Hard Gold: The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 (I Witness)

Early Whitcomb lives on a farm in Cass County, Iowa, in the 1850's with his brother, his uncle Jesse, and his parents. The railroad wants the land their farm sits on and, when they refuse to sell, the pressure begins to force them out. Uncle Jesse, age 19, decides to go West to join the Gold Rush where he hopes to earn enough money to save the family farm, but trouble follows Jesse, and Early sets out after him. To pay his way West on a wagon train, Early signs on to work for the Bunderley family. This is the story of his journey. Ages 8-12 240 pages