Prairie Gothic: The Story of a West Texas Family (Volume 3)

by John R. Erickson, Elmer Kelton (Foreword)

"Prairie Gothic is rich in Texas history. It is the story of John R. Erickson's family, ordinary people who, through strength of character, found dignity in the challenges presented by nature and human nature. It is also the story of the place instrumental in shaping their lives - the flatland prairie of northwestern Texas that has gone by various names (High Plains, South Plains, Staked Plains, and Llano Estacado), as well as the rugged country on its eastern boundary, often referred to as the "caprock canyonlands."" "One branch of Erickson's family arrived in Texas in 1858, settling in Parker County, west of Weatherford. Another helped establish the first community on the South Plains, the Quaker colony of Estacado. They crossed paths with numerous prominent people in Texas history, Sam Houston, Sul Ross, Charles Goodnight, Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker, Jim Loving, and a famous outlaw, Tom Ross." Erickson's research took him into the homes of well-known Texas authors, such as J. Evetts Haley and John Graves. Graves had written about the death of Erickson's great-great grandmother, Martha Sherman. The theme that runs throughout the book is that of family, of four generations' efforts to nurture the values of civilized people: reverence of the written word, honesty, godliness, thrift, and personal relationship. It is the story of pioneer women and their struggles to keep their families together; it is the story of cowboys, outlaws, and Indian raids, told against the background of a harsh environment of droughts, blizzards, and rattlesnakes; and it is universal. Erickson has created a blend of family and regional history.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2005

About the author

John R. Erickson, a former cowboy and ranch manager, is gifted with a storyteller's knack for spinning a yarn. Through the eyes of Hank the Cowdog, a smelly, smart-aleck Head of Ranch Security, Erickson gives readers a glimpse of daily life on a ranch in the West Texas Panhandle. This series of books and tapes is in school libraries across the country, has sold more than 7.6 million copies, is a Book-of-the-Month Club selection, and is the winner of the 1993 Audie for Outstanding Children's Series from the Audio Publisher's Association. Publishers Weekly calls Hank a "grassroots publishing phenomena," and USA Today says this is "the best family entertainment in years."

Hank the Cowdog made his debut in the pages of The Cattleman, a magazine for adults, and when Erickson started getting "Dear Hank" letters, he knew he was onto something. So in 1983, he self-published 2,000 copies of The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, and they sold out in 6 weeks.

When teachers began inviting Erickson to their schools, Hank found his most eager fans. Teachers, librarians, and students alike love Hank. According to some Texas Library Association surveys, the Hank the Cowdog books are the most popular selections in many libraries' children's sections. The lively characters make excellent material for reading and writing lessons, and turn even the most reluctant readers into avid Hank-fans.

Erickson was born in Midland, Texas, but by the age of 3, he had moved with his family to Perryton, Texas, where he and his wife live today on their working cattle ranch. They have 3 grown children and 4 grandchildren. His advice to young writers is, "Write about something you know. Try to leave your readers better off than they were before."

Reviews

[Avis Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prairie Gothic is the story of John Erickson's Texas settler ancestors on his mother's side of the family. I wonder if his father's Scandinavian ancestors were too sedate to write about, or possibly too sensible to take the risks that make for great stories.

Notably, Erickson's pregnant, great-great-grandmother Martha Sherman was raped, beaten, and scalped alive by Comanche raiders. Her husband Ezra Sherman had naively welcomed them to his farm, even after he had traded his rifle for an ox yoke, never dreaming what a violent place the far edge of the Texas frontier could be. Martha Sherman died of the abuse a few days later. Her death outraged the area's settlers, and an expedition was launched by Sul Ross against the Comanches (with Charles Goodnight as scout), resulting in the capture of Cynthia Ann Parker, the mother of notorious Comanche chief Quanah Parker. This goes to show how intertwined the history of early Texans could be.

Erickson's great-grandfather Joe Sherman, who witnessed the torture of his mother and experienced the disintegration of his family, grew up to be something of an outlaw before he reformed and married. He clung so hard to his own children that he refused to allow his daughters to marry, and he eventually committed suicide. Erickson also includes his own quest to find out more about his ancestors, and he also relates his encounter with various notable Texas historians and writers.

I must admit that while reading this book I took some morbid satisfaction out of the fact that the branch of my own family that came from Texas were crazier than Erickson's.

[Brianna Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. John R. Erickson knows how to write history in an exciting and very intriguing way!

[TransparentFilter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book a long time ago and didn't realize that I hadn't finished it. After rereading the beginning and completing the book, I would like to rate it higher. I highly recommend this book to any Hank the Cowdog fans but to also anyone who loves Texas. The pride of this great state is written in every line. The people that are described are the people of my youth.