First blog book review: The Pioneers

First blog book review: 

The Pioneers: The Heroic Story of the Americans Who Brought the American Ideal West

by David McCullough

The Pioneers: 
The Heroic Story of the Americans Who Brought the American Ideal West

by David McCullough

McCullough is one of my favorite authors. I enjoy history, and he tells stories of American history that you might not be aware of, or at least not in the depth of detail you get from him. And if his subject matter is a person or time in history you think you already know quite a bit about, he’ll set you straight.

This book about the early settlers of Ohio was just such a wealth of information.

This land was part of the Northwest Territory and included what was to become 5 states, land ceded to this brand new country from Great Britain at the end of the Revolutionary War. It wasn’t long after the colonies became independent that several men of vision saw the need to develop and settle here.

McCullough tells his stories through the descriptions of those who stand out in the portion of history he is focused on. Here it is Manasseh Cutler, his son

Ephriam, Rufus Putnam, and Samuel Hildreth, among others. (Ephriam’s wife Rhoda and Samuel’s wife Sally are wonderful examples of the amazing pioneer women.)

Thanks to the surviving accounts of many of those early pioneers, the author paints a vivid picture of the hardships overcome, sacrifices made, and the  development of places such as Marietta and Cinncinati.

Then there are the inevitable unusual characters, and rogues. Didn’t know what happened to Aaron Burr after the duel with Alexander Hamilton? That in itself is fascinating stuff to a history buff.

Anyone should already know the Northwest Territory was not vacant when the pioneers arrived; there were several native tribes who didn’t realize the westward push was the beginning of the end of their way of life. The author describes it factually as all events transpired.

What inspired me: The vision, energy, integrity, and tenacity that was the essence of leaders who were a part of our country’s early history. Few of us have a clear idea of what it often cost them.