The Sodbreakers

A sequel to "Land of the Burnt Thigh," by Edith Eudora Ammons, "The Sodbreakers" is a previously unpublished original manuscript written by Edith Ammons Kohl and presented by her nephew Clifford T. Ammons.

The story of Florence Lanthrop Page provides an opportunity for exporing larger historical questions of class, gender, and social milieu. It contributes to our knowledge of the influence of women in a social order which celebrated the achievements of men. Although she was self-effacing and "a paradigm of good manners" (virtues much admired by her second husband, Thomas Nelson Page), premature womanhood and economic emancipation brought out the decisive, capable, and independent aspects of her personality.

'Land of the Burnt Thigh' is a story about the life of the author and her sister. It is an incredible tale of two brave sisters who venture into the wilds of South Dakota to start a new life. With the spirit of American entrepreneurship running through their veins, they decide to create a newspaper, post office, and general store on their land. Edith Kohl, a master storyteller, shares her vivid memories of the harsh conditions they faced, including devastating droughts and blizzards, as well as the political landscape of the western frontier. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, from fellow homesteaders to cowboys and indigenous people, making for an unforgettable and thrilling read.

Ace Roberts was, in his own words, "The Best Damn Fighter Pilot Ever Born!" This Clark-Gable look-alike got his nickname by shooting down ten Jap Zeros in a P-40 Tomahawk in 1942 as an American mercenary for Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek. He reinforced this reputation in the Korean War by shooting down ten Russian-built MiG- 15's in his F-86 Sabrejet. He was, in fact, a double ace, two times over. Ace was also very, very lucky! He survived three years of inhuman torture in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps in World War II; being shot down behind enemy lines in Korea and a year of aerial combat in "MiG-Alley," high above the Manchurian skies. Women were irresistibly attracted by his devilish good looks and magnetic charm. These included Suzy, a pretty MASH nurse; An Liu, exotic confidant to Madame Chiang Kai Slick; and, if truth be known, Madame Chiang herself! But Ace had a penchant for taking chances. He chased two Chinese pilots across the Yalu River into Manchuria, shooting them down in violation of Air Force Regulations and getting cashiered from the service for this infraction. A year later, he vanished while flying an X-99 experimental jet over California's High Sierras, resulting in Madame Chiang's dispatching An Liu to assist in the search for her favorite American. Read LUCKYACE to find out if this intrepid airman can escape his latest rendezvous with death.

The author reviews the history of East Friesland and discusses emigration to the United States of America. He reviews settlement in the States, and gets very specific listing settlements and extracting a brief amount of information from their church books for congregations in the following places: Adams, Brown, Champaign, Hancock, Iroquois, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Ogle, Peoria, Stephenson, Woodford Counties in Illinois and the towns of Pekin and Peoria; Calhoun, Grundy, Jones, Lyon, Osceola, Pocahontas Counties in Iowa; Barton and Rush Counties in Kansas; Chippewa County in Minnesota; Cheyenne and Dawson Counties in Nebraska as well as the southeastern part of the state; Garfield County in Oklahoma; and Texas.