Dave Ross (1871-1943) and George Ade (1866-1944) were trustees, distinguished alumni and benefactors of Purdue University. Their friendship began in 1922 and led to their giving land and money for the 1924 construction of Ross-Ade Stadium, now a 70,000 seat athletic landmark on the West Lafayette campus. Their life stories date to 1883 Purdue and involve their separate student experiences and eventual fame. Their lives crossed paths with U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry Ford, Amelia Earhart, and Will Rogers among others. Gifts or ideas from Ross or Ade led to creation of the Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue Airport, Ross Hills Park, and Ross Engineering Camp. They helped Purdue Theater, the Harlequin Club and more. Ade, renowned author and playwright, did butt heads with Purdue administrators at times long ago, but remains a revered figure. Ross's ingenious mechanical inventions of gears still steer millions of motorized vehicles, boats, tractors, even golf carts the world over.

More than 75 works, including a number of Lindsay's most popular performance pieces, "The Congo" and "The Santa Fe Trail" among them.

This study of 364 Hill Country men is modeled after "Webster's New Biographical Dictionary." Some of the entries are short, such as Frank Murara who appears only on the 1890 Veterans Schedule as a Union veteran, possibly an itinerant railroad worker staying at a hotel in Comfort. Some entries are longer, such as Thomas Ingenhuett who served in both Confederate and Union units and whose pension application describes the 1864 Battle of Las Rucias and his subsequent escape through Mexico. Some entries contain unexpected information, such as J. W. Manning whose 1926 burial ceremony included a cross of red roses--a gift of the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan.