The story of Matilda Koontz, a woman who endured tremendous hardship on the Oregon Trail in 1847 and settled in Lewis County, has fascinated local historian and Chronicle columnist Julie McDonald Zander ever since she saw a placard about the pioneer in the Lewis County Historical Museum over 15 years ago.
“When I read that little placard, I thought, ‘What would you do if you were a mom with some little kids and … you’re on the Oregon Trail, thousands of miles away from family? What would you do?’” Zander recalled. “I really wanted to know how you survived that, survived some of that loss.”
Zander, who runs a company called Chapters of Life to help people write their life and family stories, published a non-fiction account of Koontz’s life in 2019.
“I debated fiction or nonfiction, fiction or non-fiction. And I finally decided, her story’s never been told, so I would do it in non-fiction,” Zander said.
The book, titled “Washington Territory’s Grand Lady: The Story of Matilda (Glover) Koontz Jackson,” garnered critical success and was the finalist for two national awards.
Despite the nonfiction book’s success, Zander decided she wasn’t done exploring Koontz’s story.
After five years of working to recount Koontz’s story in a fictional format, Zander published her debut novel, “The Reluctant Pioneer,” on Sept. 20.
The book is currently available for purchase through local sellers Book ‘N’ Brush, Tilikum Books & Bindery and the Lewis County Historical Museum. An e-book version is also available for purchase online through Amazon.
“It’s more fun to write fiction,” Zander said. “You have to know a deep point of view. You have to really focus on studying and sharing that. So it’s a different animal.”
“The Reluctant Pioneer,” told from Koontz’s point of view, follows Koontz as she, her husband and young children embark on the Oregon Trail and face death and tragedy along the way.
Though the novel ends when Koontz and what's left of her family reach the end of the trail, Koontz went on to establish a successful hotel located where the historic Jackson Courthouse currently stands. At the hotel, Koontz entertained many famous people, including future president Ulysses S. Grant; George McClellan, the future Civil War general; and Isaac Stevens, Washington's first territorial governor.
“She was known in Washington, D.C., as a gracious hostess and a wonderful cook and a great house cleaner, and all the things I’m not, so I admire her for that,” Zander said. “She’s also got a quiet, gentle spirit, is what they all said … I admire that part, because I’d just love to be like her.”
While writing the novel, Zander worked with a critique group run by historical novelist Melanie Dobson in Oregon and another local Christian critique group named after the famous JRR Tolkein and CS Lewis literary discussion group The Inklings. She also had a group of beta readers go through the book before publication.
“It’s been a learning experience,” Zander said about writing her novel.
Zander will join Jim Stafford and Carol Ponder for a book signing at the Lewis County Historical Museum on Nov. 9.
Before that, Zander will take part in a book signing in Washougal on Oct. 26.
For more information about “The Reluctant Pioneer,” including information on upcoming book signings, visit https://mczander2024.ag-sites.net/index.htm.
