Though it's difficult to imagine Ohio as a "wilderness" (if you're not from New York City that is) the state struck the first European immigrants with awe, representing the very fringe of civilization. This compilation of original writings from trader and missionary diaries, a frontier housewife, a young English tourist, and the memoir of an escaped slave, tell of he transformations which evolved from the white and Native American struggles to control the land, and the sweep of traders, squatters, and progressives who ultimately completed the conflict--beginning in the 18th century, by 1843 (a mere 100 years) the last Native tribe has moved and the "frontier" experience had become its mythology. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)