Upstate New York in the mid-19th century is a cauldron bubbling with the lure of fast fortunes, religious zealotry, and battles for civil liberties. This fervor centers on the Erie Canal, which successfully supports scores of villages brimming with opportunity. One such village, Fayetteville, shaped two future American leaders, people whose lives intersected with the Dakotas.

Michael Miller identifies with his two protagonists. Born in a small town in New Jersey, he played baseball, delivered the daily newspaper, and tramped through the woods as a child. Through small town life, he learned to respect people regardless of their backgrounds and appreciate the gifts each person brings to the world. After forty years as a professor of anatomy, he retired. Now he writes novels, volunteers locally, and enjoys being a grandfather.