On the Western Trails: The Overland Diaries of Washington Peck, edited by Susan M. Erb

Washington Peck (1801 – 89) spent decades traveling across the western frontier before finally settling in Washington Territory. In the course of their journeys, Peck and his wife Mercy witnessed many important events, including the Gold Rush, the Mormon building of Salt Lake City, the Underground Railroad in Illinois, the buildup in New Mexico to the Civil War, and the admission to the Union of Washington State. Through commentary and explanatory annotation, editor Susan M. Erb enriches our understanding of the diary entries.