The Beautiful Land, The Future State of Iowa, 1835-1838 | Ethel Barker | $21.95 | 236 pg | ISBN 9781948509589 | Paperback | Coming October 2024 | Order Early for a signed copy
Lovers of historical fiction will find this new novel fascinating and informative. The Beautiful Land, The Future State of Iowa, 1835-1838, tells the story of two families plus a fifteen-year-old adventurer. These people travel together in two Conestoga Wagons pulled by strong Conestoga Horses. Together, they all brave the hardships of the journey and early life on the prairie. They choose fertile land near water and open prairie to be plowed and planted, but also trees for fuel and house building—so many challenges to be met with primitive tools brought with them from Ohio. They make friends with and learn much from the helpful Native Americans. Four adults, one teenager, and three children are all heroes who find purpose and joy in the never-ending struggle between man and nature. Finally, figuring out how to adapt to this new and beautiful land of Iowa and, in so doing, come to call the beautiful land of Iowa their home.
“This book helps the reader to understand the difficulties encountered by the people who settled in Iowa in the time prior to the official surveys. These people not only had to begin their attempts to make a living but also, they had to ensure that once they had improved the land and constructed their farmstead, they could obtain legal title to their home. The story of such a family and their efforts allows the reader to understand these problems and to appreciate the efforts made by early settlers in Iowa. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about Iowa before it became a state.”
— Dr. Loren Horton, Senior Historian Emeritus, State Historical Society of Iowa
“Imagine standing on the bank, looking westward across the Mississippi River. Are you ready to risk all you have to cross these sometimes treacherous waters? Ethel Barker’s A Beautiful Land takes readers on this journey with two pioneer families as they head into unknown territory in 1835. Will their dreams of finding a place to put down roots and thrive come true? A young girl’s voice takes the reader with her as she recounts this tale of hardship, danger, joy, and hope.”
—Jan Down, author, Wind In My Wheels
Ethel Kjaer Barker, daughter of a Danish Lutheran pastor, spent a happy childhood in Dwight, Illinois; rural Iowa (between Cedar Falls and Dike); Salinas, California; and Des Moines, Iowa. Her degrees are AA from Grand View College, Des Moines; BA and MAT from the University of Iowa. She taught remedial reading to Junior High students and, in so doing, recognized the need for books that educate while holding the students’ interest. At an early age, while the two little girls were happily playing school, her sister taught her to read. Ever since she has found great delight in books. This is her third book published by Ice Cube Press. The first was For the Love of Pete: An Orphan Train Story, which was also adapted as a children’s opera. The second was The Andersens of Eden, The Story of an Iowa Family During World War II.