Almost Pioneers: One Couple's Homesteading Adventure In The West

by John Fry, John J. Fry (Editor)

In the fall of 1913, Laura and Earle Smith, a young Iowa couple, made the gutsy—some might say foolhardy—decision to homestead in Wyoming. There, they built their first house, a claim shanty half dug out of the ground, hauled every drop of their water from a spring over a half-mile away, and fought off rattlesnakes and boredom on a daily basis. 
Soon, other families moved to nearby homesteads, and the Smiths built a house closer to those neighbors. The growing community built its first public schoolhouse and celebrated the Fourth of July together—although the festivities were cut short because of snow.
By 1917, however, the Smiths had moved back to Iowa, leasing their land to a local rancher and using the proceeds to fund Earle’s study of law.  The Smiths lived in Iowa for most of the rest of their lives, and sometime after the mid-1930s, Laura wrote this clear, vivid, witty, and self-deprecating memoir of their time in Wyoming, a book that captures the pioneer spirit of the era and of the building of community against daunting odds.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Memoir

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads Database. This profile contains books by more than one author with this name.

Reviews

[Christo Flamingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having family that also homesteaded out of Iowa it offered a brief glimpse into the difficulties they might have experienced at a similar time and place. The personal writing of Laura Smith is an enduring testimony to the importance of community and the intrepid pragmatism shared by so many of those that pushed westward in search of prosperity. The book is a relatively quick to digest and as entertaining as it is was to read, the detailed citations and careful research by Fry was every bit as interesting, and quite instructive to anyone researching families in Wyoming.

[Tina Chooses Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about what it was like to settle in Wyoming in the early 1900's: the many chores, the costs, the neighbors, both good and bad and dealing with the weather.

[Zella Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iowans move to rural Wyoming in the 1910s to homestead. Shenanigans ensue. The material is interesting (and is aided by the editor's thorough contextual notes), but what really makes this jaunty memoir so delightful is the author's honesty and her sense of humor. She's pretty upfront about embarrassing mishaps and screwups and bizarre adventures, but I loved the number of instances that ended with her and her husband, upon further reflection, laughing their asses off about whatever it was that had happened.

[Aleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much but I always enjoy reading about People carving a home out of nothingness. My only disappointment was that they didn't stay, not to say their experience was a failure. Nonetheless it was a great story.

[Stephanie Loux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t remember how I stumbled upon this book but I am interested in how people homesteaded and came out west. Every time we drive through the mountains, it boggles my mind how people came out with wagons, animals, and families.

This book is about a young Iowa couple who took advantage of The Homestead Act and moved to Wyoming in the fall of 1913. The Three-Year Homestead Act meant that you could get 160 acres of land but you had to reside on the homestead for 7 months each of the three years, a house had to be built, and and least 40 acres had to be plowed and planted. It resonated extra with me because the author is from my home county back in Iowa so it’s always fun to read about your hometown in a book. The courage and spirit of adventure for these “almost pioneers” is amazing to me. I kept flagging pages and telling my husband about it. And the amount of work those young kids had to and were able to do baffles me and makes me laugh at the chores my kids whine about now. The author is the woman’s experience of this story and the editor at the end had some worthwhile discussions on homesteading, community, and that “the opportunity that is granted to one group sometimes comes as rhe expense of another.” I think I will be passing this along to my dad and my FIL. It did seem a little dry and more like a book required for class but I ended up really enjoying it.

[Cabracrazy18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful account of a young couple and their struggles homesteading in rural Wyoming. It is told mainly from a young wife and mother's point of view with just a short introduction by the man of the house. The editor has done a marvelous job researching the story and the history involved and enriches the story with interesting footnotes.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at homesteading in Wyoming. Laura and Earl move to a claim and do the basics to earn the land, with their future in mind. This account is an informative and entertaining look at the early years of the west.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t even imagine doing what these early settlers had to do in moving to a place as rough and barren as Wyoming was at the time. It’s a beautiful state but Wyoming doesn’t mess around. Because some things haven’t changed since 1915, I could relate to her feelings about certain things...except the “build your own house” part. These settlers had amazing courage!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and interesting. Well worth my time to read - I enjoyed it.

[Maureen H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thought provoking book would be excellent for a discussion group. Did the Smith's homestead or just take advantage of an opportunity?

[Emily Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, humorous real life view of pioneer life in the Wyoming plains!

[Shannon Keslar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read. Not bad reading how pioneers homesteaded

[Janette Mcmahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at an Iowan's journey to homestead in Wyoming, 1910's. This short book has.many footnotes and a long afterward to give the reader complete information. Recommend to western history buffs.