Yesterdays: A Kernel of Hope in the Prairie

“Yesterdays - A Kernel of Hope on the Prairie” is a story about a pioneer family in Central Nebraska. It begins when the Grandfather migrates from Canada and eventually settles in East-Central Nebraska in 1878. The family started in a humble dugout and was advancing quickly until they got caught in the fallout from the great depression. At that point, life took some drastic turns as they had to adjust to a subpar house in a new community, that did not welcome them. After WWII, the family moved to a new farm and the family was doing well, until the untimely death of their parents required the six orphaned siblings to pull together to raise their young brother (8 yrs. old) to maturity.
This is a compilation of family stories that were told by the siblings and later written down to preserve the memories. Some are funny, some are serious, and some are heartbreaking. It is the authors hope that people in similar situations can find strength in these stories and gain hope to deal with situations, when life takes an unexpected turn.
This was the era before technology became prevalent so the pioneers had to deal with harsh weather, no electricity or indoor plumbing. They lived close to nature, horses were used for transportation and work, corn cobs were burned for heat, windmills were used to pump water from the ground etc. They were self-sufficient, resourceful and determined to make it in spite of their dire situation. These strengths helped them survive but the skills are largely gone from today’s society. Interesting reading from those who experienced how complex life was ... in a simpler time.