35-xx-xx ep37Eliza Ann Brooks

Untear fighters. Chronicles of the heroic deeds, trials, and hardships of the men and women who fought in triumph that the West might live. In shrine forever in the hearts of those sons and daughters who claim the West is Eliza Anne Brooks, the pioneer mother.

In 1849 her husband went to California to prospect for gold, writing from Duke County in 1852 to his wife and family in Michigan. my dear wife and my beloved children. If you were all here with me, I know that I could make California my home. May God speed that day, when we'll all be together

under one roof. Kiss the babies for me, your loving husband and father. Father wants us to come to California. Mother, are we going? It's been more than two years since we've seen our father. And if we start right now, it's only just only three thousand miles across mountains, trains, prairies and desert. It's no excursion, son.

I ain't afraid. I can shoot straight. Drive a team. I don't get tired. I'm not a big eater. You are your father's son. You're not just 13, a boy. You're a man. Stand up, Elisha.

I'm big for my age. Feel my muscle, Mom. Some folks would be saying I'm a fool taking chances of a boy and five lures but the Lord is our shepherd Elisha and somehow some way he'll lead us to your father in California. Two weeks from the day that she made her decision Mrs. Brooks put all her worldly possessions and her

six children in a covered wagon and was ready to make the start. At her side was her boy Elisha and the man she hired to go as far as the Platt River with her. The wagon was drawn by four oxen. Two cows were taken along to supply milk for the children. The departure should have been most auspicious, but the know-it-alls