This book traces the James Longmire family as it joined dozens of other families to move West by wagon train from Indiana to Washington Territory in 1853, and on his life on Washington's Yelm prarie, James' involvement in Territorial government and the northwest Indian wars, and his establishment of Longmire Springs on the flanks of Mount Ranier. It also briefly chronicles the life of his sons and daughters. It includes a family tree with thousands of Longmire ancestors and descendants catalogued.

These writings will be of interest to the descendants of the Longmire family and others who may be interested in the pioneer migration and settlement of the West, and the development of Washington Territory as it became a State.

A newer and expanded edition was published by Marie Bauer Rice and distributed to interested family members in 2003.