"The stories . . . give color and life to the history of settlement, logging, and farming in the early days of Wisconsin's statehood."

-Margaret Liddiard, author of Tilting to Listen

"Reveals the spirit of a people who with love and perseverance prevail, the love of the land in their blood, their hearts bound with strength's beneficence. A must read."

-Dianna M. Henning, author of Camaraderie of the Marvelous

"An exceptional and loving tribute to a pioneer Wisconsin family. It is a treasure not only for the Oakes family in New Richmond, but for the state of Wisconsin, and for anyone wishing to relate to the humor and heartaches of life long ago."

-Robert L. Owens, author of Pointman

"At its heart, these stories are about people dreaming of, searching for, and creating new homes in a new land. This moving book inspires us to explore the stories found in our own family trees, wherever we are from."

-Joelle Frazer, author of The Territory of Men