Land in Her Own Name: Women as Homesteaders in North Dakota

by H. Elaine Lindgren, Elizabeth Jameson (Foreword)

Land is often known by the names of past owners. "Emma’s Land," "Gina’s quarter," and "the Ingeborg Land" are reminders of the many women who homesteaded across North Dakota in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Land in Her Own Name records these homesteaders’ experiences as revealed in interviews with surviving homesteaders and their families and friends, land records, letters, and diaries. These women’s fascinating accounts tell of locating a claim, erecting a shelter, and living on the prairie. Their ethnic backgrounds include Yankee, Scandinavian, German, and German-Russian, as well as African American, Jewish, and Lebanese. Some were barely twenty-one, while others had reached their sixties. A few lived on their land for life and "never borrowed a cent against it"; others sold or rented the land to start a small business or to provide money for education. For this paperback edition, Elizabeth Jameson’s foreword situates the homesteading experience for women within the larger context of western history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

318 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good exploration of the very real women who helped settle the plains. Though non-fiction (which I don't read easily) there are enough anecdotal stories to keep it engaging. We women are hardier stock than we're given credit for being.

[Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother gave me a copy in 1992 as it tells some of my great grandparent’s story. My great grandmother homesteaded in Western ND as a young single woman. She and 3 friends each had their homesteads and build sod homes in the adjacent corners, sharing a cow. She eventually married and raised 3 children and farmed until the 1950’s when they moved to town. I’ve visited the homestead and what is left of the “big house”, which was the second upgrade after the sod home. It is so awesome to see some of their story and photos in print!

[Britta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book, partially because the stories resonated with me since I grew up on a farm that had been homesteaded by my ancestors (and run by women for 2/5 generations!) I agree with an earlier rating which stated it has just enough anecdotal stories to make it interesting for most folks, but it is heavy on statistics. Fitting for the type of work it is, just be wary if you’re looking for swashbuckling narrative adventure.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as I was studying the US expansion to the west particularly the mid-west. I have a relative that made the list of pioneer women who homesteaded land in North Dakota which made this read personal.

[Maria G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! It is so full of information about female homesteaders. It is well researched and engaging.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book about women who homesteaded in ND. It was interesting and incredible to read about these tough women. I didn't read every word but enough to learn and enjoy and recommend it.

[Priscilla Snelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had great hopes for this book covering a topic I had interested in. While full of information it was not very readable, more an academic report than an historical account.

[Candace Simar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book to research homesteaders in the 1800s. I learned a lot.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a writing project and I learned a lot about homesteading in North Dakota around 1900, especially about the women. Hundreds of women homesteaded alone, and not because they were looking to get married. One of them was a photographer and had a dark room set up in her tarpaper shack! I think the book is a dissertation and the author is not really a polished prose writer. Some of the chapters read more like a list of statistics than anything else, but the later chapters, especially those with excerpts from the women's journals, are worthwhile to anyone interested in U.S. history.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was okay. It had more statistics than stories.

[Leann · Rating 3 out of 5]

More statistical, but still very interesting. Definitely brings home how much I DON'T get done everyday!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that explores women as homesteaders in North Dakota.