Vandemark's Folly

"Vandemark's Folly" by Herbert Quick, recounts the life of J.T. Vandemark as he pens the history of Vandemark Township, Iowa, despite his initial doubts about the project's true intentions and the agent behind it. Persuaded by his granddaughter Gertrude, Vandemark looks back on his early life, marked by a harsh upbringing under his stepfather and challenging factory work. Beginning as a personal reflection, the narrative evolves into the story of the settlement of the American West, bringing to light the struggles, tenacity, and sense of community that defined the era as settlers moved westward.