No Ordinary Journey
Stories of Men on the Overland Trails

by Mary Barmeyer O'Brien

  • Ten Personal Stories of Men Who Sought the Promise of the West

    Pioneer men traveling the overland trails during the mid-nineteenth century found the adventure of their lives—and the most grueling, dangerous endeavor they had ever undertaken. Most of them were young and looking for a new life. Many were Midwestern farmers who were tired of the never-ending cycle of monotonous chores that left little time for leisure. Other men had been persecuted, enslaved, or were living in poverty. When they heard stories from the West about rich, free land or California gold nuggets waiting to be claimed, they were eager to go.

    Often lacking the know-how needed to complete an overland journey, men set out anyway, planning to learn as they went. Those who brought along their sometimes-reluctant wives and children found out the hard way that traversing the primitive trails with a family was not a simple venture. The trip was so challenging that no part could be considered ordinary as they pushed toward the West, which glowed in their minds like the rising sun.



144 pages, 6 x 9, 25 b/w photos, 11 map(s), index

softcover
ISBN 10: 1560378387
ISBN 13: 9781560378389
$18.95

RELEASE DATE
January 2024

 

 

 

 


No Ordinary Journey
Stories of Men on the Overland Trails





Mary Barmeyer O'Brien align= Mary Barmeyer O'Brien was born and raised in Missoula, Montana and earned a B.A. in sociology from Linfield College (now Linfield University) in McMinnville, Oregon. She is the author of several books, both fiction and nonfiction, about women's history and pioneers on the overland trails, including Heart of the Trail: Stories of Covered Wagon Women and The Promise of the West: Young Pioneers on the Overland Trails. Mary writes from her home in the mountains of western Montana, where she and her husband, Dan, enjoy hiking, birdwatching, reading, and exploring.


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