An exciting, page-turning account of the settling of Southwest Texas, My Journey is the true biographical story of two families. The France family arrived in Texas about 1875, and the Bates family came around 1900. Land was plentiful and cheap; so like thousands of other poor families, they settled around San Angelo. With no railroads they came by wagon, horseback, or they walked. Armed by the dream of owning their own land, they struggled and survived the trip; but that was nothing compared to what came later in settling and breaking out the virgin prairie land of central West Texas. Their story is one of deep faith in God and hard work. They lived through droughts, depressions, wars, and divorcees. They birthed their offspring and, in some cases, buried them. With prayer, they handled all sickness, and they provided all their food and entertainment by themselves. The middle and later part of the book is the biography of Dale Bates the third generation of the union of these two families. It is an all American love affair of Dale and Kay and all the struggles of a more modern life. It tells of Dale's struggles for a college education, two stints in the military, attempts at the corporate life, and finally his ranch and farm life. This is the story of fifty-four years (and still going) of marriage to the perfect mate and of their children and grandchildren.