When we think about American life at the beginning, way back in 1776, I think most of us conjure up images of powdered wigs and petticoats, muskets and black powder, while a patriotic marching song plays in the background performed by a fife and drum. But did you know that a some of the earliest, trail-blazing military spouse entrepreneurs also had their start during the American Revolution?

Even at a time when women had few rights and were considered property in the same way a man’s horse and cart might be, there were a few business savvy military wives who did what we do best—they made the most of the situation at hand.

Life in military camps in the 18^th century was far from plush, especially among the enlisted ranks. There were no commissaries to offer countless varieties of ketchup, no post Exchange to buy boots and new uniforms, and in most cases, on-post housing consisted of a tent or a make-shift cabin.

Responsibilities like cooking, cleaning, sewing, candlemaking, weaving, and child-rearing fell on the shoulders of a military wife, no matter her circumstances or resources. Cooking was done in a single pot over an open fire, uniforms were sewn and repaired by hand, and doing the laundry meant finding a stream, a rock, and a lump of lye soap. There were few opportunities for women during those days, but if you do a little digging, you can find a countless number of military wives who turned a profit sewing, doing laundry, and cooking for the unmarried men in camp. In fact, the practice became so common, many units set standard prices for these services.

Other military spouses recognized an even greater demand for everyday items not readily available, like coffee, tobacco, and alcohol. These entrepreneurs, called sutlers, bought the stuff wholesale, then sold it to soldiers and sailors at a profit. They were required to obtain a special permit, similar to a business license, which granted them permission to operate their trade around camp. This business became so lucrative, and even cut-throat, that regulations were put into place to limit the number of sutlers within each camp and define punishments for those found to be selling faulty goods or bad wine.

It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come in our short history. Fast forward to the 21^st century, and while life has gotten a little easier with things like electic ranges and indoor plumbing, there are still military spouses capitalizing on opportunities and finding success as entrepreneurs.  In the 2013 Military Family Lifestyle Survey conducted by Blue Star Families, nearly a quarter of the military spouses surveyed reported that they own their own business.

Gone are the days of having to soley rely on your cooking and sewing skills to make a living. You can find military spouse entrepreneurs in everything from professional services, government contracting, entertainment, fitness, retail, and just about every other industry.

But I suppose it should come as no great surprise that military spouses continue to find success as entrepreneurs. After all, we’ve been doing it for more than two hundred years.