In an attempt to recreate some of the early days in Paulding, Ohio, the author has created a journal that might have been written by a resident of the village. Founded in 1850, at first Paulding was a rough and tumble hamlet with most of the residents involved in the timber industry. Gradually, the land was cleared and agricultural pursuits replace timbering and the manufacture of wooden products. This journal illustrates some of the changes which occurred through eight decades in this northwestern Ohio village.

A reassessment of the military's role in developing the Western territories moves beyond combat stories and stereotypes to focus on more non-martial accomplishments such as exploration, gathering scientific data, and building towns.