What do you think?
Rate this book
Roses of the West
Roses of the West brings to life the most colorful era in American history and shares the lives of the strong women who played an important role in settling the West. From the courage of Montana's cattle queen and the dedication of Wyoming's first lady governor, to the struggle of a young California girl to become a 19th century doctor, this book tells the feminine side of early America.
The wide-open spaces of the West inspired people to do great things, and the women in this book were not exceptions. They were the real life heroines who prepared the way for others to follow...
The wide-open spaces of the West inspired people to do great things, and the women in this book were not exceptions. They were the real life heroines who prepared the way for others to follow...
- GenresNonfiction
176 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
32 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 30, 2025
Fantastic book of short biographies of women who survived, thrived and changed the Wild West! Absolutely loved reading this book.
August 3, 2019
Roses of the West by Anne Seagraves includes mini-biographies of eight fascinating women of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Among this group of accomplished women are a cattle queen, an opera singer, a governor, a women’s rights advocate, a doctor, and a dance hall entertainer.
The writing is constantly engaging. Anne Seagraves is a consummate biographer of historic figures. Her research is extensive as shown by the bibliography at the back, and she grasps a feel for the various historic eras in which her subjects lived.
One of my favorite stories is about Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first woman governor of the United States. Nellie was born in 1876 near St. Joseph Missouri. She was the youngest child of John Tayloe, a well-to-do merchant by profession and gentleman farmer by avocation. Nellie’s mother, Elizabeth, was a homemaker.
After Nellie graduated from high school, she enrolled in a two-year course to become a teacher, and then taught kindergarten. At age 25, she had many male admirers, but none of them interested Nellie. On a school break, she visited Paris, Tennessee, where she met William Bradford Ross. He was one of the state’s most promising young attorneys, a sought-after orator and born politician. Besides that, he was very good-looking.
In 1902, Nellie and William married and then moved to Cheyenne, the capital of Wyoming. Western life agreed with them, and they started a family. Nellie gave birth to twin boys who were frail and sickly, and tired Nellie out caring for them.
While Nellie cared for the twins, William worked to make a name for himself within the Democratic Party. In 1904 he was elected as court attorney for the state. The following year, Alfred, their third son arrived, but he lived only to the age of ten months. Though Nellie and William were devastated by their loss, they threw themselves into their responsibilities, William as an attorney and Nellie as the mother of active twin boys.
In their family life, books played an important role as the means of entertainment. All of the Rosses found joy in books. Reading aloud to one another brought shared companionship.
As the boys grew older, Nellie joined a woman’s club and learned to be a public speaker, a skill that would serve her well in future years. Nellie was very interested in her husband’s law practice and party politics.
In 1912, Nellie gave birth to another son, Bradford. By now, Nellie had household help and could enjoy the new baby and an active social life. Ten years later, the Ross’s lives changed when William was nominated for governor of Wyoming. At first, Nellie was not enthused about the prospect of William leaving his lucrative law practice, but she decided to throw her enthusiasm behind his candidacy. Three months later, William was elected.
The Rosses moved into the governor’s mansion and Nellie took on the duties of the First Lady of Wyoming, warmly welcoming everyone who came to her home. Nellie became familiar with the problems of her husband’s administration and the people who worked for him. William soon established a good reputation as governor throughout the state.
After two years in office, William became seriously ill with appendicitis. He underwent surgery. About a week later, he passed away. Nellie was devastated.
Almost immediately, Nellie was asked to allow her name to be presented to the voters of Wyoming as a candidate to fill her husband’s unfinished term. After consulting her family, she accepted the nomination. Publicity over a woman candidate rippled through the state and all forms of stories were circulated.
Nellie ran on her husband’s platform. On election day, she went to the polls with her two older sons. Each cast his first vote for his mother.
Later, she retired to the Governor’s mansion to await the results. Phone calls came in. Finally, she was declared the winner in a landslide victory. On inauguration day, January 5, 1925, the senate chamber overflowed with people. As she took up her responsibilities, she did so as a woman Democrat in the heart of a masculine Republican stronghold.
Nellie met each challenge of her office with sound judgment and did not play politics. Two years later, when she ran for re-election, the women suffragettes did not support her. They thought she should have replaced her husband’s male appointments with women. And the antifeminists disparaged her for being a woman. Her defeat was inevitable for she could not serve both groups. Even so, she lost by only a small margin.
Afterward, Nellie remained active in politics. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as director of the United States Mint, the first woman to serve in that office. She remained in that position until 1953 when she retired at the age of 77.
Nellie remained active in politics after retirement. She traveled the country giving speeches, and maintained a residence in Washington, D.C. and another in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1977 she passed away at the age of 101 in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Cheyenne.
Many more stories as fascinating as Nellie Ross’s are included in this book and are well worth reading.
The writing is constantly engaging. Anne Seagraves is a consummate biographer of historic figures. Her research is extensive as shown by the bibliography at the back, and she grasps a feel for the various historic eras in which her subjects lived.
One of my favorite stories is about Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first woman governor of the United States. Nellie was born in 1876 near St. Joseph Missouri. She was the youngest child of John Tayloe, a well-to-do merchant by profession and gentleman farmer by avocation. Nellie’s mother, Elizabeth, was a homemaker.
After Nellie graduated from high school, she enrolled in a two-year course to become a teacher, and then taught kindergarten. At age 25, she had many male admirers, but none of them interested Nellie. On a school break, she visited Paris, Tennessee, where she met William Bradford Ross. He was one of the state’s most promising young attorneys, a sought-after orator and born politician. Besides that, he was very good-looking.
In 1902, Nellie and William married and then moved to Cheyenne, the capital of Wyoming. Western life agreed with them, and they started a family. Nellie gave birth to twin boys who were frail and sickly, and tired Nellie out caring for them.
While Nellie cared for the twins, William worked to make a name for himself within the Democratic Party. In 1904 he was elected as court attorney for the state. The following year, Alfred, their third son arrived, but he lived only to the age of ten months. Though Nellie and William were devastated by their loss, they threw themselves into their responsibilities, William as an attorney and Nellie as the mother of active twin boys.
In their family life, books played an important role as the means of entertainment. All of the Rosses found joy in books. Reading aloud to one another brought shared companionship.
As the boys grew older, Nellie joined a woman’s club and learned to be a public speaker, a skill that would serve her well in future years. Nellie was very interested in her husband’s law practice and party politics.
In 1912, Nellie gave birth to another son, Bradford. By now, Nellie had household help and could enjoy the new baby and an active social life. Ten years later, the Ross’s lives changed when William was nominated for governor of Wyoming. At first, Nellie was not enthused about the prospect of William leaving his lucrative law practice, but she decided to throw her enthusiasm behind his candidacy. Three months later, William was elected.
The Rosses moved into the governor’s mansion and Nellie took on the duties of the First Lady of Wyoming, warmly welcoming everyone who came to her home. Nellie became familiar with the problems of her husband’s administration and the people who worked for him. William soon established a good reputation as governor throughout the state.
After two years in office, William became seriously ill with appendicitis. He underwent surgery. About a week later, he passed away. Nellie was devastated.
Almost immediately, Nellie was asked to allow her name to be presented to the voters of Wyoming as a candidate to fill her husband’s unfinished term. After consulting her family, she accepted the nomination. Publicity over a woman candidate rippled through the state and all forms of stories were circulated.
Nellie ran on her husband’s platform. On election day, she went to the polls with her two older sons. Each cast his first vote for his mother.
Later, she retired to the Governor’s mansion to await the results. Phone calls came in. Finally, she was declared the winner in a landslide victory. On inauguration day, January 5, 1925, the senate chamber overflowed with people. As she took up her responsibilities, she did so as a woman Democrat in the heart of a masculine Republican stronghold.
Nellie met each challenge of her office with sound judgment and did not play politics. Two years later, when she ran for re-election, the women suffragettes did not support her. They thought she should have replaced her husband’s male appointments with women. And the antifeminists disparaged her for being a woman. Her defeat was inevitable for she could not serve both groups. Even so, she lost by only a small margin.
Afterward, Nellie remained active in politics. In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed her as director of the United States Mint, the first woman to serve in that office. She remained in that position until 1953 when she retired at the age of 77.
Nellie remained active in politics after retirement. She traveled the country giving speeches, and maintained a residence in Washington, D.C. and another in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1977 she passed away at the age of 101 in Washington, D.C. and was buried in Cheyenne.
Many more stories as fascinating as Nellie Ross’s are included in this book and are well worth reading.
August 27, 2010
The third book written by Ms. Seagraves that I have bought and read. I enjoyed this book greatly as it details the lives of some 'great ladies' of the Old West like Elizabeth Smith Collins the 'Cattle Queen' of the Old West among others. It's a fascinating read about women who dared to step outside of the usual restraints of being a woman during this time and compete toe to to with men.
A great read.
Reviewer's Note: This is another book I purchased on a visit to Estes Park, Colorado.
A great read.
Reviewer's Note: This is another book I purchased on a visit to Estes Park, Colorado.
October 15, 2009
The stories of eight influential, courageous women of the old West.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews