Pikes Peak or Bust: Colorado’s Women ‘59ers

In the early years of the Pikes Peak gold rush, men outnumbered women twenty to one, yet the gentler sex played an important role in every aspect of mining life.

Come join author J.v.L. Bell as she discusses the adventures of well-known frontierswomen like Elizabeth Byers, Augusta Tabor, and Addie LaMont. Life for these early women settlers was difficult, filled with long days of washing clothes, cooking, and running boarding houses, but several women established more unusual roles.

Elsa Jane Forest took on the guise of a man; Charlotte Card dressed like a man and mined her own claim; and Clara Brown became one of Colorado’s first African American settlers. From papering their walls to wash-tub panning, these women lived amazing lives and have stories that will make you laugh and bring tears to your eyes.

Author J.v.L. Bell is a Colorado native who grew up climbing fourteeners, exploring old ghost towns, and enjoying stories from Colorado’s vibrant past. Her first novel, The Lucky Hat Mine, was published in October, 2016 by The Hansen Publishing Group.

Her second novel, Denver City Justice, was published August 1, 2019 by The Hansen Publishing Group and her first non-fiction book, Elizabeth Byers: Denver Pioneer, was published on August 1, 2019 by Filter Press. J.v.L. Bell loves researching Colorado history and intertwining colorful historical characters and stories into her novels. She can be contacted at Julie@JvlBell.com.