Louis Adams

Bandits, Farmers, Military Leaders, Patriots, Politicians, and Prophets: Retracing the Vanishing Footprints of Our Ancestors Louis Adams

One interpretation ofearly American history suggests that many of the immigrants who fled Europe during the 17th and 18th Centurieswere seeking freedom from the intolerable social, economic and religiousinjustices that were prevalent at the time. Even after arriving here, theyencountered more hardship. They had to overcome what seemed to be, at times,insurmountable obstacles in their day-to-day survival. Many did notsurvive these harsh conditions. Children frequently survived only a few years. Mothers died young, leaving small children to be raised by relatives orneighbors. Young males who joined the military usually did so at an age wherewe would still consider them to be youngsters. Disease was rampant; and medicalcare was limited. Families were chased from their homes by hostile Indians. Livestock were killed by wild animals. The westward migration ofthese early settlers was extremely difficult as well. Most travel inlandrequired transport on foot, by wagon-train or oxcart over rough terrain wherethe paths were often shaped by wild animals. Some of the tragedies andheartaches of our ancestors can be reviewed from limited records, while most ofthe information can only be retold from hearsay stories passed down fromgeneration to generation. Such may be the history, and could well symbolize themigration patterns of the Adams, Cannon, Hobson, and Pattie families presentedin this book. As a result, it is believed there may be descendants in allof the fifty states, representing all walks of life- BANDITS, FARMERS, MILITARY LEADERS, PATROITS, POLITICIANS, and PROPHETS.