Description
The character of America reveals itself in stories such as The Bar Z Ranch. Without the adventurous nature and indomitable spirit of hearty souls like the Densons, the United States would not have grown and flourished to become a world leader. After the Civil War, Zach Denson, like many of his friends and neighbors following Horace Greeley's call to "go west, young man," pursues his dream to seek a better life. Leaving their secure and stable Illinois farm life behind, Zach, and his wife Mandy, and two young sons pack up their belongings and head for Colorado, a land filled with hope and promise. The narrative follows their journey on a wagon train across the Mississippi and up the Missouri river and over the territory to their new home. Nothing comes without a price. The sod home and the outbuildings grow to a home with the sweat of their brows and the determination to maintain their freedom and independence in an often harsh environment. But they meet the challenges with the iron will of pioneers resolved to survive under any circumstances. The story inspires as it reminds readers of the sturdy foundation upon which the country was built. Book jacket.
