Wau-Bun: The "Early Day" of the North-West

A lively portrait of the frontier comes through the eyes of a remarkable family, tracing their journey from a Scottish‑French lineage in Quebec to the bustling portage that would become Chicago. The narrative follows the restless John Kinzie as he apprentices with a silversmith, drifts into the fur trade, and establishes early outposts along the Great Lakes, offering a vivid sense of the hardships and opportunities that shaped the region’s first days.

Interwoven with the text are dozens of illustrations—sketches of forts, early maps, and portraits of Native leaders and settlers—that bring the era’s texture to life. Thoughtful introductory notes frame the recollections, providing context for the bustling settlements, early diplomatic encounters, and the cultural crossroads that defined the “early day” of the Northwest. Listeners will feel the pulse of a half‑century of adventure, commerce, and community building that set the stage for a future metropolis.