Most history comes to us through the exploits of the famous and infamous. Rarely does history record the stories, legends, and folklore of the ordinary people who did the grinding, backbreaking work of building families, communities, and nations. This book is part of a journey of self-discovery as the author follows the Upton and Minton families as they establish their foothold in America long before there was a United States; in some ways it is the connecting story of all ordinary Americans. Readers may find perspective and a sense of continuity with their own families as the author follows the paths of his ordinary, yet remarkable family.