Missouri Books

To the author: I can't tell you how fantastic I think it is that all of your hard work on this book really paid off. To me, it wasn't merely a history book; it was an opportunity to stand beside the men you described and to watch them be who they are. I could see the wear and tear on their clothes and almost smell the baked-in odors of days and months without baths.

From Home Guards to Heroes is a thoroughly researched, creative, and engaging history of the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry and the primary location from which its members came, Adams and York Counties, Pennsylvania. (Reviewer's disclosure: my great-great-great uncle, Daniel P. Reigle, was a member of Company F of the 87th, leading to my personal interest in this unit.)

The foundation of this book is Brandt's extensive research: U.S. census records, nearly 2000 Compiled Military Service Records, and over 1000 pension files for 87th Pennsylvania members, in addition to those records for over 800 men from the Adams/York areas who enlisted in other units in 1861. This study yields descriptive data on the 87th and comparative data relative to men in other units on factors such as their professions, age, physical characteristics, age at death, life expectancy, American-born and foreign-born, and their personal worth in personal property and real estate at the time they enlisted. The data on 1861 enlistments (both 87th and other units) is presented with the 1860 Lincoln vote for each of the fifty-five townships and boroughs in the two counties.

The quantitative research is complemented by extensive use of newspapers, including not only major city newspapers, but the local newspapers in the Gettysburg, York, and Hanover, important for understanding the political landscape and personalities in the area. For example, in addition to the rich contemporary information yielded by those newspapers, this research also yielded the valuable recollections by Michael Heiman in the York Gazette in 1891-1892. Further, Brandt has made use of any available manuscript sources, such as the George Blotcher papers at the excellent library of the York County Historical Trust, the Thomas Crowl papers at the U.S. Army Military History Institute and Penn State University libraries, and other materials provided by 87th descendants. He uses this information to create "sketches" of each company in the 87th, and the primary officers who were instrumental in its formation and its four years of service. I have seen many of these names "on paper" in years of reading about the 87th, but I found Brandt's sketches to provide an entirely new level of perspective on the men themselves.

This is a "real people" approach to the regiment's people and history, and it does not hesitate to share information that is delicate or uncomplimentary. For example, in the unit's rush to organize, there was no attempt to make any pre-enlistment physical examination of the potential enlistees. Brandt presents data to show that this resulted in more than 11% of the 1861 enlistees leaving the service for illness or injury; by comparison, the 7th PA Reserves' Company H, recruited in the same area, conducted full physical exams and experienced less than half that level of attrition. At another level that paints a less-than-heroic picture of some of the 87th's men, the unit was chartered and recruited primarily to provide security on the important Northern Central Railroad between Harrisburg and Baltimore. Although this was critically important to the Union effort in the first year of the war, such duty was not expected to involve major combat, long marches, or significant hardships at great distances from home. As a result, there was significant consternation among some parts of the 87th when their mission changed to becoming a fighting unit in the Union Army. Brandt examines the subject of desertions in detail, both real and on paper only, especially those occurring in the aftermath of the 87th's loss of 293 men captured at 2nd Winchester during the prelude to Gettysburg in June 1863. Drawing on Ella Lonn's classic Desertion During the Civil War for perspective, he provides many details on the individual cases of some men who intended to desert and did so, but also includes cases that illustrate how men could be tagged as "deserters" unfairly due to cumbersome administrative processes,. Finally, the chapter on "South-Central Pennsylvania and Race" will undoubtedly leave readers with roots in the 87th's home territory with a better understanding of the complex views of the community on race, slavery, emancipation, and the meaning of citizenship, but also with some embarrassment in accepting in our 21st Century the opinions of our ancestors in the 19th Century. These are difficult subjects to tackle objectively and fairly, and I commend the author for doing so. It provides additional perspective for the 87th's solid performance as part of the VI Corps in 1864 and 1865.

A difficult choice for the author of any regimental history is how much detail to include on the battles in which the unit participated. Brandt made the choice to not attempt to relate in detail the battles at 2nd Winchester, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, 3rd Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, the Petersburg Campaign including the Breakthrough on 2nd April 1865, and the Appomattox Campaign. He does include a more extensive analysis of Monocacy because of the 87th's pivotal role there in slowing down Early's advance on Washington D.C. This is clearly the right choice, in my opinion, because it enables Brandt to use the space of his book to focus on the 87th, while the reader interested in more depth on the 87th at the major battles can readily turn to other excellent studies.

This book will be of value to anyone studying the genealogy or local history of the York/Adams County area. However, I also believe this book to be of significant value to anyone interested in an indepth understanding and history of a Union infantry regiment. Although the 87th was, of course, a set of specific individuals and events, the themes, dynamics, and patterns likely have a high degree of similarity in other units. I will not only be re-reading this book more than once, but will use it as a valuable reference in my own Civil War genealogy and history research.

If you are looking for a Civil War story that is new and different this is the book for you. I was held captive from start to finish. Dennis Brandt tells, after 10 years of research, the story only he can tell. The story of the 87th Pennsylvania. It is a story about the lives of the boys from York and Adams county. Yes, Gettysburg is in Adams County but this is not another tired tale of that great story. It is instead about how the boys started their Army life rather dull, guarding railroads ect. as many battles raged on in other parts of the U.S.A. But our boys get taken captive, they escape, they die and in the end we ponder over whether The Grand Old Flag would still fly over those states south of Mason-Dixon if not for these HEROS.

These are characters that are either you or people with whom you'd want to befriend. I'd recommend it easily to anyone looking for a great story.

I picked up this gem at a second hand bookstore and could not put it down. Arnie Goldman has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 8 and his friend, Redso, turns out to be a manic depressive. The third protagonist, Billy Rubin, daughter of an orthodox rabbi, needs to be needed. All three characters are highly intelligent. Savan's writing is beautiful. The pages just flow one into the next. Will definitely try and get his other book. It seems he has only written one other. I identified with all three main characters even though Redso is not a likeable person at all.
Did not really want to give the book 5 stars because the ending was a bit weak but decided that the quality of the writing and the way the story gripped me, was worth the extra star. Savan is truly amazing in that he writes about manic depression and rheumatoid arthritis as though he himself has suffered them. I wonder if he has any first hand knowledge of these illnesses.

Having thoroughly enjoyed White Palace, Glen Savan's earlier book that was made into a mediocre movie, I was looking for anything else that he had written. I was not disappointed with Goldman's Anatomy. It's funny, poignant and is so well written that many passages deserved to be read aloud. My only complaint is I can't find anything else written by Glen Savan. That's a shame.

Dr. Scheer has written a thoughtful book about an important woman who achieved milestones in our country's history. Nellie Tayloe Ross was the first woman elected governor in the country in 1924, the vice chairman of the Democratic Party who campaigned for Al Smith in 1928, and was appointed to be Director of the U.S. Mint in 1933, serving in that capacity until 1953.

Living to 101, her life and times bridged the frontier west with the modern world. Driven by the necessity to support her family after the death of her husband, Nellie moved to the forefront of women entering the political scene on their own merit. She went from frontier wife and mother to governor lady of Wyoming, and then to a full career in Washington D.C. She was a regular speaker on the Chatauqua circuit and traveled the world well into her 90's.

Nellies' story is a personal inspiration, particularly because most of her achievements came after she turned 40. I have been dining out on Nellies' story since I read it, and would recommend it to anyone.

Govern Lady: The Life And Times Of Nellie Tayloe Ross by Teva J. Scheer (Adjunct Faculty, Graduate School of Public Affairs, University of Colorado at Denver) is an informative study of the inspirational life of the first female in the United States to be elected state governor in her own right. Governor Lady brings the reader into the time when women were just being granted the right to vote, and the intriguing story behind one of the most famous political figures of the first enfranchised generation of American women. Very strongly recommended reading for its interesting story of an intricate mind-set and value cast of such a powerful woman in American history, Governor Lady is of particular interest as an addition to Women's Studies, Political Science, American Biographical Studies, and Western History collections.

"How did such a milestone of women's political rights come to be overlooked? ... Not a single full biography of this remarkable woman has appeared before now. Happily, the long wait has been well rewarded. Teva J. Scheer's biography is thorough, scholarly, and fun to read...
Scheer's biography even-handedly examines the whole of Ross' long life, from her family's travails during the Civil War to her death in 1977. The author is especially to be commended for searching out archival collections, including not only Ross's papers, but her secretary's, Eleanor Roosevelt's, the DNC's, Sue Shelton White, and many others. Scheer considers the domestic image as a wife and mother that Ross cultivated, but did not always live up to. She evaluates Ross's accomplishments as a politician and as an administrator. She places the nation's true first woman governor in the context of her time. By doing so, Scheer demonstrates both how much societal expectations have changed for women and how little their political opportunities have expanded. Scheer has produced a wonderful biography of an unjustly neglected American political figure."
D. Claudia Thompson

The narrative picks up in June 1805, after a night of rain "but it cleared off and became a fine day." By the end of that year when the expedition next wintered near modern day Astoria, OR, the expedition would face rains almost constantly, having a dozen or so dry days all winter, and of those only half provided sunshine.

This year is the most difficult of the expedition (or rather the period covered by this volume). The team meets its greatest hardships, not least of which is choosing the best overland route when the Missouri is no longer navigable. The correct choice (and the correct choice was made) is vital to preserving the goodwill of the men and the success of the expedition. Grizzly bears continue to harass the men (many hunters are treed), the mosquitoes become horribly bothersome, and when game becomes scarce, they trade for horses, sometimes killing the colts for food; elsewhere they trade to feed upon dogs, at first a meat loathsome to the men, but after adaptation and long usage, it becomes a favorite food, as the expedition trades for that article particularly. Many times plant roots and dried fish served as the only food for days on end, which made the men sick, who were so drenched with rain (they built their winter cabins in the rain), that many were too sick to participate in the necessary subsistence.

Here Sacajawea and her husband are saved from drowning by the vigilance of Captain Clark.

This volume provides many instances of bighorn and behavior, pronghorn antelope and behavior, and of course grizzly bears. This wonderful volume of harrowing escapes, exciting scenes of the endurance of man, and the wonderful rewards from severe hardships ends in March 1806, just before the expedition evacuates Fort Clatsop on the Pacific Coast.

A wonderful read for early American exploration, and an excellent resource for the American wilderness at the beginning of the 19th century.

Before breaking camp in Fort Clatsop, the expedition had hoped to encounter British traders who ply the coasts, in order to buy provisions and ammunition with "their ample letters of credit." These were drawn on the Executive office of the United States, in other words Jefferson, who after getting $2,500 from Congress to finance, he seemed prepared to bring them back to Washington at any costs, including circumnavigating taxi if need be (this is no joke).

However, the waiting for the traders delays them from their start, and their hopes of returning to St Louis during the season are as warm and finally decisive as their previous push to the West. They break camp, return up the Columbia River, and with Sacajawea's vital help, find their way over the mountains where the snows are so thick that trails are impossible to discover. Thankfully the expedition resumes the Missouri, and after averaging 20 miles a day on the ascent (using oar and sail), they frequently make 80 miles a day on the descent.

After such a long and harrowing journey, full of hardships and decorated with delights, the men are anxious to press for home, sometimes not landing for rest or game during their earnest advance.

This trio of books is among the best reads I've ever had of men journeying into the unknown, discovering the best in themselves, and holding to the notion that perseverance will ultimately endure.

I loved the book, a satisfying completion to a wonderful tale.

Lewis and Clark's descriptions of their epic overland journey is a deserved American classic. So many students must memorize the Gettysburg Address or the Preamble of the Constitution, but too few are ever introduced to this magnificent trilogy, told in Lewis and Clark's own words. They were the first white men to lay eyes on the interior sections of the Unites States, when the land was unspoiled, unpolluted and obviously quite spectacular. In great detail, they relate their indescribable amazement to see giant Sequoia trees, grizzly bears and endless miles of barren desert.

Lewis and Clark's experiences are the stuff of legend, but the question that begs to be answered is: could they write? The answer is a resounding yes! The narrative flows smoothly, the descriptions of the animals and landscape come alive with their vivid use of language and metaphor. Perhaps the most vivid sections of the book revolve around their numerous encounters with Native Americans. This book should be required reading for anyone with an history in the history and exploration of the United States.

This book goes into great detail about the combat actions of Gen. Joe Shelby and his Iron Brigade. It covers nearly all the organized fighting in the ArkLaTex, Kansas and Oklahoma during the Civil War. Of all the cavalry units west of the Mississippi, Gen. Shelby's cavalrymen time and again rescued lesser talented commander's bacon from the fire of numerically superior Union pursuit. Shelby's men lead the charge in nearly every large unit action and covered the Army's rear in retreat. Shelby's men fought Yankee units of greater strength to a standstill time and again. "First In, Last Out" was not invented by the U.S. Army Pathfinders. Joe Shelby's Iron Brigade was doing it long before the current owners of that phrase came into existance! What a book!!

Jo Shelby's life during the Civil War is very interestingly written about by Deryl P. Sellmeyer. Sellmeyer has done a very good accounting of the exploits that many are not aware unless you are a Civil War reader and some even may not know him well if they read Civil War history. What interest me besides the cavalry in the Civil War is the leadership abilities of those chosen to do just that, lead. Some do well and some are dismal failures i.e., Bragg, Fremont, Burnside, and Hood to name a few that come to mind. The author also gives a few insights about why the South fought the war and it was never all about slavary. If you would like to read about a pricipled man this is that sort of leader. He was not willing to set down his priciples after Lee, Johnston, and Smith surrendered and made a futile attempt in Mexico to continue his rebellion.
I believe this is the best and most detailed accurately portrayed book on Shelby. It was written in much detail of the accounts that took place under Shelby and his command. I believe those who have interest in the west of the Mississippi battles and campaigns will find this book of value

Mr. Sellmeyer shows great interest and passion in detailing the history of Shelby's Brigade. Someone in Hollywood should make a movie about General Jo Shelby! Jo Shelby's Iron Brigade tells the tale of how General Joseph Shelby developed three regiments of Confederate recruits into the toughest cavalry brigade west of the Mississippi. This is the first fully factual account of Shelby and his rough riders. Like Civil War icon General Beauregard, who will be forever remembered for firing on Fort Sumter beginning the Civil War, Shelby and a remnant of his brigade will be remembered as the men who refused to surrender and buried their battle flag, and with it the Confederacy, in the Rio Grande River before entering
Mexico, ending armed resistance in the Civil War.

"The author has written a charming, captivating story in Kindred Bond... Deborah Raney paints a beautiful picture of romantic love and the importance of family." --Christian Library Journal, Fall, 1998

"This is a delightful story of love, spiritual growth and God's ability to help us put closure on our pain if we allow Him to. The emotional depth of these characters brings them to life and makes for an exciting, fast reading story. --Jill Robertson, BookBrowser, January 1999

"This is an original and engrossing story of two decent Christians who must resolve difficult problems, one that women will enjoy." --Church Libraries, Spring 1999

"[Kindred Bond] provides an impressive testimony to how god's love and understanding can help resolve the most confused human relationships." --The Christian Observer, January 1999

This book is about a young woman, Claire, who has moved to a new town, where she meets Michael, a nursing home administrator. During their relationship, they discover that they have a common tie to the past. The book then shows the 2 struggling to overcome the difficulties from the past.

The book was a great romance book, but there was more to this book than just romance. To some degree, there was a murder mystery at the nursing home. There was also the lesson of forgiveness that Claire and Michael discovered as they revisited their past. And there was Nana and her love and concern for Michael and Claire.

This is a book that I would highly recommend.

Claire Anderson and Michael Meredith have something in common. At first it draws them together. But just when everything is going good, a terrible secret threatens to tear them apart.

In the meantime, there is something fishy going on a Riverview Manor. Can Michael figure out what it is before it hurts his patients and adversely affects his career?

Deborah Raney has woven this intriguing tale in her novel, "Kindred Bond." Her characters breathe life as they struggle with deep, heartfelt needs. What I loved most was the message that hidden sins and a painful past cannot be stuffed away and forgotten without the cleansing power of God's forgiveness. The spiritual message coupled with the constant question of "will their love survive?" will keep you turning pages until the end!

Isabel Allende counsels authors to "write what should not be forgotten." As newspapers crumble and new models for journalism emerge on the Web, many voices seem to be forgetting that journalism has a bedrock foundation. In this book the late Bill Woo, one of his generation's great writers, editors and teachers of journalism, writes what should not be forgotten. Journalism's eternal verities -- simple declarative sentences, careful marshaling of detail, careful verification of fact, respect for the readers, ethical clarity, and so much more come alive in Bill's elegant storytelling.

Every journalist, young and old, print and digital, should read this book -- it will provide a solid foothold in a shaky world.

But more than that, everyone who cares about the First Amendment, and thus about journalism's crucial role in democracy, should read this as well -- it will strengthen your grip on your values and illuminate them in new ways. And you will enjoy every word you read.

This book truly lives up to it's subtitle "Lessons on Journalism and Life." So you need not be directly involved in public journalism to appreciate it.

However, Bill, my close friend of over 50 years, would call me to task on that. He would claim (as a chapter in his book does claim) that any American who cherishes the first amendment to the Constitution is in fact "directly involved in public journalism," and is moreover in part responsible for its health and future.

Professor Woo's prose rolls out seemingly without effort. Large sections of the book will pass your eyes and brain at a single sitting, and you're at its end before you know it. At that point, you, as I, will no doubt be happy with the experience, sorry it's over, and furious that Bill is no longer with us to discuss parts of it with.

We journalists who knew Bill Woo are fortunate indeed to have spent time in the company of one of the craft's greatest talents. We also knew Bill as a sensitive humanitarian. Both of these qualities are conspicuous in Letters from the Editor: Lessons on Journalism and Life. After an illustrious career as a reporter and editor, Bill spent his remaining years teaching aspiring journalists at Stanford. The letters in this book were lovingly compiled from the weekly essays he wrote for his Stanford students, instructing them on the finer points of journalism and of life itself. This book is well worth reading by anyone, but especially by the journalists of tomorrow.

Bought it for a gift for Mom. Whole family has enjoyed this. Fun to browse through.

It took me a couple of years to read the book because I spread out the reading to enjoy my armchair travels. My compliments on the work. I can't imagine how all the information was gathered and checked. The author had to travel to each town. I looked up a couple of facts I consider to be little-known facts. They were included in the book, and were correct. I enjoyed reading about places near my weekend cabin. I checked out several of the features. The one I found most amazing was the grave of Comfort Ruggles -- a member of the Boston Tea Party buried in a Missouri country cemetery.

The book is great for the native Missourian and for those travelers who dream of discovering the Show Me State.

Missouri Roadsides is a thorough compilation of almost every town in the state, from the small (Halltown, pop. 161) to the large (St. Louis, pop. 396,685). Based on courthouse records and eyeball observation, you'll find the history of each town, along with recreational areas, attractions, and fascinating tidbits. Armchair historians will like the emphasis on town origins. A special appendix on recreational areas is ideal for travellers, and includes wildlife areas, state parks, even navigable waterways. While the book would have been more complete with more maps and illustrations, Missouri Roadsides is a wealth of information -- and well worth the price!

Probably a very taste-specific book for those interested in genealogy and the family, but it was just what I needed to add to my library. Since I have ancestors in this book, I wanted it as a source for my work and to pass down to my children. It is filled with well-researched facts and a few portraits and drawings. It has helped fill in the missing pieces to my puzzle.

Finding my dad's family proved easy with this book. It is well printed and bound to last many years. Thank you for making this book available. MORE PLEASE!!

Great book for those looking into there family roots. Very detailed.

A true labor of love, this book was put together by two alumni who bleed Black 'n Gold. They did this on their own time and put up their own money to get the book printed.
Filled with terrific images and interviews this book looks at inspiring wins and lamentable losses by talking with some of the key players and coaches associated with the games.
Even if you are a life-long MU Tiger fan - as I am - you'll probably learn something from the various chapters covering Mizzou football from Pitchin' Paul Chrisman to Brad Smith to the legendary Don Faurot, who created the Split-T formation that revolutionized college football for decades.
This would make a great Holiday gift. It should be considered a "must-have" by all MU Tiger fans.

This book is a must for Missouri football fans! It's interesting and well-written, and the photos are great. Kudos to the authors.

This book is great for having around while watching a game on TV. The chapters are short, allowing the reader to pick it up during commercials, read a chapter and set it back down when the game is back on.
The book takes about 30 games in Mizzou's football history and relives them. Pictures from what appears to be game films help bring the chapters to life. And some of those pictures are ones I've never seen before.
If you were at the game, you'll recall it in detail with the help of the book. If you weren't at the game, you'll come close to feeling that you were.
Even some of the cheerleaders are featured in the chapter about the origin of the M-I-Z Z-O-U cheer.
If you're a Missouri football fan you've got to get the book or ask someone to give it to you as a present. You won't regret it.