Girl from the Gulches: The Story of Mary Ronan

by Ellen Baumler

A covered wagon on a dim road, the promise of a long journey, and the wonder of what lay ahead filled the shadowy spaces of Mary Sheehan Ronan's earliest memories. By the time she was a married woman in her twenties, she was a well-seasoned pioneer, having crossed most of the country and retraced her steps back across a third of it. In this highly readable, entertaining account, Ronan tells the story of one woman's life in the West during the second half of the nineteenth century.

This detailed memoir recalls the young girl's journey across the Great Plains, her childhood on the Colorado and Montana mining frontiers, her ascent to young womanhood on a farm in southern California, her experiences as a student in a Los Angeles convent school, her return to Montana as a bride, and her life on the Flathead Indian Reservation as wife of the Indian agent. The exhilaration of a forbidden sled ride, the creaking of the hangman's rope, her father giving the last of their water to his dying mule--these things Ronan describes with vivid clarity. Ably edited and annotated, Girl from the Gulches offers a unique perspective that is a joy to read.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

264 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Ellen Baumler is an award-winning author and the Montana Historical Society's interpretive historian. A master at linking history with modern-day supernatural events, Ellen's true stories have delighted audiences across the state. She lives in Helena in a century-old house with her husband, Mark, and its resident spirits.

Reviews

[Karen GoatKeeper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Ronan nee Sheehan grew up in mining towns in the West, San Juan Capistrano near Los Angeles when it was a Spanish town, married and lived for decades as the wife of the Indian agent for the Flathead Reservation in Montana. This is her memoir first written by her daughter about what she remembered about these times, the people she knew, the places she lived and the big events of these areas.
The book reflects the beliefs and customs of the 1850s to 1900. Many of these have changed since, but their influence is still felt today. The scattered illustrations and many notes about people and events are interesting.
This is not the typical Western book. The events may be exciting, but the people are the ordinary people trying to make a living.
Although government pressure was to eradicate Indian customs and language, Mary was well acquainted with the Flatheads and other tribes on the Reservation and gives many observations about them and their customs. She and her eight children learned to speak their languages and had names given them by the tribes. Her husband, Peter Ronan, was a valued and respected Indian agent trying to improve conditions for those tribes he was responsible for.
The book is easy reading. I found it easier to read only a chapter or two at a time as there is so much information in each one. The one flaw is how little detail is often included about many events.

[Jrobert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book when visiting glacier park lodge, two medicine MT last week. This book is wonderfully written by the subjects daughter as a thesis. It was found buried in some files at U of MT and published with her great granddaughters aid. It was the basis for another historical fiction Ive recently read, “beneath the bended skies” by Jane Kirkpatrick, about Mary Ronans life. This book was so interesting to me as I love the area around Flathead Lake, MT and the history of this region. It is written in such a way it’s almost like having a conversation with Mrs Mary Ronan herself. Needless to say, a great read, pal.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed look into the life of Mary Ronan, a told to her daughter Margaret Ronan. Edited by Montana Historian Ellen Baumler.

Book gives us a first-person account of Mary's life in Pioneer Times, first as a young girl and then throughout her life. Mary spent part of her youth in the Mining Camps of Helena and Butte. As her father's situation changed, the family would move South to work on the Railroads in Utah and would then settle in San Juan Capistrano, California. Interesting stories of the Southern California area as-it-was many years ago.

Book fills a much-needed space on Pioneer/Mining life from a female's perspective.

Mary met her husband in Helena but would not marry until much later in California due to her father's resistance to the marriage. Her husband would become Agent for the Flathead and Confederated Tribes. Book gives us a detailed look into her time on the Flathead Agency, once again from a woman's perspective.

I recently attended the Montana Historical Society's Conference in Helena. We were given a "sneak-preview" of the Homeland Gallery in the new Montana Heritage Center. An exhibit in the pioneer life section, Mary Roman's book is highlighted with a Photo, Caption, and an audible excerpt. As the book club I am a member of had just finished reading the book, I was delighted to see Mary's story will be preserved in more than just print format. The Montana Heritage Center has a planned opening to the public on December 3, 2025.

Highly recommended for Women's History, history of women in Montana, history of Women who settled the West.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book for a Montana history buff! It is an interesting story, written by Mary Ronan's daughter based on interviews with her mother as a Master's thesis. It reads more like a thesis than a biography but the bonus is that there is source material listed for each anecdote. If there was a newspaper article about an event Mary mentions, it is included.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rare first-person account of pioneer days from someone who traveled from Southern California to Montana, finally settling in the Flathead Valley.

[Bec R · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fascinating to learn more of the history of the place where I grew up. Mary Ronan was a really likable and interesting individual

[Alan Findly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen Baumler is not the author, she's the editor. The author, Mary Ronan, is also the subject of this book, so it should probably be considered an aubiography, of sorts. It could also be a memoir, or just a diary. Anyhow, this book is a celebration of what it means to be a woman. But it's also a love story.

I live in Ronan, Montana, which was named after Mary Ronan's husband, Major Peter Ronan, circa 1910. The fascinating love affair between these two people is an inspiration. I recommend the book just based on that alone. More though, I'm so proud to be living here, just because of these two heroes, whose contribution to the pioneer development of Montana was enormous.

[Joant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book because I really liked Mary. She tells her story simply, sincerely and clearly recognizing the import of what she saw. Her story of a childhood spent in the boom and bust world of Montana's mining camps is interesting and full of personal detail. Mary's late teens are spent in Southern California, so the reader gets an insight into pioneerhood among the fading rancheros. Mary's married life on the Flathead Indian Reservation as the wife as an agent is fascinating, too. The love story between Mary and Peter Ronan was sweetly told as well.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book up on a recent vacation to MT. There are so many great historical books about MT, and I've enjoyed many, but this was an especially intriguing book. It was told by a strong woman who help settled the state. From the descriptions of the mining communities to the Indian reservation where she lived a majority of her life - it was all fascintating to read. I wish I could have been in the room and seen her face as she recounted her story to her daughter.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary's voice is a delight to read--she is plucky and adventurous a la Laura Ingalls. In Girl from the Gulches, she tells of her childhood adventures on the mining frontier and life as a married woman on a reservation. Her memory of her courtship by Peter Ronan is especially delightful, but I won't spoil it for you! Suffice to say, it's a charming and satisfying love story, just as this book is overall a charming and satisfying read.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed to drag on and on for me... might have been my mood at the time, but I never finished it. The best parts were the pictures of towns from Montana that still look the same. :)