves memoirs with letters and diaries to bring the story and history of female homesteaders alive. Through detailed research we learn of the difficult struggles—social, economic and personal—that only through hard work and determination were these women able to manage and overcome. Let’s not forget attitude. In a time long before women’s suffrage and women’s rights, these women led the way. Staking Her Claim is a treasure for any reader of history and a gift to historians.