MWSA Book Review

Pioneer Life In Kentucky

Authors: Dr. Daniel Drake

Editor: Albert Nathaniel Drake

Publisher:  Xlibris.com

Reviewer: Bill McDonald – President of the MWSA

A real Treasure – A rare accounting of life in rural Kentucky in the 1800’s

Writer Albert Drake found an old book about 40 years ago called “Pioneer Life in Kentucky” and reedited it for modern times. The editing enhances the presentation and the format of the book and it loses nothing of the original energy. The book is basically a look back at life in a time long lost in our history, when the west was considered the Ohio and Kentucky frontiers.

For real history buffs this book is a cornucopia of frontier life trivia and information. We get to see and feel what it was like for Doctor Drake to have grown up out in the middle of no where and not just survive but thrive emotionally. His family came across country for 64 days by horse drawn wagon. They then had to build their homestead and seek out an existence by their own skills and courage. It was not an easy life but compared to the stressful times today in urban America I think many people would be envious of that simple hard working lifestyle.

The book covers about 50 year through letters. Thoughts and comments about life reflect the history of the times. It makes a great escape weekend reading adventure and I recommend picking up a copy to read.