16 - Land of the Burnt Thigh by Edith Eudora Kohl

In 1907, two young women, Ida Mary and Edith Ammons, bid their father farewell in St. Louis and embarked on a daring journey to South Dakota. Raised on tales of the Wild West, they dreamed of forging their own path on the prairie homestead near the Land of the Burnt Thigh - the Lower Brulé Indian Reservation. Despite the harsh prairie conditions and their glaring lack of preparation, they were determined to succeed. The challenges were immense, as even seasoned homesteaders struggled against the relentless summer droughts and bone-chilling winters. My ma says well starve and freeze yet, warned a young boy from a neighboring farm. Yet, with the unwavering support of a closely-knit community, the sisters persevered. They tapped into deep wells of resilience and creativity, launching into ventures they never dreamed of. Edith and Ida Mary emerged as symbols of female strength and tenacity. Edith Kohl (née Ammons) chronicles their remarkable journey in her memoir Land of the Burnt Thigh, intertwining their personal struggles with the broader historical narrative of the massive westward migration in the years leading up to World War I. (Summary by Matthew McNaughton)