Dive into
The Scotch-Irish Heritage of Missouri Ozarkians
by Edwin W. Mills and uncover the fascinating, often unwritten, history of the pioneers who settled the Missouri Ozarks. Originally published in 1961 and now available for a new generation, this book traces the rugged ancestry and arduous migration of a distinctive people.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in:
Pioneer History:
Learn about the "slow mass-migration" of backwoods people-known as the "Movers"-who journeyed from North Carolina and East Tennessee into the Ozark wilderness, often trekking the entire distance on foot.
The Scotch-Irish Ancestry:
Follow the lineage of these settlers, tracing their roots back through the Reformation, the persecution of the Scotch Covenanters in the 17th century, and their subsequent migration from Ulster, Ireland, to America.
Frontier Struggles:
Discover the hardships faced by the Ozark forebears, including the Indian Wars in the Appalachians, the famous Battle of King's Mountain where the backwoodsmen's fighting skill was revealed, and the failed attempt to form the new state of Franklin (or Frankland).
Ozark Pioneer Life:
Gain insight into the daily life, skills, and unique culture of these early settlers. Learn about their log cabin homes, their craftsmen who made everything from spinning wheels to cow bells, and the profound role of their Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist religion in the Appalachian settlements.
From the tale of a horse-powered barge arriving on the Mississippi in 1828 to the ingrained reticence of the native Ozarkian trait that may harken back to the "Time o' the Persecution" in Scotland, Edwin W. Mills paints a detailed portrait of the "different strain" of people who founded the Missouri Ozarks.