Willa Cather

Willa Cather (1873-1947), American author and teacher, considered to be one of the best chroniclers of pioneering life in the 20th century wrote My Ántonia (1918).

Willa Sibert Cather was born on 7 December, 1873 in Back Creek Valley, Virginia. Her father was Charles Fectigue Cather (d.1928), a farmer, and her mother Mary Virginia (Jennie) Boak (d.1931). The early years of young Willa's life left a memorable impression on her and formed the basis for many of her stories and characters. The Cathers travelled west across six states landing in Nebraska, Webster county, in 1883 to live at her paternal grandfather's farm at a time when many Swedish, French and Bohemian immigrant pioneers had moved to the area with dreams of homesteading. Willa became acquaintance and friend to many of the new Americans. There was stark contrast between the lush wooded hills of Virginia and the wide open prairies and tableland of Nebraska to the ten year old tomboy. After a few years the family moved to the village of Red Cloud where Charles opened an insurance and real estate office.