A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home

by Phoebe Goodell Judson

Phoebe Judson was a young bride in 1853 when she and her husband crossed the plains from Ohio to the Puget Sound area of Washington Territory. She was ninety-five when this book was first published in 1925. The years between were spent in “a pioneer’s search for an ideal home” and in living there, when it was finally found at the head of the Nooksack River, almost on the Canadian border.

 

Phoebe Judson's account of the journey west is based on daily diary entries detailing her fear, excitement, and exhaustion. At the end of the trail, the Judsons encountered hardships aplenty, causing them to abandon a farm and business in Olympia before their arrival in the Nooksack Valley. During the Indian Wars they holed up in a fort at Claquato. In time, Phoebe overcame her fear of the Indians, learned the Chinook language, and won their friendship. All this is told in vivid detail by a woman of great dignity and charm whom readers will long remember. In a foreword, Susan Armitage, professor of history at Washington State University, calls A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home a "classic pioneering account," important for its woman's point of view.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Book Club, Memoir

314 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1984

Reviews

[Carrie F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first five star book. It's a gem. A pioneer woman's story of traveling the Oregon Trail to Washington Territory and, well, looking for where to settle and build an ideal home. Communication with Indians was frequent and common. Many logistical stories of getting from house to town to another town in those days. And many heartbreaking stories of accidents and sickness among friends and family. With all she suffered, it certainly is a non-indulgent account. A dear, important lady, who at age 95 saw this account published.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book for the honesty of the writer in telling of the pioneer times of the Pacific Northwest. Phoebe Judson came to Washington Territory on a wagon train in the 1850's, and gives fascinating details of that time period and their lives. Sometimes while reading I would just be amazed at how much society and life have changed in just 150 years.

Details of the Indian Wars in Washington State are told, with Phoebe expressing both her fear of some Indians as well as the friendships she and her family developed with other Indians. The book closes with Phoebe and her family living in Lyndon, WA, the town they founded.

Phoebe seems like she was an amazingly strong woman. She faced many hardships, deaths, and tragedies, yet always persevered, and apparently lived to the age of 94. She wrote this book shortly before her death, using diaries she kept throughout her life.

[Robert Arl · Rating 5 out of 5]

One the best first-hand pioneer accounts I've read. An American treasure.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a fantastic story. This is the first Pioneer Family Journey story I have ever read. It was well written,from the Book of Personal Memoirs of Phoebe Goodell Judson. I felt like I was on the journey with them. Very descriptive. If anyone has an interest in the life of a family traveling from Ohio to Washington on the Organ Trail, this would be a great book for them to read. It was GREAT.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was definitely a diamond in the rough. I feel if they changed the cover and the title of the book - it would be a household story for western expansion.

After recently being enticed by pioneers and their westward expansion, I thought I’d give this book a try. It was a shock for me right away. I’m so used to reading of the poor traveling across the plains with nothing but a wagon and some food - covering nearly the whole book. This story follows Phoebe Judson going from Ohio to Oregon in 75 pages…what?!?! The most interesting hardships and trials are covered in 75 pages?!?!

She does run into Native Americans, unruly bison, and passes national landmarks like Chimney Rock, but the main difference to this story was Phoebe. A woman. As much as I love her as a person throughout this story, I begin to forget that women during this time period were nothing more than ‘spectators.’ That’s exactly what it felt like for the first third of this story. Although this was written when she was 90 looking back, it still probably would have felt the same way. She records how the men would hunt, cook, say prayers, and run the wagon. Which is completely fine, but I restate, other stories treat these menial tasks with upmost importance.

They eventually reach the Washington area. Somewhere I have little to no knowledge of in the first place. So it was hard for me to follow their location when they only things they would mention is rivers and the cascades. Phoebe finding family members and other trains were very touching parts of the story. But what really intrigued me was the Native Americans. Not only was they way they acted to her family very educational, but the long stretch of Native American War after was very intriguing. This was a part of the country that had little to no military support at the time and you were fearing every chapter something bad would happen. To know that nearly 200 years ago, Americans were escorted out of their homes to hide in forts from hostile natives is astonishing.

The ending of the book does become very lull for me. There is no Native American war. Nobody is emigrating. They mention the Civil War…but it doesn’t affect the family in any way besides spread more fear. Phoebe’s family just finds a new home and watches as families come and go around her. This is a personal account of *her story,* so I guess it can be in the book. But for historical or emotional context it felt useless to the overall book.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fascinating pioneering tale in its own right, the added layer of reading about my city, and the surrounding area, from the woman that helped cultivate it into what it is today was pretty cool. descriptions of just how different locations, mere miles from my home, were upon the founding of the city are a fun contrast.

[Nancy Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story of a real pioneer, and how she found home in Lynden, Washington

[Bill Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this account of pioneer life, despite the fact that it gets a bit sappy at times and contains some bad poetry. One can't help but admire the writer, Mrs. Judson.

[Roland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating first-hand account from one of the early pioneers to the Pacific Northwest.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This diary of an early settler in the northwest was my book club's selection for this month. It tells the story of a family who crosses the plains and settles in the Puget Sound area of WA State until they got tired of the skirmishes with the Indians and finally ended up founding the town that would become Lynden, WA.. It is the history of the general area where I reside. For that reason, it was enjoyable. It is not a literary masterpiece and there is a great deal of repetition. That said, it was a piece of history that was told by a brave and industrious woman who, because of her strong faith and curiosity, forged ahead in terribly difficult times, and with the loss of friends, family members, and hardships, lived in harmony with the tribes in Whatcom County and had a long and fruitful life.

[Barbara Radisavljevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the time she was a young bride in 1853, Phoebe Judson searched for the "ideal home." She crossed the plains from Ohio to the Puget Sound area of Washington Territory, and settled in more than one place before she discovered her "ideal" location for a home at the head of the Nooksack
River, almost on the Canadian border. Phoebe's diary details the hardships and beauty of the journey west, holing up in a fort during the Indian wars, and gradually learning to live in peace and friendship with Native Americans. Phoebe's writing vividly portrays her faith in God which sustained her through the many dangers and tragedies she faced. When life gets hard, read this book!

[Kt Treadwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

phoebe judson came over to washington in a covered wagon in 1853. she wrote this book when she was around 90 (in 1925) and it is based on her journals starting with the westward migration. it's a great look at what it was like here when white people were settling in. it provides lots of ideas for pursuing more info on the 'settling' of the area.

[Historysmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a American West pioneer story, particularly from a woman. This is a satisfying memoir in that regard. It is written in loooooong retrospect from the author's very late years, thus I sometimes felt myself hungry for more historical details and tighter chronology. Nevertheless, it is rich in Washington State settler history - particularly my wee corner - just my thing.

[Bookwyrmgyrl]

Phoebe Judson, who wrote this book, and her husband, Holden Judson, settled on the north bank of the Nooksack River. This location later became the town of Lynden, in Washington Territory. It was in this place that my great grandmother was born. While the not mentioned by name in Phoebe's memoir, I have little doubt that Phoebe knew my ancestors.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best if not the best accounts of pioneer life the author goes from Ohio to the Nooksack Valley above Oregon in 1860 In search of an ideal home. she adopts and takes care of many babies on the way and many hardships but Remains lighthearted all the way. She is an excellent writer in her own. The author Phoebe Goodall Judson lived from 1832 to 1926.

[Jo Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoebe Judson was only 20 when she hit the Oregon Trail with her new husband. She was 95 when A Pioneer's Search for an Ideal Home was published. Phoebe's account was based on a diary she kept during her journey across the Plains and Rockies, and then creating a homestead in the shade of Washington's Mt. Baker. It's a fascinating account by a talented writer, and a very brave woman.

[Suzanneccousins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pioneer women's memoirs crossing the plains in 1853 and settling with her family first near Olympia,WA then because of unfriendly Indians moving uo to the Nooksack River and founding the town of Lynden near the Canadian border.

[torque · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great firsthand account of the early settlers in Washington state. It is amazing how I feel connected with these people through the medium of this book. They become alive again and I get to partake in their lives.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing firsthand account of one of the original settlers in the Bellingham WA area.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic pioneering narrative by the woman instrumental in the founding of Lynden, WA. She's unique in her efforts to learn the language of the Native Americans among whom her family settles.

[Lorrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting for those of you from the Pacific NW.

[Mandy Keating]

One of my most favorite books and worth rereading. So many good lessons tucked away in this ladies journal about her trip west.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe this was not the best written or organized book, but I am rating it five stars for the pleasure it gave me to read. I like Mrs. Judson a lot. She was an early feminist who even had the vote in Washington for a few years in the late 1800s before she and other women were disenfranchised--probably becaue they opposed saloons in their town. She says at one point she hopes for better before the next millenium.

I chuckle at the way she refers to "Mr. Judson" and sometimes gets the best of him.

Her despair over the hanging of an Indian chief and remarks about the folly of capital punishment or killing by the state resonate with me 100 years later. Other remarks she makes about Indian life and culture are not as respectful.

There were many times that one wanted to ask Phoebe more about what was happening. How could she have left home for a six month journey with a two year old and another baby due in two months? Why did she oppose medications and brag about the healing she did without them? What was the illness that almost finished her off? What is the "nervous prostration" that her mother had?

I skipped the fanciful and romantic poetry. Sometimes death was portrayed--even of her own 31 year old son--as a wonderful journey to the "ideal home" she longed for. Her daughter's death was mentioned briefly but no details given.

As the introduction said, a fourth of the book is about just six months of the 70 years recounted-the journey across country. There are few details about how they earned a living but there was a detailed account of a one week camping holiday climbing near Mt. Baker with their Indian friends Sally and Old Joe.

There were many times I marked passages or read one aloud to my husband. Someday I will go to visit Lynden, Washington, the place she finally settled and a place I have often heard of because of my own Dutch heritage--and one which in later times became very much a center of Dutch immigration.