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Two Sacks: One Family’s Journey from Swiss/Germany to America in 1803 - 1805
In 1803, the Ische family made a difficult decision. Members of three generations left their homeland in Canton Bern in Swiss/Germany and emigrated to America. It was a life-altering decision. They carried everything they owned in two sacks.
Follow this family of nine, ranging in age from 2 to 69, as they travel down the Rhine River aboard a Dutch cutter; depart Amsterdam as ‘Redemptioners’ aboard the brig Commerce; trek on foot down the Great Wagon road from Philadelphia through Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to the Carolinas and Georgia; to finally cross the remote Indian trails of the Alabama Territory and reach their destination in the wilderness of the Mississippi Territory. Along this epic journey, they would welcome new friendships, have their endurance tested, and suffer enormous tragedy.
The reader will be transported in time to a period of history when dauntless men and women from the Old Country sought a new life in America, willing to pay the price of whatever it took to establish their families in a new world.
Advance readers had this to
“ A beautiful story filled with adventure, drama, romance, and intrigue with historical facts that educate us on this fascinating period of time. It helped me understand the reality of the great challenges our ancestors and others endured and made me more grateful for their determination and perseverance.” B.H.
“Jeff took us into the past where our ancestors lived a simpler life. He intertwined one family's story with amazing facts I never learned in history class. By reading this book, you will have a better understanding of the faith-filled journey that families made at that time.” L.B.
“I read the advance copy thinking I was doing my friend Jeff a favor. He wanted an honest opinion of the book. Turns out he was doing me a favor. I fell in love with the Ische family early in the first chapter and my admiration for their courage and determination to start a new life in America grew stronger the more I read. They faced every challenge with faith that God would see them through. I couldn’t recommend this book more.” D.R.
Follow this family of nine, ranging in age from 2 to 69, as they travel down the Rhine River aboard a Dutch cutter; depart Amsterdam as ‘Redemptioners’ aboard the brig Commerce; trek on foot down the Great Wagon road from Philadelphia through Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley to the Carolinas and Georgia; to finally cross the remote Indian trails of the Alabama Territory and reach their destination in the wilderness of the Mississippi Territory. Along this epic journey, they would welcome new friendships, have their endurance tested, and suffer enormous tragedy.
The reader will be transported in time to a period of history when dauntless men and women from the Old Country sought a new life in America, willing to pay the price of whatever it took to establish their families in a new world.
Advance readers had this to
“ A beautiful story filled with adventure, drama, romance, and intrigue with historical facts that educate us on this fascinating period of time. It helped me understand the reality of the great challenges our ancestors and others endured and made me more grateful for their determination and perseverance.” B.H.
“Jeff took us into the past where our ancestors lived a simpler life. He intertwined one family's story with amazing facts I never learned in history class. By reading this book, you will have a better understanding of the faith-filled journey that families made at that time.” L.B.
“I read the advance copy thinking I was doing my friend Jeff a favor. He wanted an honest opinion of the book. Turns out he was doing me a favor. I fell in love with the Ische family early in the first chapter and my admiration for their courage and determination to start a new life in America grew stronger the more I read. They faced every challenge with faith that God would see them through. I couldn’t recommend this book more.” D.R.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 20, 2024
Family ties
Jeff Usher did an admirable job blending family history, historical facts, and fiction to tell this tale of emigration from Europe to the United States in the early nineteenth Century. His story highlights many of the hardships and a few of the unknowns to make the story come alive. The tragic losses of close family members coupled with the sting survival spirit to persevere through those tragic events showcases the determination that built a country.
Jeff Usher did an admirable job blending family history, historical facts, and fiction to tell this tale of emigration from Europe to the United States in the early nineteenth Century. His story highlights many of the hardships and a few of the unknowns to make the story come alive. The tragic losses of close family members coupled with the sting survival spirit to persevere through those tragic events showcases the determination that built a country.
June 18, 2024
your whole life in “two sacks”.
This book, a work of fiction, is full of documented historical facts! The story is an interesting tale of the hardships our forefathers faced when they came to the new land. They came for liberty. The liberty to own land and to worship as they pleased!
This book, a work of fiction, is full of documented historical facts! The story is an interesting tale of the hardships our forefathers faced when they came to the new land. They came for liberty. The liberty to own land and to worship as they pleased!
April 20, 2024
genealogists dream!
What an amazing novel. I can picture my ancestors arriving in Philadelphia, then slowly moving to Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Different from the Ishee family….who went south to Mississippi. Great information for those who look “back”. Thank you Jeff Isher.
What an amazing novel. I can picture my ancestors arriving in Philadelphia, then slowly moving to Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Different from the Ishee family….who went south to Mississippi. Great information for those who look “back”. Thank you Jeff Isher.
October 16, 2024
two sacks
A great story line I really related to the deaths of the parents and 2 children as my great grandparents and 2 children died all in July 1854 of cholera shortly after immigrating from Switzerland.
A great story line I really related to the deaths of the parents and 2 children as my great grandparents and 2 children died all in July 1854 of cholera shortly after immigrating from Switzerland.
December 15, 2025
A great story, very very well told
I like good adventure stories, and this one is better than good. It's unique and you can feel like you see everything. Some sad parts that I wasn't expecting, but that's how life is.
I like good adventure stories, and this one is better than good. It's unique and you can feel like you see everything. Some sad parts that I wasn't expecting, but that's how life is.
November 22, 2024
Fantastic
I have started my families genealogy. This book gives me a very positive push to keep pursuing my families history. Thank you
I have started my families genealogy. This book gives me a very positive push to keep pursuing my families history. Thank you
May 2, 2025
An engaging and well-researched story!
December 27, 2023
Was looking forward to adult reading on a subject close to me, unfortunately the level of reading is more appropriate to a middle school age student.
March 8, 2026
Fascinating family history. The author does a great job of taking a few known facts about his ancestors and weaving an engaging fictional story about their trials as they came across the ocean and found their way in America.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews