Ireland to the Wild West: A True Story of Romance, Faith, Tragedy, and Hope

by Marcus Paul

Overview

Born in 1846 in Ireland at the start of the "Great Hunger," James Kinnier Wilson emigrated to Philadelphia to start a new life at seventeen years old. After his life took a dramatic turn, he found himself attending Princeton and then a college in Scotland, where he met Agnes Hately, the talented daughter of a famous figure in the Scottish "Disruption"--the emergence of the Free Church of Scotland.

Agnes and James, now newlyweds, crossed the dangerous Atlantic and settled in rural New Jersey. While there, Agnes wrote intimate letters home about her children, the people around her, the church, and the dangers of endemic disease.

Called in 1878 to the Wild West to found churches and to farm, Agnes again revealed in detail the conditions of her life on the frontier and her impressions of American women, cowboys, servant girls, church-goers, and provides some never before seen detail to what is called the "Last Indian Raid in Kansas."

In Ireland to the Wild West, Marcus Paul uses these letters penned by Agnes to take readers on a journey through Agnes and James' engagement, marriage, dangerous travels, and their arrival and life in America. Through her letters, a treasure trove for historians, readers will gain a unique insight to that time period and will find an engrossing and inspiring story of romance, faith, tragedy, and hope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620209592
Publisher:	Emerald House Group, Incorporated
Publication date:	12/03/2019
Pages:	260
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marcus Paul has two degrees in English (with some history) and has spent his career engaging with students in three continents and six schools. In 2016 Sacristy Press published his book, ‘The Evil That Men Do’ and he recently published articles on Lawrence of Arabia and John Buchan as well as other historical/biographical articles. In addition to writing and reading, Marcus enjoys rock climbing and exploration. He also plays tennis, paints, and collects books. Marcus is married with two grown children.

Editorial Reviews

In this meticulously researched account, Marcus Paul takes us through her letters into the heart and soul of Agnes Kinnier Wilson and the extraordinary adventure of her mid 19th century Christian life. A life which takes her, newly married, from her native Edinburgh to rural New Jersey and then far west to Kansas, before her husband's tragic early death prompts her return with her children to Edinburgh, to an unexpected second marriage and contentment. The vicissitudes and fragility of church building, homemaking, and family life, lived out against the continuing threat of infectious illness, are all laid bare; and the author's lucid prose makes it a most pleasurable and thought-provoking read.
—John Feehally, Emeritus Professor of Renal Medicine, University of Leicester, UK

In Ireland to the Wild West, Marcus Paul has created a 'faithful record', drawn chiefly from letters, of a remarkable pair of lives, a remarkable partnership, lived out as young folk in Edinburgh and Ireland, culminating in church development, and tragedy, in the new world. It is an inspiring story, told with skill and with deep compassion. There are flashes of bright humour—bite off one of the Pope's toes as you bow to him!—and there is a sincere and gutsy picture of a couple facing challenges but maintaining trust in God’s good purposes. Mr Paul has painted Christian lives, fully in their context and yet fully alive to the eternal need for dependence on God. The faith of Agnes and James Wilson lives splendidly in the pages of Ireland to the Wild West.
—Dr John Goddard, Teacher, Author, Traveller, Sydney, Australia

Through diligent research, and poignant heartfelt letters I was transported back in time by Ireland to the Wild West. It was interesting to compare how things are so different now, but in many ways still the same. A very easy read, that I had difficulty putting down, and have returned to many times since my initial read.
—Rev Jim Agnew, 1st Presbyterian Church of Cedarville, New Jersey

Ireland to the Wild West uncovers previously unknown first hand personal stories of life in the first years of the settlement of Wakeeney, frontier town in Trego, NW Kansas, in the days of the 'cowboys'. Tough resolve and missionary endeavour go hand in hand in this moving account which brings the 1870s Old West brilliantly to life.
—Larry Hixson, Researcher and Local Historian, Trego County Historical Society, Kansas

This is an extraordinary tale of love, passion and faith. The beautifully written account of the intertwining of two lives is both a gripping story of the opening up of the 'Wild West' and a truly astonishing love story. Told vividly and with candour, it brilliantly informs, challenges and inspires in equal measure.
—John Richardson, Formerly Headmaster, Cheltenham College, UK

It was our founding families that helped establish the towns out of the prairies of western Kansas. Families, like the Wilsons, lived through the early days of a growing community through the prosperity and the tragedies. It was the determination of the early settlers that proved to be the life blood of Trego County and WaKeeney. Ireland to the Wild West evokes the reality of the 1870s and brings the past vividly to life through unpublished letters, documents and photographs seen here for the first time. It's a book you won't want to put down.
—Marjean Deines, Director, Trego County Historical Society, Kansas

A wonderful and engaging tale of love, faith, commitment and adventure, made real through the frankness of Agnes' letters—this along with a dose of rural development issues which include some fascinating references, particularly for this reader, of water and sanitation health challenges.
—Dr. Richard Franceys, Formerly Water and Society Course Director, Cranfield University, UK

From the Publisher