Widows of the Western Reserve

About the Book

There is much to learn about our country as you explore the role of widows during the rapid expansion of colonial America. To find a missing relative, a grandmother helps a granddaughter trace ancestors. They discover hardships faced by pioneer families as they made the arduous journey across mountain wilderness to a place called the Western Reserve. Although their adventure is based on historic records, the names of the characters are fictitious, and narration has been added to help bring the story to an unexpected conclusion.

About the Author

Art Hanford Jr. has been retired since 1990 after 37 years as a photographer, reporter, managing editor, assistant editor, editor and director of internal communications for several railroad unions. After graduating from the U.S. Navy School of Photography in Pensacola,FL, he began his career with the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, and hired as photographer-reporter for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He served one year with Railway Age before switching to the Brotherhood of Raiload Trainmen, which merged with three other unions to form United Transportation Union. Art and his wife, Janice, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2017. They have five children, eleven grandchildren and six (so far) great-grandchildren.