"History, despite it's wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." --- Maya Angelou
Texas Women
Women's Museum, an Institute for the future is located in Fair Park: www.thewomen'muem.org.
Texas Women University, a public University located in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. www.twu.ed.
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of fame, located in Fort Worth. www.cowgirl.net
Women who shaped Texas History: http://www.womenintexashistory.org/bios/
Texas Women who overcame adversity in a BIG way:
Sarah Horton Cockrell (1819 – 1892) - As a widow, she was left in debt, with small children, and a ferry business. Rather than just pine away, Sarah set up Corporations of her own, including The Dallas Bridge Company and S.H. Cockrell, a flour mill business. She is credited to the construction of the first iron bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas.
Lizzie Johnson (1840 – 1924) - Affectionately known as the "Cattle Queen of Texas," after the Civil War, Lizzie rounded up her cattle - she was the first woman who drove cattle over the Chisholm Trail. She also worked for the Women's Christian Temperance Union and a strong voice for Prison Reform. In 1871 Lizzie Johson was the most successful Cattle Dealer and Real Estate Investor in Texas.
Bessie Coleman (1892 – 1926) - Born to an illiterate slave, she is the first Black American Woman Aviator & Barnstormer. Since no American school would take her, she went to Aviator School in France to earn her Pilot's License.
Author's Note: Why are these three women are significant to me personally? As a widow, I was left in huge debt and no life insurance policy with two children and no job because he wanted me to be a stay at home mom. To support myself and make sure my children had opportunities for growth and development, I took a job as far away from home as possible (from Lake County, IL to Denmark, Maine) where I worked as a Bookkeeper at Wyonegonic Camps for five years and my children became campers, Counselors in Training & Camp Counselors, one for 8 years; the other 10 years). We lived in a rustic environment, no luxuries, learning to navigate by flashlight and the stars. I believe I got my courage from my Grandfather who left Austria and immigrated to America, working at the Coal Mines in PA; then leaving PA for IL to construct bridges over the Chicago River. Although I'm not a Real Estate Investor, I am a Realtor in Dallas, Fort Worth. Although not born a slave, I slaved my whole life to become educated and I worked hard to support myself and my children. I started working at 13 years old; then cleaned classrooms to pay for my parochial High School Tuition. When my daughter quit Public School and wanted a better education, I fought to get her enrolled in a High School/College Prep School. Because I didn't have the financial means, the only way the school would take her is if I committed to an agreement that was against my moral principals. I fought for three weeks and I won. She was enrolled, after school started, graduated, receiving $1,000 in Scholarship money for College; then went on to earn her Masters in Education; currently working on a PhD. My daughter had to go overseas to further her education and get a job. None of us were ever privileged to any type of entitlement. I wouldn't change the past for all the gold in that pot at the end of the Rainbow.
©Patricia Feager 11/28/2015
I learned that during the first 3 weeks living in Texas. 
Comments(28)