While I alone am responsible for this story and its speculations and errors, I could not have come close to authenticity without the help of many. I gratefully acknowledge the help of director Bruce Weilepp and other members of the Pacific County Historical Society in South Bend, Washington, for their assistance in gathering material about the early colony. Bruce’s enthusiasm for my fictionalizing this story was of great support in the early collecting of information. It was while visiting the museum in South Bend and touring the old sites—Willie’s grave, Old Willapa, and other Territory places—that I also found James G. Swan’s book written in 1857, which provided detailed information about life during Emma’s time.
I give special thanks to Erhard Gross of Astoria, Oregon, who not only offered specific advice about the flora and fauna of the Pacific Coast country, but walked me through the German language used in this story. He conferred with me about the nature of such a German society in the middle 1800s in America, and his careful reading of an advanced copy and his conversations with me about the role of women and religion and Christianity were always thought-provoking and appreciated, as were the conversations and fine German meals prepared by his wife and my friend, Elfi, at their bed-and-breakfast.
James J. Kopp, PhD, director of Aubrey R. Watzek Library at Lewis and Clark College and a scholar of utopian societies, made himself accessible for a variety of questions about community and specifically the Aurora settlement. He has a special interest in Aurora, is a board member of the Old Aurora Colony Museum and Aurora Historical Society, and lives in Aurora. I am especially grateful for his index of material, his willingness to spend time with me to explore the archives, and for his kind speculation with me about the lives of women at Bethel, Willapa, and Aurora.
I thank as well the Aurora Colony Historical Society for their maintaining of the facility where I’ve spent many days as a tourist hearing the stories, seeing the quilts, and wondering what life back then was really like, long before Emma’s story called my name. I give special thanks to Alan Guggenheim, director of the Old Aurora Colony Museum, and his staff, board, and volunteers, especially Irene Westwood, for allowing me access to archival material and making me feel welcome even while they prepared for their annual quilt show at the museum and for the sesquicentennial celebration of the beginning of the Aurora Colony scheduled for 2006.
David and Pat Wagner opened their family files, and I am deeply indebted to their kindness and their passion for history. Annabell Prantl, author and historian, deserves thanks for locating several articles from the Marion County Historical Society in Salem, Oregon, and providing them to me. As an octogenarian, she is an inspiration and encouragement to my work and has connections to Pacific County.
Karla and Peter Nelson of Time Enough Books in Ilwaco, Washington, offered assistance about Pacific County and life in that landscape, including oystering, as well as reading an advanced copy of A Clearing in the Wild. They also obviously love books, something else we hold in common, and they understand the beauty of the landscape despite its demands.
The Fort Steilacoom Historical Society provided important information, as did the Steilacoom Historical Society. I’m especially grateful to Susan and Milt Davidson of Steilacoom for meeting me at the museum on a blustery Sunday afternoon and answering questions and “speculating” with me.
I thank Blair Fredstrom, who used her days to search genealogy connections, and for being willing to explore with me the lives of strong women and their challenges in territorial times. I thank Sandy Maynard for helping me type when I broke my arm early in the writing of this book and her later support during the deaths and illnesses that challenged the telling of this story. Carol Tedder is a prayer partner extraordinaire, and I have “groupies” who appear to help me at the most needful times. They are angels each one, and I thank them.
To my writing team in Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Florida and at WaterBrook Press, a special thanks for your support and encouragement and prayers, especially during the writing of this book. You all know who you are and why you are appreciated so much.
A special acknowledgment goes to readers everywhere who find these stories and allow them to nurture them. Thank you for sharing with me through your letters, e-mails, and presence at events how these stories have touched your lives. I thank you for carrying me and these stories in your hearts.
Finally, to Jerry for his patience, his love of history, his mapmaking, and his willingness to live for twenty-nine years with a girl of German descent who some might say is both stubborn and strong-willed: Thank you. You are my clearing in this world’s wild.
jane@jkbooks.com