The Go-Backer

by Peter R. Decker

After the Civil War, thousands of Americans and Europeans trekked west to secure a new home and farm under the provisions of the Homestead Act of 1862. But as historians have discovered, only three out of ten of these adventurers succeeded in achieving their dream. The other 70 percent—called the “go-backers”—either turned back toward home after one or two years, or if they “proved up” on their 160-acre homestead, they quickly “starved out.” It took courage and determination to survive on the western frontier. Homesteaders endured diseases and injuries without medical attention, Indian attacks, catastrophic natural disasters, lack of roads, and lonely isolation.

This is the story of what happens when the Marlow family—after a time struggling as homesteaders—reluctantly join the growing ranks of “go-backers.”

202 pages, Paperback

Published September 19, 2017

About the author

Peter Decker received a Ph.D. in American History from Columbia University, and taught at both Columbia and Duke University. After relocating to Colorado, he served as Commissioner of Higher Education, Commissioner of Agriculture, and a Director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Denver. In addition to scholarly publications about the history of the West, Decker self-published Saving the West, a satirical novel. Decker makes his home on a ranch in Colorado.

Reviews

[GrnEyed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve started to develop a fond interest in books about the old west. There is that part of me who is forever curious about what life was like for people settling in different locations in the country while the U.S. was forming. This book started off incredibly hard to read. The stories of war and the incredible details are definitely not for the faint of heart.
On the other hand, when Calvin returned home to his family after being in the midst of so much violence, death and deformity, there was beauty in that part of the story. With that being said when Calvin and Grace decide to take their three children from their failing farm there was that hope of good things to come. At least that’s what I was hoping for, for the Marlow family.
The story of their journey to Colorado and their life there was a mixture of emotions. There were good moments and there were devastating times. The struggles that Calvin and his family suffered seemed very realistic to what life must have been like back in the late 1800s. Upon making the ultimate decision to move back east, I found myself hoping that the Marlow family would finally find the truth and stability they were seeking.
This is a good book, with some rather graphic violent scenes, if that doesn’t bother you, and you enjoy historical reads, this is a great one.