This is an iHeart Podcast. Did you know Tide has been upgraded to provide an even better clean and cold water? Tide is specifically designed to fight any stain you throw at it. even in cold. Butter?
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I had an incredible time at this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival and even got the chance to hang out with Diplo and Bailey Zimmerman while I was there. How did Ashes come together, Diplo? I pulled up real quick. He was about to leave on tour. You're about to jump in your tour bus and we had like three hours.
It was really cool. He literally just like randomly showed up to my house. I'm like, oh, hey, Diplo, what are you doing? He's like, I have a song that I want to show you. And I was like, okay.
You can listen to the full episode out now wherever you get your podcast. And big shout out to my friends at Hyundai for making this possible. At a blast, cruising around the festival weekend in the all-new Palisade Hybrid. America is changing. And so is the world.
But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere. I'm a smakhalid in Washington, DC. I'm Tristan Redman in London and this is the Global Story. Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection, where the world and America meet.
Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm NFL linebacker TJ Watt, and this is my personal best. YPB by Abercrombie is the active wear I'm always wearing. That's why I reached out to co-design their latest drop. I worked with designers to create high-performance activewear that holds up to my toughest workouts.
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In the settlement of the American West, Nancy Kelsey. Roger McGrath is the author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes, Violence on the Frontier. A US Marine and former history professor at UCLA. Dr. McGrath has appeared on numerous History Channel documentaries.
and he's a regular contributor here for us at Our American Stories. Here's Roger McGrath. With the story of Nancy Kelsey. Nancy Kelsey was the first woman to cross overland to California. She did so, carrying her baby daughter and an otherwise all-male party of pioneers.
That crossed the Great Basin and the Sierra Nevada Mountains with no maps or guides and walked barefoot into California in 1841. The first of a tide of immigrants that would sweep California into the United States. She also became known as the Betsey Ross of California for making the flag raised by the American rebels at Sonoma in eighteen forty six. She would give birth to 10 children and survive unimaginable hardships. She was a pioneer woman who was emblematic of the spirit, drive, and strength.
that animated Americans on the frontiers of the Old West. William and Sarah Roberts welcome the birth of their daughter, Nancy. On August 1, 1823, Sarah is only 17 years old. But that is not unusual in the Scotch-Irish frontier settlements in Barron County, Kentucky. Nancy is born only 30 years after the first whites settled in Barron County.
But her parents' pick up in eighteen twenty six and move west to Jackson County, Missouri. in the far western part of that State. They settle among fellow pioneers from Kentucky. Nancy is reared on the family farm in Jackson County. And in 1838, fifteen year old Nancy.
marries 25-year-old Ben Kelsey. Also a native of Barron County, Kentucky. Here's Cecilia Holland, Sharing anecdotes from her scrupulously researched book about Nancy Kelsey. An Ordinary Woman: The Remarkable Story of the First American Woman in California. On October 25th, A girl of fifteen rode eagerly through the blazing Missouri autumn to her wedding.
She was a tall, pretty girl, with long dark hair and dark eyes, and a wide, humorous mouth, her face shaped with the high cheek bones and strong jaw of her Scotch Irish heritage. Her hands on the reins were strong and capable, and she rode astride. no pampered sheltered city flower, she had been working since her childhood. She could milk a cow, skin a deer, plant a field, drive a team of oxen, load and shoot a rifle. She had made the dress she was wearing.
The child of pioneers, bred to courage and risk, She had grown up in the wilderness, only a few miles from the great Missouri River. that in 1838 was the border of the settled United States. Her name was Nancy Roberts. and Westerin was in her blood. In marrying so young, and marrying whom she did, She was choosing a western life.
one that would take her across the unmapped continent and change American history. Ben and Nancy have a daughter, Martha Ann, in 1839. and in eighteen forty one a son who dies eight days after birth. During May 1841, the Kelseys joined some sixty other members. of the Western Emigration Society.
To attempt the first pioneer crossing California. The group will go down in history. as the Bartleson Bidwell Party. Here's Nancy Leak. Nancy is a librarian who writes biographies of California pioneers for children.
She's the author of Nancy Kelsey Comes Over the Mountain. The True Story of the First American Woman in California. This is eighteen forty one. People in Missouri, where they were living, were just beginning to hear about California. For a very few years The Oregon Trail had been open and some people were going to Oregon.
but nobody had yet gone to California. That was part of Mexico. But there was a an American there, Dr. John Marsh, He wrote some letters that were published in newspapers extolling the wonders of California. And also they heard from fur trappers who had been from been to California.
And they said You know, it's empty. There's hardly anybody there. Of course, they weren't counting the Native Americans. It was just Empty land, free for the taking. Fertile soil.
plenty of game, the hunting and fishing would be good. Good weather. and above all, it had a healthy climate. And that was one of the problems people in Missouri had. Ben Kelsey.
Had gotten ill a lot, probably malaria, a lot of chills and fevers, and people were always looking for a healthier climate. And Ben Kelsey had what his wife said was an adventurous disposition. In other words, he couldn't sit still. And he always wanted to be trying a new place. Although they are tough, hardy, and honery, The members of the party know nothing about the Far West.
Our ignorance of the route was complete. said John Pidwell. We knew that California lay west. And that was the extent of our knowledge. Another member of the party produces a map.
which shows two large rivers running westward from the Great Salt Lake to California. He suggests they take along tools for constructing boats.
So they can float downstream to California on the second half of their journey. When Nancy Kelsey is asked, Why she is willing to undertake a journey. across half a continent to California, she replies. Where my husband goes, I go. I can better endure the hardships of the journey.
than the anxieties for an absent husband. The party are willing but woefully ignorant pioneers. has the good fortune to fall in with a group of Jesuit missionaries. led by the six foot eight inch Belgian born but American educated, Father Pierre Jean Desmet. The black ropes are being guided and schooled in frontier survival.
by one of the greatest of all American mountain men. Irish born Tom Fitzpatrick. and several of his beaver trapping partners. Here again is Cecilia Holland. East.
In the settled United States, Opinion was divided.
Some people believe that hardy men could cross the continent. that mere women and children would never survive. It was tantamount to murder to take a woman on such a trip. That some missionary women made it was God's providence. In any case, the West was worth nothing.
a desert littered with rocks, infested with Indians. Other people claim that the trip was a lark. A mere matter of following the sum. No matter. They were leaving the United States.
and somewhere out there California lay and a new life. On May 18, 1841, The combined party leaves Sapling Grove. just south of present-day Kansas City. On June 1, the pioneers, mountain men and missionaries, crossed the Platte River in central Nebraska. And three weeks later they reached Fort Laramie in Wyoming.
By now a twenty-year veteran of the High Plains and the Rockies, Fitzpatrick smooths the way for them. and the party is making excellent time. Here again is Nancy Leake. At first I imagined this trip was kind of like a nice summer camping trip. Going along the Platte River, it's not crowded yet.
plenty of grass for their oxen and other animals. There is one incident. where there's a young man in the group named Nicholas Dawson. And he goes out hunting, and he meets up with a band of Cheyenne Indians who take everything he has: his rifle, his pistol, his knife, his clothing. They take everything, and he comes running back into camp.
Nancy Thought this was hilarious because she says, How you would have laughed if you had seen him come running back into camp. He was entirely naked. They had taken everything.
Well, Tom Fitzpatrick goes out and talks to the Indians and he gets almost everything back. But ever after that, Nicholas Dawson was known as Cheyenne Dawson. Fitzpatrick guides them through South Pass during the middle of July, and by August 10 they reach Soda Springs in southeastern Idaho. And when we come back, we'll continue with the story of Nancy Kelsey. a remarkable woman who played a key role.
in the settlement of the West. Where my husband goes I go, she said. And by the way, so many people thought it was tantamount to murder. to take a woman, let alone her children. More on Nancy Kelsey's story.
Here. on our American stories. And we continue here with our American stories and the story. of Nancy Kelsey. Let's pick up with Roger McGrath.
Hey, it's Bobby from the Bobby Bones Show. I had an incredible time at this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival and even got the chance to hang out with Diplo and Bailey Zimmerman while I was there. Check this out.
So how did ashes come together, Diplo?
Well, uh I kind of briefly met Bailey I think a Morgan's show, one of them. And I think. He's just the guy in Nashville. He's cool as hell, and I had a new kind of sound I wanted to do. I think he's the one guy that can carry it.
I came to his house, I had a show. I pulled up real quick. He was about to leave on tour. You're about to jump in your tour bus, and we had like three hours. played the record for him, we kinda like got a scratch and then he handled it on his own on the road.
Yeah. It was really cool. He literally just like randomly showed up to my house. I'm like, oh, hey, Diplo, what are you doing? He's like, I have a song that I want to show you.
And I was like, okay. And then.
Now we're here playing it live. You can listen to the full episode out now, wherever you get your podcast. And big shout out to my friends at Hyundai for making this possible out of Blast, cruising around the festival weekend in the all-new Palisade Hybrid. Time for a sofa upgrade? Visit washablesofas.com and discover Anibay, where designer style meets budget-friendly prices, with sofas starting at $699.
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Plus, our pet-friendly stain-resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality for price. Visit washable sofas.com to upgrade your living space today with no risk returns and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop now at washable sofas.com.
Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. America is changing. and so is the world. But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere.
I'm a smachhalid in Washington, D.C. I'm Tristan Redman in London and this is the Global Story. Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection, where the world and America meet. Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Sunday scaries are officially cancelled.
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Win the tech search at lenovo.com. Lenovo, Lenovo. Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors, so you can work, create, and boost productivity all on one device. They've been on the trail less than three months, made relatively rapid progress. and have not suffered great hardship.
Except for the hail storms, frosty night temperatures, a tornado, and a run in with a herd of buffalo. Here again is Cecilia Holland, Author of An Ordinary Woman. The remarkable story of the first American Woman in California. One evening as the settlers were camping by the water, Fitzpatrick came in among them in great excitement. A drove of buffalo was headed straight toward them.
He got all the men out with their guns to build fires between the camp and the oncoming tide. Anne wrapped tight in her arms, Nancy and the other women bundled together sleepless through the dim while all night long the men fed the fires and shot off their guns, splitting the onrushing buffalo into two streams that thundered by on either side of the camp in a continuous hours long stampede. One cannot nowadays describe the rush and wildness of the thing. Fidwell said much later. In the morning, the camp was an island in a great sea of woolly brown bodies.
The sky was a milky shroud of dust. The buffalo, trampling down into the river to drink, had fouled the water so that the people could not stomach it.
Now a decision has to be made. Fitzpatrick is taking the missionaries to the Pacific Northwest. Here again is Nancy Leake. Author of Nancy Kelsey Comes Over the Mountain. The true story of the first American woman in California.
Tom Fitzpatrick, the trail guide, tells them You do not want to attempt this. That territory has Barely been explored. It's deserts, it's mountains, it's desolate. And so they say, all right, we'll go to Oregon. It's too dangerous to go to California.
But Ben Kelsey is not the kind of man to change his mind. He's going to California, and wherever he goes, his wife is going to go with him. That's the way she was. Wherever my husband goes, I go with him. 34 of the Barnes and Bildwell Party are determined to push on to California.
Among them is the eighteen-year-old Nancy Kelcey. and are now two babies. Martha Ann is in front of her and another one inside of her. Fitzpatrick draws the pioneers a map in the dirt. warning that if they miss Mary's River, No, there's the Humboldt River to day.
They will die long before reaching California. In mid-August, without guide or compass, They turned their horses and wagons south. and follow the Bear River into Utah. They reached the Great Salt Lake on August 30. They skirt the northern shore of the lake.
and in the blazing desert to the west, are forced to abandon their wagons and pack everything on horses and mules. Desperate now, they turned east and cut as straight across country as they could. to find the Bear River again before they all died of thirst. The weaker animals straggled behind and they had to let them lag. The oxen drawing the two Kelsey wagons were trudging along so slow even Anne could outwalk them.
the ground was white with salt, and the wagon wheels crunched out trails as if in snow. Salt spangled the blades of grass that straggled up from the crusted ground. and cried for water. and Nancy gave her the last in the canteen. She looked at Ben, driving the oxen, wondering when he had drunk last.
her own mouth was so dry it hurt. and her lips cracked. and she tasted wisps of blood. carrying her baby in front of her. Nancy Kelsey rides horseback.
California. is hundreds of miles away. The party stumbles upon the headwaters of the Humboldt River. and follows its course southwestward. across Nevada.
Bayouts occasionally block their path. And when they do, Nancy holds her baby tightly in her arms. everyone knew how Indians stole children. At one place the Indians surrounded us, armed with bows and arrows. said Nancy.
But my husband leveled his gun at the chief. and made him order his Indians out of arrow range. The pioneers reached the sink of the Humboldt. Near present day Lovelock. Early in October, and then begin a grueling trick.
Across forty mile desert. to the Carson River. Along the way, they have to abandon their wagons. Their oxen are exhausted. and they're starting to eat their oxen.
They've eaten most of the food they'd packed in the wagons, so there's not much point in pulling these wagons through the sand anymore.
So they abandon the wagons, pack everything on their animals, continue along the Humboldt River. and then eventually the river sinks into the sand. and they are facing the Sierra Nevada Mountains. And that is just a wall of rock and they're exhausted. They're starving.
The whole party had considered turning around and going back to Fort Hall in Idaho. But that wasn't really an option. They knew they didn't have the food, they didn't have the supplies to make the trip back. they were going to have to go over the Sierra Nevada. As they began their climb, John Bidwell.
hooks up the eastern face of the Sierra Nevada. and describes what he sees as Naked mountains whose summits still retain the snows of perhaps a thousand years. The climb is slow and arduous, and breathing becomes difficult. There's no established trail to follow. Boulders and fallen trees blocked their path.
Streams must be crossed and recrossed. On October 18, They reached Sonora Pass at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet. Peaks on either side of the pass are another two thousand feet higher. Fortunately, a heavy snowfall had has not yet blanketed the Sierras.
Now they have to pioneer a route down the steep and deep canyons. On the western side of the Sarris, into the San Joaquin Valley. They have little or no food. Their clothes, blankets, and diapers are in tatters. and their shoes have long worn away.
She says, Of course, we did not know where we were. The party scattered here to find the best way to descend the mountains. I was left with my babe alone, and as I sat there on my horse, and listened to the sighing and moaning of the winds through the pines, it seemed the loneliest spot in the world. The descent was so abrupt that an Indian who had come to us on the mountain was allowed to lead my horse for part of the way. At one place an old man of the party, His name was George Henshaw.
became so exhausted that they had to threaten to shoot him before he would proceed. At another place, four pack animals fell over a bluff, and we never tried to recover them. They had gone so far it was no use to think of it. We were then out of provisions, as we had eaten all our cattle. At this point, uh Nicholas Dawson says, once I remember, When I was struggling along, trying to keep Monty, that's the name of his mule.
Trying to keep Monty from going over, I looked back and saw misses Kelsey a little way behind me. With her child in her arms, barefooted and leading her horse, a sight I shall never forget. And he thought, well, if she can do it, I guess I can do it. And they kept going. Nancy recalled.
We lived on roasted acorns for two days. My husband came very near dying with cramps, and it was suggested to leave him. But I said I would never do that. At one place I was so weak I could hardly stand. Oh, Nancy Kelsey had a right to be exhausted.
She was not only carrying her daughter, but she was also five months pregnant. And you've been listening to the story of Nancy Kelsey, and you've been listening to Roger McGrath tell it. And again, there's no finer story. storyteller in the country. when it comes to stories about the American West and the American frontier.
And there's no more important story to tell than Nancy Kelsey's. The first woman to move to California. And this is back before an interstate, back before anything. This is just, well, not long after the Lewis and Clark expedition. One of the great, great stories in American history.
Stephen Ambrose, of course, chronicled it in Undaunted Courage. and I believe it was Ambrose's finest work. When we come back, this remarkable story of a woman pioneer, a woman adventurer. Her name Nancy Kelsey. Her story continues here.
on our American stories. Hey, it's Bobby from the Bobby Bone Show. I had an incredible time at this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival and even got the chance to hang out with Diplo and Bailey Zimmerman while I was there. Check this out.
So how did ashes come together, Diplo?
Well, uh I kind of briefly met Bailey I think a Morgan's show, one of them. And I think He's just the guy in Nashville. He's cool as hell, and I had a new kind of sound I wanted to do. I think he's the one guy that could carry it. I came to his house, I had a show.
I pulled up real quick. He was about to leave on tour. You're about to jump in your tour bus, and we had like three hours. played the record for him, we kinda like got a scratch and then he handled it on his own on the road. Yeah.
It was really cool. He literally just like randomly showed up to my house. I'm like, oh, hey, Diplo, what are you doing? He's like, I have a song that I want to show you. And I was like, okay.
And then.
Now we're here playing it live. You can listen to the full episode out now, wherever you get your podcast. And big shout out to my friends at Hyundai for making this possible out of blast, cruising around the festival weekend in the all-new Palisade Hybrid. Time for a sofa upgrade? Visit washable sofas.com and discover Anibay, where designer style meets budget-friendly prices.
With sofas starting at $699, Anibay brings you the ultimate in furniture innovation with a modular design that allows you to rearrange your space effortlessly. Perfect for both small and large spaces, Anibay is the only machine-washable sofa inside and out. Say goodbye to stains and messes with liquid and stain-resistant fabrics that make cleaning easy. Liquid simply slides right off. Designed for custom comfort, our high-resilience foam lets you choose between a sink-in feel or a supportive memory foam blend.
Plus, our pet-friendly stain-resistant fabrics ensure your sofa stays beautiful for years. Don't compromise quality for price. Visit washablefas.com to upgrade your living space today with no risk returns and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get up to 60% off plus free shipping and free returns. Shop now at washable sofas.com.
Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply. Mm-hmm. America is changing. And so is the world. But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval.
It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere. I'm a smah in Washington, D.C. I'm Tristan Redman in London and this is the Global Story. Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection, where the world and America meet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.
I'm NFL linebacker TJ Watt, and this is my personal best. YPB by Abercrombie is the active wear I'm always wearing. That's why I reached out to co-design their latest drop. I worked with designers to create high-performance activewear that holds up to my toughest workouts. Shop YPV by Abercrombie in store, online, and in the app.
because your personal best is greater than anything. Ah, come on, why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient. Still using yesterday's tech? Upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon.
Ultra-light, ultra-powerful, and built for serious productivity. With Intel Core ultra-processors, blazing speed, and AI-powered performance that keeps up with your business, not the other way around. This thing moves. Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech search at lenovo.com.
Lenovo, Lenovo. Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, powered by Intel Core Ultra Processors, so you can work, create, and boost productivity all on one device. And we continue here on Our American Stories with the story of Nancy Kelsey, and once again. Here's McGreg. After treacherous descents, they reach the middle fork of the Stanislaus River and follow it down into the San Joaquin Valley.
Seeing the coast ranges off to the west, That first wreck in California is still hundreds of miles farther away. They soon realized their mistaken notion. and on november fourth, eighteen forty one, After a half year on the trail, the pioneers arrive at the Mount Diablo Ranch. of an American settler Dr. John Marsh.
He regularly sent letters to the East, urging Americans to settle in California. hoping a growing number of Americans would cause California to go the way of Texas. A six-month journey to Marsh's Ranch makes Nancy Kelsey The first woman to cross overland to California from the United States. Throughout the journey, she was an inspiration to the men. Her cheerful nature and kind heart brought many a ray of sunshine through the clouds that gathered round the company of so many weary travelers.
said fellow pioneer Joseph Childs. Here again is Nancy Leake. In many ways she was just an ordinary pioneer woman, But those pioneer women were remarkable women. they could handle any situation. and and do it with with good humor and A lot of grit.
Joseph Chiles, who was also a member of the Bidwell Bartleson party, said. She bore the fatigues of the journey with so much heroism, Patience and kindness that there still exists a warmth in every heart for the mother and her child. they were always forming silver linings with every dark cloud that assailed them. The Kelseys built a log cabin in the Napa Valley. A mile south of today's Calastuga, In February 1842, Nancy gives birth to Sarah Jane.
who lives only one week before dying. Nancy has two little graves now. bookmarking each end of the journey. But as she has done before, Nancy Kelsey stoically endures.
Meanwhile, Ben is making money hunting and trapping. and with the proceeds buying cattle. During the spring of 1843, Ben decides to drive a hundred head of cattle north. to American settlements in Oregon's Willamette Valley. He is joined by his brother Andy.
and three other men. Although pregnant. Nancy goes along. Five-year-old Martha Ann goes as well. At a crossing of the Sacramento River, while the men were busy driving the cattle, Indians raid the Kelsey's camp.
Nancy yells for help. and Nicholas Dawson is the first to arrive. Because of his enormous size, Dawson is known as Bear. Bear came and shot one of the Indians within a few feet of me, said Nancy. Then he compelled the rest of them to help with the cattle crossing.
Several weeks later, while camped near Mount Shasta, the Kelseys have Indian trouble again. During the night, Indians shoot several of the party's horses. And the next day, After a mile on the trail, There is a pitched battle. Nancy is in the midst of it. sitting on her horse and holding her daughter.
There are several more Indian attacks before they reach the safety. of the American settlements in the northern portion of the Willamette Valley. After selling their cattle and purchasing supplies, at Fort Vancouver. They begin their return trip. En route, Nancy gives birth to another daughter, Margaret.
Near Mount Shasta, they have another pitch battle. of a large group of Indian warriors.
Well, the arrows were flying into camp, said Nancy. I took one baby and hid my child in the brush. I returned. and took the other child, and hid that child also. The moon was shining brightly.
Each time the men fired their guns I heard an Indian fall into the river. As I hit the little ones, I wondered if I'd ever see daylight again. Think of it. We had only five men. And there were possibly A hundred Indians.
What's back in the Napa Valley? The Chelces prosper, again hunting, trapping and grazing cattle and horses. In April 1846, Nancy gives birth to a son, Andrew. Two months later, on June 14, American settlers in Northern California revolt against Mexican rule. By taking control of Sonoma, the and declaring establishment of the Bear Flag Republic.
In Sonoma on that fateful day is Nancy Kelsey. holding Andrew in her arms. She watches as the American rebels raise the bear flag with its humped-back grizzly and lone star. She has reason to be proud of the new flag. She made it.
using a three by five piece of cloth and a strip of red flannel from her petticoat. She will soon be called the Betsy Ross of California. Her husband Ben is a prominent mare flagger. He later gets into a dispute with John C. Fremont.
and gives him a tongue blashing. When Fremont assumes command of the rebels, The Kilseys were known for their use of wicked and blasphemous language, said Nancy. Made a muleskinner blush. Here again is Cecilia Holland. On July 8th, the US Navy seized Monterey without firing a shot.
The Mexican dons fled. A day later the Bear flag came down that flagpole in Sonoma and the stars and stripes went up. On the whole, the bears showed more skill and foresight than one might expect, After all, the Bears were ordinary people, not government sanctioned heroes. Thanks to Ben and Nancy Kelsey, They founded California and it became American. When Ben later falls sick with malaria.
Nancy Rides helped bent for Sonoma in medicine. and root in an Indian. Known locally, as Chief Augustine. tries to last saw her, and drag her off the horse. although Nancy was without her pistol.
She manages to escape and continue her wild ride to town. She returns with the medicine. and tells Ben of the attempted horse theft and her narrow escape. Ben explodes with rage and bolts out of his sick bed.
Now he is the one on the back of a galloping horse. He tracks down Chief Augustine. and kills him with a pistol shot. Nancy continues to have children, Mary Ellen in 1848, Nancy Rose in 1851. William in 1854.
Georgia Ann. in eighteen fifty nine, and Samuel in eighteen sixty one. When Samuel was born she was thirty-eight. She had been pregnant or nursing for more than twenty years, and for a good deal of it she had been on the trail. The year Samuel is born, the family travels across the southwest.
We drifted into Texas, said Nancy. and were attacked by the Comanche. The men went hunting turkey, and a neighbor woman and myself were alone with our children. when I discovered the Indians approaching our camp, I loaded the guns and suggested we hide. The oldest two girls ran and hid in the brush.
and the sixteen year old looked out for himself by hiding alone. We and the smaller children hid in the cave. I heard the Indians above, but they did not discover us. After they pillaged the camp, They found the girls and succeeded in catching Muriellen. Poor girl She was only 13.
And even now I can hear her screams when they scalped her. The Comanches leave Mary Ellen for dead. But Nancy finds her still clinging to life. Nancy stonches the bleeding and stitches Mary Ellen's head wounds. The girl survives, but said Nancy.
She was demented after that, and died in Fresno five years later from the injuries she had received. In 1879, Nancy's son Samuel dies in an accident during the harvest. and in eighteen eighty nine her husband, Ben, dies. But his legacy survives to this very day. His name is everywhere in California.
Kelseyville on Clear Lake, the forgotten hamlet of Kelsey in El Dorado County, the Kelsey Trail, the Kelsey River, Kelsey Canyon, Kelsey Creek. After Ben's death, Nancy settles on a ranch in the Cuyama Valley, northeast of Santa Barbara. She raises cattle and chickens. administers herbal remedies to sick neighbors, delivers babies. and once rides a hundred miles in one 24-hour period on a mission of mercy.
Nancy dies of skin cancer. At the age of seventy three, he was in 1896. is buried on a ranch in oak-studded Cottonwood Canyon. The native daughters of the Golden West, marked her grave with a plaque. Each year, an equestrian group conducts a three-day 150-mile ride through the Cuyama Valley.
Perhaps not up to Nancy Kelsey's one day effort. but a feat of endurance none the less. On the third day the riders stop, at the Pioneer's Grave Site. and pay tribute. To the Betsy Ross of California.
and the first woman to cross the continent to what would become The Golden State. And thanks to Roger McGrath, as always. and he's the author of Gunfighters, Highwaymen, and Vigilantes, Violence on the Frontier. Nancy Kelsey's Story, a fundamental part of American History. Here.
on our American stories. Hey, it's Bobby from the Bobby Bone Show. I had an incredible time at this year's iHeartRadio Music Festival and even got the chance to hang out with Diplo and Bailey Zimmerman while I was there. How did Ashes come together, Diplo? I pulled up real quick.
He was about to leave on tour. You're about to jump in your tour bus, and we had like three hours. It was really cool. He literally just like randomly showed up to my house. I'm like, oh, hey, Diplo, what are you doing?
He's like, I have a song that I want to show you. And I was like, okay. You can listen to the full episode out now wherever you get your podcast. And big shout out to my friends at Hyundai for making this possible. At a blast, cruising around the festival this weekend in the all-new Palisade Hybrid.
America is changing. And so is the world. But what's happening in America isn't just a cause of global upheaval. It's also a symptom of disruption that's happening everywhere. I'm a smachhalid in Washington, DC.
I'm Tristan Redman in London and this is the Global Story. Every weekday, we'll bring you a story from this intersection, where the world and America meet. Listen on bbc.com or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Julian Edelman from Games with Names. Fantasy football can be exhausting.
I mean that literally. You're so anxious over your lineup, you can't fall asleep. Best way to deal with it is Unisom. There's a reason it's the number one doctor-recommended over-the-counter sleep aid brand. It helps you fall asleep faster, wake up less, and feel refreshed in the morning.
Plus, Unisom sleep tabs are clinically tested and proven effective and completely. Non-habit forming.
So, make the ultimate sleeper pick and put it to bed with Unisom. Use as directed. What kind of mayor? would let this happen to his family. Inspired.
By shocking actual events. I'm working on the story about the Murdochs. Their abuses of power are playing out in real time. Starring Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette and Jason Clark. It's only cheating.
If you get caught. Hulu Original Series, Murdoch, Death and the Family. New episodes Wednesdays on Hulu and Hulu on Disney Plus. For bundle subscribers, terms apply. Can small acts make a real impact in the world?
Sometimes a small thing has the power to become more.
Something big and meaningful. And when it comes to helping children, no act is too small. When you fill up at the Purple Giving Pumpet Shell, a portion of your purchase will be donated to support charities in your community. The Giving Pump. Easy to stop, easy to donate.
From 9-1-25 to 10-31.25, participating shell stations will donate a minimum of one cent per gallon of the fuel pump from the giving pump, or a minimum donation of $300. This is an iHeart podcast.
