Bandits, Farmers, Military Leaders, Patriots, Politicians, and Prophets

One interpretation of
early American history suggests that many of the immigrants who fled Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries
were seeking freedom from the intolerable social, economic and religious
injustices that were prevalent at the time. Even after arriving here, they
encountered more hardship. They had to overcome what seemed to be, at times,
insurmountable obstacles in their day-to-day survival. Many did not
survive these harsh conditions. Children frequently survived only a few years.
Mothers died young, leaving small children to be raised by relatives or
neighbors. Young males who joined the military usually did so at an age where
we would still consider them to be youngsters. Disease was rampant; and medical
care was limited. Families were chased from their homes by hostile Indians.
Livestock were killed by wild animals.

The westward migration of
these early settlers was extremely difficult as well. Most travel inland
required transport on foot, by wagon-train or oxcart over rough terrain where
the paths were often shaped by wild animals. Some of the tragedies and
heartaches of our ancestors can be reviewed from limited records, while most of
the information can only be retold from hearsay stories passed down from
generation to generation. Such may be the history, and could well symbolize the
migration patterns of the Adams, Cannon, Hobson, and Pattie families presented
in this book. As a result, it is believed there may be descendants in all
of the fifty states, representing all walks of life- BANDITS, FARMERS, MILITARY
LEADERS, PATROITS, POLITICIANS, and PROPHETS.