“Asked how it was that he could do so much and accomplish so much, he said, ‘I’ve learned to use every one of all the odds and ends of the time.’”
When the U.S. government purchased the Northwest Territory, it gained so much land that needed to be explored. Many people liked the idea, but one man presented a proposal to settle the land that the government couldn’t refuse. Mannasseh Cutler organized a group that traveled west of the Alleghenies, past Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River. There, they started to settle in Marietta. They dealt with hard winters, disease, flooding and tense relations with Native Americans. Yet, they thrived and other settlements branched off of theirs.
I have read many books by David McCullough and The Pioneers is his latest release. I am usually captivated by his historical tales and learn a lot about history from his books. My favorite of his books is the Johnstown Flood. I have also read 1776, John Adams, The Wright Brothers and The American Spirit by McCullough.
The Pioneers covers several decades of the pioneers’ lives, but only in the Northwest Territory. McCullough focuses on a few key families and events to show what life was like for these pioneers settling in a land that had not seen any permanent human settlement. One memorable story is when 600 French citizens purchased land in Ohio, only to discover when they arrived that they had been scammed. The person doing the selling owned no land and had disappeared with the money. They were given a place to settle by the government anyway.
I did learn some things from The Pioneers, but found it to be a bit dry. I think my interest was a bit more than most people since I do live in Ohio and could recognize some of the places he was talking about. History lovers will enjoy this book. I was hoping for more about all the pioneers – Colorado, California and Alaska.
Do you have a favorite McCullough book? Share on the blog!