Large Print EditionThis book is presented as an evidence of appreciation and as a token of regard to the history-making women of our race. One chief object of these introductory sentences is to secure for this book the interest of our youth that they may have instructive light on the struggles endured and the obstacles overcome by our pioneer women.It has been prepared with the hope that they will read it and derive fresh strength and courage from its records to stimulate and cause them to cleave more tenaciously to the truth and to battle more heroically for the right.The characters and facts herein set forth are veritable history. In presenting this volume to the public, it is proper to remark that it has been prepared from a settled conviction that something of the kind is needed. It is our anxious desire to preserve for future reference an account of these women, their life and character and what they accomplished under the most trying and adverse circumstances. . . .