Abercrombie Trail: A Novel of the 1862 Uprising

Abercrombie Trail #1

by Candace Simar

"Endlessly Fascinating.... The ultimate 'I was there' book. I have read many books about Scandinavians coming to America in the turbulent 1860s, but thanks to author Candace Simar, this is the first time I was ever transported from my easy chair right into the book to experience it with them. The images of courage, cruelty, intolerance, discovery, and simple pleasures have stayed with me. This is one book I won't forget."  -John Koblas, author Let Them Eat Grass trilogy

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Book Club, Adult Fiction

285 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

Reviews

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our newspaper ran a story about this local author, Candace Simar, and her debut novel Abercrombie Trail: A Novel of the 1862 Uprising and I put in the back of my mind to pick up a copy 'one of these days'. I stopped at the libary one day and ran across this little treasure.

To be honest, I didn't expect much. It wasn't a 'high quality' publication; it was something a local gal from the little neighboring town of Pequot Lakes could publish. I grabbed it thinking 'whattheheck'.

In April of 1860, alone, Evan Jacobson left Norway, bound for Minnesota, where he would find land and great opportunity. He got to Minnesota just in time for the 1862 Dakota Nation Uprising.

What follows is a part of Minnesota history that I never knew. How did I get through school in Minnesota without learning this?? Ms. Simar writes in such a way that you feel you are back in time, amongst the paralyzing fear, hopelessness and violence the people of Minnesota knew. I loved and cared for the characters and found myself holding my breath going into the next chapter. I wondered if my ancestors from Norway and Sweden were confronted by the Uprising (you can bet my genealogy box will be coming out today!)

I couldn't have been more wrong with my expectations. Loaded with history, heartbreak, jaw-dropping violence and hope...this is a book I would read again.

Highly recommended.

PS: And let me add...that having a serious book addiction, I almost always give away my books (unless they are reference, of course),after I've read them, as I struggle with storing them and need to make room for more. This is a book I've read and will never give away. ;)

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating historical fiction with characters you can believe. This truly is a piece of American history that I have never heard and found quite interesting.
This novel feels authentic in its depiction of how the peoples of that time behaved and spoke. I think it is easy to put our current thoughts and ways of doing things into the actions and behaviors of our forebears. But this just is not the case. Religion was a much greater factor during this time and manners were much different. Candace Simar does a wonderful job of putting this into print and letting the reader inside the thoughts of our ancestors who were much different than modern society.
This story may be suited for YA readers as topics such as sex are spoken of in a very modest fashion. The curse words, for there are some, are tempered to the life of a farmer. They are used sparingly and only when appropriate. I'd recommend a parent monitoring their children's literary exploits to read this book and see if it's appropriate for your family. I must admit my wife & I disagree on this one, specifically over "s*** or get off the pot." My boy will have to wait a few years yet.

[Lynna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is such a GOOD story. Great history lesson and to imagine all this happened in my "neck of the woods". I grew up just north of Sauk Center. It will be good to tie this story and history to the upcoming movie Lincoln directed by Steven Spielberg all happening at the same time. This is a kind-of adult version of Little House on the Prairie, the adult features; politics, daily living, and the adult stressors of the time, survival in a land taken from those who roamed it and our ancestors wanted to own it and create their version of where they emigrated from. Wanting what is familiar in a new and different land. Difficulty for both parties and you wonder why there was an uprising just as explained in the book. "The Dakota do not see the soldiers as their enemy as much as the settlers," he said. Crooked Lightening told me that it was the settlers who were destroying their hunting grounds and turn the land into farms. The soldiers have no interesting in the land and are less of a threat." Along with this well noted statement; "It wasn't just because the gold was late; the traders were dishonest, the settlers demanded land and Abe Lincoln too busy with the Civil War to do justice to the Dakota people.
THANK YOU Candace Simar for taking the time to share this piece of history in a moving story and tribute to both parties.

[Val Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were given the series of Candace Simar's books for Christmas. We live in Douglas County Minnesota and have been told by historians that the road by our house may well have been part of the Abercrombie Trail. Living in Minnesota all my life I had heard little of the 1862 uprising. Some of the things described in this book were hard to read however I found the book interesting and enjoyed it very much.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you could want in a book, Candace Simar is a weaver of words and puts you right there, characters to care about, tragedy and triump of life in Minnesota. I love history, especially MN history and a good tale, this is all that and more. Well researched and the history is woven into the story seamlessly. Brings the times and the people alive.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book. I was able to actually meet Candace at our local library. It was so interesting to hear all about how the book came about. I would read more of Candace's books. I hear there are at least two more coming out......... Something to look forward to!

[Val Wilkerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction about the 1862 Uprising in Minnesota between the norwegian immigrants and the Dakota Indians. Since my family is all from Minnesota I found this well written and very interesting.

[Krista Rolfzen Soukup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Execellent book! I love reading about Minnesota History and immigrant life on the prairie during the 1862 Sioux Uprising. A must read!

[Christine Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting having grown up in Minnesota and knowing there were Indians hung in Mankato. Telling the story through the eyes of a young man just emigrated from Norway was a good method. The only criticism I have is there were numerous mistakes and in its e-book form which is how I read it there were many formatting issues.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fictionalized story set around the time of the US/Dakota War of 1862. Told from the perspective of Evan, a Norwegian immigrant who drives the mail/supply coach from Ft. Snelling to Fr. Abercrombie and back, the book mostly focuses on the lives of European immigrants trying to make it on the frontier. In this, the book excels. In telling the story of the war, not as much.

The treatment of Native Americans by the US Government and by extension, immigrants, is one of the stains on the history of our country. The cries of genocide for the Native peoples by the white settlers come through clearly in this book. What's missing is a more in depth look at the story from the Dakota point of view. Although the author tries, the Dakota come off as very unsympathetic people who deserve what happens to them. The real history is much more complicated and if you are interested in more about the US/Dakota War, a non-fiction exploration of the war would be more helpful.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it started out a bit confusing, I loved it! A tip: maybe make a list of characters as they come up? I had to check back on some people; there were many.

[M.E. Fuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Well written. Well paced. Interesting perspective on the Sioux uprising.

[Deborah Swenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s 1859 and you’re a young boy emerging into manhood. Praying, you stake your meager Norweigan Krone on a better life in a country you know little about and is less than 100 years old. The familiar land you are leaving behind in Tolga, Norway is a faint silhouette on the skyline as the ship carrying you across the chilling sea lurches from port to starboard and bow to stern.
Abercrombie Trail by [Candace Simar]Author Candace Simar, a native Minnesotan, breathes life into her characters by giving the reader a glimpse of Minnesota’s early frontier. As a Spur and Willa award-winning author, member of Women Writing the West, and Western Writers of America, Ms. Simar commences her main character, Evan Jacobson’s journey as he arrives in Minnesota with little but the clothes on his back. Poignantly describing Evan’s hopes, dreams, and challenges of becoming his own man, a husband, father, landowner, and farmer, Candace leaves no prairie stone unturned in telling this well-written story.
With praise-worthy accolades on this four-book series from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry of Lonesome Dove fame, Ms. Simar powerfully and respectfully portrays the Sioux Tribal members and Evan, as he and his fellow Norwegians struggle to make a new life for themselves in rugged Minnesota during the Great Sioux Uprising of 1862. For the settlers, it was a struggle for a better life and fertile land. For the Sioux, it was a battle to hold on to, and subsequent tragic loss of their homeland and future. For Minnesotans and Sioux alike, it would be a life-altering war.
Arriving in Minnesota, Evan struggles with a new language and customs, only to find himself embroiled in a war Easterners chose to ignore. At the same time as the Sioux Uprising, the Civil War, where nothing was civil, raged on in the South. In a war opposing slavery, Evan understood what it was to be “owned” by another man from family experiences in Norway. Some Minnesotans enlisted their support, many never to return, while unknowingly leaving behind vulnerable family and friends to fight their own tragic war. With broken promises and treaties from the U.S. Government to the Sioux, Evan grappled with joining the war but decided to remain in Minnesota to fight with his neighbors despite personal hardships, tragedies, and unsurmountable odds.
“Life was never easy. Birth, along with agony, messy and difficult, and death, a bitter struggle to the end. In between, it felt mostly the same – messy and difficult with a rare bit of joy now and again..” Serena (a character from book 4)
With all focus on the Civil War, Ms. Simar aptly describes the frustration of little to no assistance offered to Minnesotans from the United States Government. The Sioux Uprising fell to the bottom of then-President Abraham Lincoln’s priorities. With little to no soldiers to spare, Minnesotans braced for the attack by the Sioux on Fort Abercrombie in a fight for their lives, in which there was little hope of military rescue.
The stories in all four of Ms. Simar’s books find Norwegian Evan Jacobson and his family taking on various jobs to survive and pursue dreams while making unusual friendships with often quirky and heartwarming characters who add to these remarkable tales. Despite the hardships of war and fighting for survival while mourning the untimely deaths of those he’d come to love, Ms. Simar vividly paints an often heart-wrenching picture of the Norwegian immigrant’s life as Evan, his family, and friends struggle to survive Minnesota’s brutal war.

[Janell Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Abercrombie Trail by Candace Simar is a Historical Fiction book that has something every reader will enjoy! Suspense, mystery, and love are all in this book, along with a writing style that flows easily as you read. This book drew me in when reading the first chapter! A book that a reader of every genre will enjoy! “Abercrombie Trail” has so many great characters in it, each with a fabulous story!” – Green Gables Book Reviews

“Abercrombie Trail” begins with main character, Evan Jacobson making the journey by boat from Norway to America. This book is a wonderful, seemingly accurate account of his journey and his time spent traveling to Minnesota, and all of Evan’s encounters along the way. Some with devastating results, making Evan question his decision.

Upon reaching Minnesota, he eventually becomes a stagecoach driver across frontier Minnesota, as the South is beginning to erupt with the Civil War. He has friends along his stagecoach route at his planned stops that he cares about deeply. Some have become like family. These relationships are all he has, as he is without family of is own in Minnesota. When he is at these planned stops, his team is cared for and replaced by a fresh team, he is fed a warm meal, tries his best to learn English, and, if it’s night time, a place to sleep. These people are all dear to him.

Evan has also made friends at the Forts he travels between, Fort Snelling and Fort Abercrombie. The people in command rely on him to deliver messages between the two places as he is on his route.

When he hears of the Sioux Uprising of 1862, Evan is in disbelief, but he sees and hears things to make him know this is real. While he is almost at Fort Snelling, he turns back and runs his route back to Fort Abercrombie, to warn his friends of the attacks and for them to find safety. He’s disheartened by some of the things he sees. He brings several people back with him to Fort Abercrombie, who have lost everything and are in need of safety. Evan also finds something along the way he has been looking for and while it belongs to another, he will do all he can to offer his protection. The people at the Fort work together with limited food and supplies to battle 500 Sioux, while hoping reinforcements will come.

Will help arrive in time to save them from the battle?

Absolutely 5 stars, so well done!

I’m so looking forward to reading Book 2, “Pomme De Terre” by Candace Simar

[Paula Singleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Fiction of the starting of Minnesota

First book by this author. Enjoyed this historical fiction about the beginning of Minnesota. This book follows some of the immigrants that settled in Minnesota for the rich farmland and all the available land the state had for the settlers. They lived peacefully, for the most part, with the local tribes of Indians. It also covered the Dakota Indians and The Great Sioux Uprising of 1862, where a lot of settlers lost their life. The Sioux were retaliating due to their government payments of gold, not arriving and way past due, and their food allotments being held, and their children and families were starving. The Sioux not only took men, women, children and infants lives, they scalped the victims and mutilated their bodies. Not all the Sioux were guilty, as some of them forewarned the settlers, about the great war that was coming. I really liked the surprise ending with Inga and the news of the babys heritage. Didn't see that coming. Great story and I plan on reading the other books, in this series, by this author. Words in this story, especially the first half of the book, were divided up with a dash. Don't know if this was a kindle issue or how the author wrote. I was able to overlook this and didn't distract that much but it could bother some.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I only gave this book 2 stars I quite appreciated the book. The writing style is very simplistic but quite informative. If you have ever wondered what it was like for the first settlers as they ventured further west this is very informative. It is the story of a typical Norwegian male who chooses to leave the country as there is no future for him there except to work as a hired hand
With his father dead and his elder brother inheriting the farm which is too small for even one family to make a good living farming it his family gives him just enough money for his passage to America.
When he becomes the driver of the stage coach between a fort on the east boarder of Minnesota to the one on the west boarder you learn about the various families trying to make a go of it on their farms
The book was written as Candace Simar was shocked to learn that students were never taught about the massager staged by the Dakota Indians. The author is very fair in telling why it happened explaining that the government was too caught up in the civil war to realize the Indians had not received what they had been promised financially and they were starving. She also does not shy away from the savageness of the attacks
If you are able to get a hold on this book don't pass it by

[Wendy Duren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction telling the story of the events that led to the 1862 Uprising through the eyes of Scandinavian immigrants.

Abercrombie Trail does a good job showing the struggles of new Scandinavian immigrants as they face harsh conditions, limited resources, and the challenge of starting a new life. The characters’ perseverance and daily hardships are clearly and realistically portrayed.

However, the book gives little attention to the Native American experience particularly the widespread starvation and the broken treaties, lack of supplies, and desperate conditions faced by Indigenous communities. This lack of truth-telling makes the historical picture feel incomplete.

I commend Simar for telling a story that even most Minnesotans know very little about.

[Randy Reigstad]

I have great interest in this series of books. I was born in the Minnesota Midwest. My great great Grandfather was run off his farm, they had to shelter at a fort in Paynesville MN. My Great Grandfather enlisted the Minnesota Guard and fought in the Indian war and ended up on the Minnesota North Dakota border in a fort. His name is etched on a plaque there. This is a good read for anyone born in Midwest Minnesota.

Randy Reigstad

[Sara Rose Nissen · Rating 4 out of 5]

And excellent read. I have lived in the Minnesota River valley my entire life and I am still shocked to discover details about the Uprising of 1862 that I'd never I had never heard before. I spent my childhood visiting Fort Ridley and still live only 20 minutes from the site. It astounds me that we were taught so little of this event and it occured right in our backyard. I am eager to dig into more accounts from both sides of the story.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fictionalized story about the 1862 uprising, which is something I knew nothing about.
The characters were as interesting as the story unfolded. I love learning about history and how settlers traveled and survived during this time period.

I look forward to this author's next book as she did a great job with this wonderful debut novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Abercrombie Trail through the Goodreads giveaway.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

I guess I never realized the Indian war was during the civil war. That’s why I enjoy reading historical fiction like this book. This was written in a way that I could picture everything that Evan was seeing. Heart breaking. I will remember this book for a long time.

[Darlene Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even Jacobson comes to Minnesota from Norway to make a new life for himself and fulfill his dream of owning land of his own. Evan works as a stagecoach driver in order to make money for his land. During this time Evan makes many friends. I'm 1862 the Sioux upside with many killings of white men, women and children. This is a book I would recommend.

[Dave W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I bought it from a used bookstore and have since recommended it to several friends. Set in 1860s Minnesota, this novel follows a Norwegian immigrant as he navigates the dangers of frontier life, from hostile encounters to personal loss, while building a new life in America. Great for fans of historical fiction, pioneer stories, and tales of survival in the American West.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended and loaned to me by a coworker. It was a great historical story of what it might have been like for a Norwegian immigrant back in the years leading up to and during the 1862 Dakota uprising in MN.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

“His laugh was like molasses on hot conbread" Norwegian immigrant, Evan, drives a stagecoach back and forth to and from Fort Snelling to Fort Abercrombie in early 1860s in the time of the Civil War and the Sioux uprising in northwestern Minnesota.

[Shelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am torn by this book. The history is interesting and heartbreaking, but the writing bores me. The characters are one-dimensional.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad historical-fiction account of the Dakota uprising.

[PJ Rolfzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non stop reading. Loved this book. Great Historical Novel. It puts you in the time and makes you want to keep reading! The beginning of a GREAT series!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning more about this time in history and appreciated that the author acknowledged various and complicated perspectives while giving a glimpse into life at the time.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was interesting to see how/what people do to survive to live.. was a good book.. it surprised me