Cut off from civilization, the pioneers had to rely on themselves and their own hard work to live off the land they had claimed. The pioneers had to produce almost all of the necessities of life. They had to build furniture and make their own clothing. Self-reliance became part of their character, and this often carried them through the trials of daily life.

For many of the pioneers, bad sanitation, poor diet, constant hard work, and exposure to the harsh climate produced a lot of disease and illness, such as dysentery, cholera, smallpox, and typhoid. Doctors were scarce, and settlers often relied on home remedies to combat their ills. The life of a pioneer woman was especially hard. She worked eighteen hours a day and was always tired. She spent her entire life alone in the house, often not seeing her nearest neighbor for several months. She...