Chapter II: Introduction: TO THE AUTHOR v

PART ONE--FROM OHIO TO THE COAST

1. BACK TO BEGINNINGS 1

2. BOYHOOD DAYS IN OLD INDIANA 9

3. LEAVING THE HOME NEST FOR IOWA 15

4. TAKING THE TRAIL FOR OREGON 21

5. THE WESTWARD RUSH 33

6. THE PIONEER ARMY OF THE PLAINS 38

7. INDIANS AND BUFFALOES ON THE PLAINS 43

8. TRAILING THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN LAND 49

9. REACHING THE END OF THE TRAIL 57

PART TWO--SETTLING IN THE NORTHWEST COUNTRY

10. GETTING A NEW START IN THE NEW LAND 69

11. HUNTING FOR ANOTHER HOME SITE 78

12. CRUISING ABOUT ON PUGET SOUND 86

13. MOVING FROM THE COLUMBIA TO PUGET SOUND 99

14. MESSAGES AND MESSENGERS 106

15. BLAZING THE WAY THROUGH NATCHESS PASS 115

16. CLIMBING THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS 122

17. FINDING MY PEOPLE 128

18. INDIAN WAR DAYS 135

19. THE STAMPEDE FOR THE GOLD DIGGINGS 141

20. MAKING A PERMANENT HOME IN THE WILDS 146

21. FINDING AND LOSING A FORTUNE 154

22. TRYING FOR A FORTUNE IN ALASKA 160