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Book Review of Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847

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She came from a wealthy family, but then spent 15 months traveling by wagon, until even she admitted she was tired of wagons. She underwent hardships that young ladies today couldn't imagine. Yes, those hardships were much worse than having your mobile phone signal drop!

She fell sick several times, and lost her first child due to the fact she was ill with yellow fever. She was often faced with death from several directions... lack of water, Indians, bandits, and armed forces opposed to the U.S.

And she overcame all making friends with assorted individuals she would not have consorted with in her home in Kentucky. Sadly, she died when she was twenty-seven.