The Life of Caroline Phelps

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Recommended: American Social changes in the 19020s and 1930s

Caroline Phelps provides an insightful look into the changing face of America including: The changing American economy, the prominence of the American Fur Company, and a shift in white and Indian relations. The years of Caroline Phelps’ life are some of the most significant years of our countries existence. There were many revolutionary modifications to our country and through this journal we can get a clear perspective of life in the mid 1800’s.

We pick up with Caroline Phelps’ Life on March second, 1830. This is an important day in her life, as it is her wedding day. William Phelps, her husband is a rugged frontier fur trader. Caroline’s parents did not approve of William because of his jagged lifestyle. “He (her father) said William was wild and careless and I would have to live like a squaw if I married him.” Throughout the next few years we see some character traits of Caroline. She lives a very demanding lifestyle; her husband is hardly home and is gone for months at a time. Caroline also deals with many hardships with little complaint showing she will do what it takes to get by.
“I was so sick I could hardly get along and an old Indian carried my child on his back. We went up a cliff that had cedar bushes to pull up by. The bushes gave way and I rolled down I don’t know how far and injured my nose. It bled all over my clothes. I was fatigued. I thought I would never get there. By this time, my dress was covered with blood and my face and hands besmeared all over.”

This quote clearly demonstrates Caroline’s ability to persevere through almost anything. During her life Caroline had three kids, one of which is doubtful be her husbands. There is speculation that it may be an Indians’. Caroline learns to become trusted friends with the Indians, William’s business partners. The Indians do many things for the Phelps’ including; taking them places, guiding them to their destinations, and even helping move things from their houses. This can be seen in the following quote, “I then gathered a few things and got the Indians to take them to a little hill where Eliza was.” Caroline also plays a crucial part in the operation of her husbands fur trade business. She does all the behind the scenes work including keeping the store up, and the accounting.

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