This manuscript, in its essence, is a collection of 948 biographies of prominent men and women, all leading citizens of Western Colorado. In this context, Western Colorado encompasses the counties of Archuleta, Chaffee, Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Lake, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Juan, and San Miguel.
Situated at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers just outside of St. Paul, Minnesota, Fort Snelling was one of the first white settlements in the region. This manuscript is a collection of reminiscences of life at the fort, written by a daughter of an army officer. Coming to the area with the first group of soldiers, Charlotte Van Cleve describes the early years of the fort, including her own rudimentary schooling, encounters with local Indians, and the rigors of frontier life. Additionally, she recounts her courtship and marriage to a prominent army officer and their trips to St. Louis, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Nashville. For those wishing to better understand life in a frontier fortification, this narrative can provide detailed information.