By Stanley F. Bates
This is a nine chapter story of the Levi Decatur Bates family. During the story, Levi reminisces about his families move from New York to Illinois and his time in the Civil War. The story is set primarily in Nebraska following the Civil War where a tragic killing occurred at the Bates School House outside of Seward, Nebraska. Following the shooting, the family moves again to northern Nebraska and gets a new beginning. The story is based on facts taken from U.S. Census data, local newspapers, Seward County historical accounts written by W.W. Cox, Civil War records and lengthy research done by its author. Some of the incidental information was added as best guesses as to what exactly occurred by the author, Stanley F. Bates, who is a great grandson of Levi’s.
Here is a sneak peak:
“Levi put on the heavy sweater his wife Helen had knitted for him because it felt as if his house had no walls. The northwesterly wind ripped through the cracks entering between the boards of his house causing his oil lamp to flicker constantly. Levi thought to himself how proud he was being one of the first in the area to build a wood home and move his family from the sod structure they had lived in for the past several years.”