This 1870s popular history seems to be drawn from a wide variety of sources, although none are listed. Much of the book is an early history of the state, beginning with its geological origins but mostly consisting of the last quarter of the 18th century and the first quarter of the 19th. It emphasizes dramatic incidents and heroes. It is interspersed with about 30 “Legends and Traditions”, which seem to be stories or incidents that had been passed down orally, often by local Native Americans. Toward the end of the volume there is a focus on the history of particular regions (as indicated in the title), and the last chapter includes a collection of lists and tables.