A captivatig account of Midwest history, with focus on the ways people traveled during the pioneer days, when riverboats, stagecoaches, and steam locomotives whistled along streams and across the countryside. It was a fascinating time. Wisconsin was in its infancy, and although pioneer lifestyle seemed simpler, there was so much going on that shaped the coming years. Our nation was growing at a rapid pace as the population pushed its horizons westward, seeking new land and resources. New towns sprouted from logging camps and mining sites. Some flourished, becoming focal points of society and centers of commerce. Some sadly faded away, only to become forgotten and neglected memories. It's the kind of reading that many historians have overlooked, like the story of a Norwegian blacksmith who "hi-jacked" a ferryboat on the Chippewa River; log pirates at Two Rivers; how Strawberry Point, Iowa got its name; how the only war ever faught in Baraboo--the "Whiskey War"--began and ended in just a few short hours; how a persistent young boy saved his family from starvation by building a raft; how railroad construction to Ashland nearly ended in a bloody riot; how a mudslide created new real estate for a Minnesota lumber town. These and many other fascinating stories are sure to entertain any reader. Stories and pictures from more than 260 Upper Midwest locations emerge as you journey through this formative period. You might even want to use this book as a guide to visit many interesting historic places. Illustrated.