Conexión San Angelo newsroom, Jim Sánchez
Sheep Queen Wilheim one of 53 Texas Dames Conexión San Angelo newsroom, Jim Sánchez
Susan Roehrig, spoke at the Women’s Social Club monthly meeting on Friday, March 17, 2023. Roehrig’s subject on Texas heroines was taken from Carmen Goldthwaite’s book, titled: Texas Dames.
SAN ANGELO – Historian, Carmen Goldthwaite, and author of the book, Texas Dames: Sassy and Savvy Women Throughout Lone Star History, tells the stories of 53 women who made their own mark in Texas Lone Star history as either in ministry, as a bank director, an educator, a businesswoman, a pilot, a reformer, a state senator, etc.
Susan Roehrig, co-chair of the interest book club, in her 30-minute presentation, spoke on many of the women who Goldthwaite described as being sassy, defined as boldly while savvy means intelligent, experienced, knowledge.
Among the Texas pioneer heroines was Johanna Wilheim, whom Goldthwaite titled the Sheep Queen of Texas because she built a sheep empire business. Johanna and husband, Johann raised Delaine, and Merion breeds. At age 40, Johanna became a widow who expanded the Pecan Springs Ranch from 1,600 acres to 40,000 acres. Wilheim also expanded her cattle and sheep herds, making a name for herself in the wool industry. The ranch was located between Brady, Texas and Menard, Texas.
Goldthwaite included in Joanna’s bio that she was a stockholder in the San Angelo Wool Growers’ Central Storage Company. Wilheim was “kind, considerate, and charitable. . . . loved by all who know her, and admired for her life record of meritorious achievement” wrote Goldthwaite.
Prior to Roehrig’s presentation, Women’s Social Club President, Geri Etheridge presented co-chairs: Jean Carroll, Elaine Mucha, and Roehrig a bouquet of flowers for their work as a token of their appreciation.
The Social Club meets 9:30 a.m. on the third Friday of the month at Emmanuel Episcopal Church located at 3 S. Randolph St.
The book, Texas Dames is available on https://www.amazon.com/
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