This blend of family and social history is a prime example of how local history can be written well. Erb, a descendent of pioneers Washington and Mercy Peck, has taken Washington's diaries, letters and other scraps and woven them into a story of the experience of thousands of people who criss-crossed the country between the 1840s and 1880s. The Peck family went from Ontario to Salt Lake City in 1851, moving on to Southern California and finally heading north to Washington State. The diaries include Indian encounters, the prejudice against Mormons, alkali springs that killed the animals who drank from them, and many, many graves. Erb embellishes this with information from other pioneer diaries and public records as well as family tradition. Washington Peck's spelling and grammar have been retained. Maps of the route and family photos enhance the story of one family whose journey west was repeated in some form many times. Historians of the West will enjoy this family saga. Annotation 2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
