From the East to the far West these are personal accounts of migrations and communities that created the United States. Readers who have affection for history and the workings of human nature will be captured by the rich content and style of this collection of letters and photographs. Informal in style, the emotional tone set by the editors commentary provides context and highlights sustaining threads of family and community.

Most letters have not been previously published and most were written over 100 years ago. They were authored primarily by members of the editors' paternal hereditary lines; Watkins, Clark, Hirst & Proffitt. The lives represented occupy the history and much of the geography of the nation. No ancestor achieved any degree of fame, or fortune. Unconscious of being actors in great events they are just there; as they were; in the majesty of drama written by ordinary people. The collection is of particular interest to genealogists seeking information of mid and late nineteenth century families living in Ohio, Wisconsin, the Southwestern U.S. and the Pacific Northwest. One may even hope to discover their proverbial "brick wall" breached by a gossipy comment.

Our collection of family letters and documents has been growing for over a century and half. Most letters have not been previously published. The primary purpose for creating this book is to make conveniently available. the material contained which is of interest to genealogists and historians. However as the projects of transcription and compilation went forward emotions became engaged and we developed the hope to also share something of the experience of discovery of family and community connections. Not a formal family history, we honor the correspondence as it narrates the history. The first I read was a letter by Florinda Hirst Watkins. Viewing through the eyes of a newlywed she described her 1846 journey down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and on to Wisconsin. She advised; "You had better save a quarter of your money so that if you stop long enough in Cincinnati (as you most probably will). you can visit the Museum...... I know you will not be sorry for spending 25 cents in this way.... I wish Cyndrella and Larodus could go. They would find something to engage their bump of' Marvelousness I think..... " On reading these words the hook was set. I became determined to learn and share more of these lyrical people whose genes I carry. – wlw Here are the words of family and friends who were participants in the 18th-20th century migrations that formed the nation. The vibrancy and immediacy of the writing and photographs endure. A personal bonus has come from the piecing of contemporaneously written words with our own memories. Many nooks and crannies in our living family history have become illuminated. There is Rolandus Watkins' red leather notebook sculptured by his sweat. It carries notes penciled in 1901 that describe Oklahoma Lottery sections. Holding it evokes the personal memory of our grandfather's lap and his stories of "Nineteen and Oners." And there is Margaret Watkins' description of the land and streams observed on the family’s first visit to the "Claim." It brings forward memories of our mother telling of her journey to Oklahoma in the "covered wagon" through grass sometimes to her father's shoulders and then of the abundance of Blue Beaver Creek. Other particularly vivid childhood memories are of our parents reading to us. After school Mother read fresh mail that brought news from and of family. Later, while she prepared supper, our father provided context, by reading aloud the evening paper. With our parents' commentary on family, the news and more came the implicit command to be aware. Through preservation of these first person accounts we honor family, now aware of deeply imbedded imperatives and celebrate human connection far beyond the "begats." We are grateful.

Lorraine and David Watkins are siblings and native Oklahomans. They worked and currently live in the eastern United States. Lorraine is a retired physician and amateur genealogist. She, designed and currently manages the family history website www.prairietree.com. David is retired from AT&T Bell Laboratories management. His passion is world travel.