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Legacy

The hardships of the trail brought out strengths and abilities they did not know they possessed. Annie Bidwell left behind a legacy for the pioneer women. When Annie married John Bidwell, she moved to his ranch in what is now the town of Chico, California. There she taught local Indian women how to sew and helped their children learn to read and write English. Women settled churches, schools, literary societies, libraries, literary and charitable groups soon blossomed. Annie Bidwell also encouraged the first building of the church in Chico.

Equality for women. The freedom of equality was enjoyed by women in the West, this helped pave the way for more equal treatment of women throughout the United States. This was one the greatest legacy of the women pioneers. Wyoming Territory led the way by granting the right to vote in 1869. By 1900, and full 20 years before women across the U.S. would gain the right, women were voting in four western states.

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