In 1787 the Northwest Territory was opened for settlement. It was as exciting a time as one could imagine, and volatile as well. With great anticipation, as well as extraordinary courage and resolve, citizens of the new United States ventured from the civilized communities established along the Atlantic, into the expansive wilderness lying beyond the Appalachians. These individuals were in possession of an indomitable spirit that had gotten them through a revolution and now guided them into the unknown; an inherent American spirit that is still recognizable today. Likewise, the Native Americans who already inhabited the land, were instinctively driven to defend it and in the process faced internal struggles of their own. This book blows the dust off of their stories; most long forgotten and some rarely ever told. Through sketches, created with words rather than charcoal, intriguing episodes of their lives are retold, often in their own words. As you read excerpts from diaries, letters, and newspapers of the day, you'll be given a rare and raw glimpse into some of the most daring lives lived on the frontier. Be careful, for their emotions may momentarily become yours. Some of the tales are thrilling, others curious, and a few are even light-hearted, but all are true. So come on! The United States of America has just been born! Hazard a trip over the mountains and stake your claim to adventure alongside some rugged, historic, and often heroic Americans, new and native. Readers' Favorite Review - Have you ever been curious about what the late 1700s and exploration of America beyond the thirteen colonies looked like? Luckily, some adventures were well documented. Sketches of Intriguing People and the Curious Events They Suffered While Living in the Wilderness of the Northwest Territory by Frank E. Kuron was able to turn all of this information into "sketches" for us readers. The book is a collection of seventeen sketches with illustrations peppered throughout. Each story is different and shines a light onto the lives of those many of us have forgotten. Each sketch starts with paragraphs that introduce those involved, the setting, and/or the importance of the people/events. The author then goes into the backgrounds of the individuals involved before sharing their tales. Sketches of Intriguing People was a remarkably interesting book for a history buff like myself. I was particularly fond of the Ohio Valley-based stories, though I'm a bit biased as I grew up in Ohio. That said, each story was unique. While the characters and actions may seem outlandish at times, it is clear all the stories are true. The author put so much research into this book and it shows. There was a plethora of remarkable information and photographs. The stories are followed by anecdotes, sketch notes, and an index that helps show this and provides a great starting point for those who want to look into these people more. Those interested in the people who pioneered westward expansion should definitely pick up this book. It provides numerous eye-opening accounts that made me want to know more. -- Shannon Winings Ohio History Connection Review - The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 significantly expanded settlement into the newly established Northwest Territory. Kuron's engaging project is here to share the neglected stories of some of those settlers and illustrate the agency of ordinary people in a pivotal time and place in our nation's history. Some of the individuals we meet contributed to the great events of their day, but all he contends, are of interest in their own right. While most of the "intriguing people" are men of European descent (There's a brief nod to the experience of women and American Indians), their adventurous lives indeed hold our attention. Relying heavily on printed primary sources such as family histories and newspapers, Kuron's short, informal narratives are varied and laced with humor, with whimsical chapter titles and a distinctly lighthearted tone for a book so replete with battles and massacres. Through the travails of a young commissar, we witness the urgent need for salt in frontier forts. Instead of the familiar Battle of Lake Erie, we watch the ingenious, determined men who built and transported the American ships that fought in it. One chapter examines the spiritual beliefs of Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa sympathetically, while another surveys the extraordinary life of William Oliver, doctor, sutler, courier for General Harrison, soldier, land speculator and legislator. The different experiences of two American farmers in Upper (southern) Canada, whose peaceful prosperity ended with the conflicting demands for their loyalty created by the War of 1812, are particularly thought-provoking. A portrait of Jane Trimble, drawn mostly from a biography by her grandson, describes such a paragon of faith and fortitude that we chuckle at one of her long-suffering children's comments: "Mother, you talk to us too