In 1867 Fritz Wilcox was eight and came with his parents as pioneers to start a new life up the Saint Croix River by paddleboat. Learning his way in the new world presents him numerus youthful adventures with his friends that find themselves in all kinds of trouble. Somehow Fritz manages to live to be an adult and strikes out for the Black Hills with a friend to find their fortune in the gold fields. Imagine what it must have been like in the time of logging and primitive farming when Northern Wisconsin was just being settled. Through the eyes of the author, Fred A Brede the character come alive and remind the reader of their own youthful adventures.