The chronicles of history are punctuated with stories of women who lived lives of courage and ferocity in the times when women were considered lesser in status than men. In the early 19th century, there was a woman Sarah Campbell, affectionately nicknamed “Aunt Sally,” who lived such a life. But sadly, her story is still lesser known, almost untold and erased from the records of history. Just a few mementos remain here and there that are reminders of her epic life. Born into slavery, Aunt Sally came to be known as one of the first woman entrepreneurs and the first woman to participate in the Black Hills gold rush, reports SDPB (South Dakota Public Broadcasting).
Sarah was born in Kentucky on July 10, 1823, to an African-American slave named Marianne. When Sarah was born, the master of Marianne displayed a …