PIONEERING NORTH TEXAS

REVIEW BY: 
Robert L Bernero,
author of BRANDI DISCOVERS WAR IS NO PICNIC and A COLLECTION OF LETTERS FROM A CCC CAMP

PIONEERING NORTH TEXAS takes us on a journey beginning in 1844 and culminating in the early days of the 1950’s. Among the many events are Texas quest for statehood, the kidnapping of Quannah Parker’s mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, by Comanche Indians and lawlessness that accompanied the settling of North Texas. The Miller family played an integral role in this story of an area of Texas that has been largely overlooked by historians and writers. W. Henry Miller is not only a historian of vast knowledge he is also a tremendous storyteller. His choice of words and presentation resulted in not only an education but an adventure through time. It is as relevant today as it was in 1952, the year it was written. Natives of North Texas may find reference to their family history. Mr. Miller’s detailed accounts of the early days include many references to the early settlers of the area. Accolades for this treasure go to family member Helen Miller Burchfiel, she recovered this book from obscurity and reintroduced it to be enjoyed by most age levels. I highly recommend this work of love to professionals, students and anyone that just wants to be entertained with an exciting and very interesting story.


REVIEW BY:
Peace NK (a reviewer for onlinebookclub.org)

Can we talk about the present without talking about the past? W. Henry Miller, in his book, Pioneering North Texas, emphasizes the significance of history in the modern-day dispensation. The book is a historical fiction story based on the real-life experiences of Miller’s family (and other families migrating into the Republic of Texas). The Millers took the bold step of venturing into the uncharted territory of North Texas. As they increased in size and progressed through their journey, they met people, garnered experiences, and encountered abrupt changes. Change is inevitable, and with development comes change.

With the tremendous transition from ancient to civilization, were they able to adapt, or were they unfortunate?

I liked several things about the book, from how the author gave some pictures at the beginning of the book to how he provided a detailed description of the scenes in the course of his writing. He gave the full names of the characters, where the incident ensued, and the date when each event occurred. This was fitting for this book since it is historical fiction. His ability to merge past occurrences with the present is an admirable skill, as not many authors will be able to exercise such a skill. The author also gave the names of some places and locations while giving the recent names that are associated with these places. Fort Reno is now called El Reno. The Wichita-Caddo Indian Agency is now known as Anadarko. The audience who wishes to visit these historical places can easily locate them.

I recommend “Pioneering North Texas” to those who love historical fiction and give it a 4 out of 4 stars rating. Texans who would love to know their Texas history can also have a go at this book.