Martha Summerhayes (1846–1911)

In 1874, when Martha Summerhayes came as a bride to Fort Russell in Wyoming Territory, she "saw not much in those first few days besides bright buttons, blue uniforms, and shining swords," but soon enough the hard facts of army life began to intrude. Remonstrating with her husband, Jack, that she had only three rooms and a kitchen instead of "a whole house," she was informed that "women are not reckoned in at all in the War Department," which also failed to appreciate that "'lieutenants' wives needed quite as much as colonels’ wives." In fact, Martha had only a short time to enjoy her new quarters, for in June her husband’s regiment was ordered to Arizona, "that dreaded and then unknown land." Although Martha Summerhayes’s recollections span a quarter of a century and life at a dozen army posts, the heart of this book concerns her experiences during the 1870s in Arizona, where (as Dan L. Thrapp observes in his introduction) the harsh climate and "perennial natural inconveniences from rattlesnakes to cactus thorns and white desperadoes, all made [it] a less than desirable posting for the married man and his wife." First privately printed in 1908, Vanished Arizona was so well-received that in 1910 Mrs. Summerhayes prepared a new edition (reprinted here), which was published in 1911, the year of her death. Among "the essential primary records of the frontier-military West," the book "retains its place securely because of the narrative skill of the author, her delight in life—all life, including even, or perhaps principally, army life and people—and because it is such a joy to read.… (mehr)

Fascinating story of a young bride with her army husband and their experiences in Arizona during the late 18th century. She is a young woman who is totally unprepared for life in the 'wild' west. Her stories of traveling from camp to camp in Arizona and having to make a home in extremely harsh and primitive conditions is awe inspiring. Especially moving is when she has her first child, far from anyone who can help her . She is completely ignorant of childbirth and caring for a newborn. I couldn't help but wonder how many young women today would survive these conditions. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Arizona, life as an army wife, and anyone wanting to read a story of someone who doesn't give up but makes the best she can of life in a difficult situation.… (mehr)

Vanished Arizona is the autobiographical account of Martha (Mattie) Durham Summerhayes who was born to a prosperous New England family in a spacious, comfortable home on Nantucket Island in 1846. She married handsome John (Jack) Summerhayes, a Civil War veteran and a lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry and in 1874, Jack’s 8th Infantry regiment was transferred to Arizona. At that time, Arizona was a U.S. Territory with a non-Indian population of about 20,000. Mattie went with him. She would live to regret it, yet as she explained thirty years later, “I had cast my lot with a soldier and where he was, was home to me.” The hardships she had to endure in 1870’s Arizona Territory are nearly unimaginable today.

Throughout the book she tells many stories about life and conditions in different camps and forts in which she lived with her expanding family. I thought it was a really interesting read, especially for someone like me who has lived in Arizona for decades. It was published in 1908 so it has a bit of a dated feel to the writing. It was a fascinating look at the early American West.

TBR 1445

… (mehr)

Outstanding personal memoir of Army life on the civilian side. As an Army veteran who has served in Arizona myself, I could empathize with some of the horrors of marching on foot through Arizona in summer and early autumn. I recommend using an historical atlas of Arizona to get an idea of the amount of land covered by these folks in wagons and on foot. Martha's account is highly readable and realistic, not shying away from uncomfortable truths like many of her contemporaries would. She even allowed as how the soldiers used strong language on occasion! When I finished this book I turned back to the beginning to read it again. Interesting and educational.… (mehr)