Ruth By Lake And Prairie

     True Stories of Early Naperville, Illinois
 
 

Ruth Honored by State Award

Kate traveled to Springfield to receive a Certificate of Excellence Award from the Illinois State Historical Society. See photos from the ceremony, Springfield sites, and the press release on the Events page.

School and Community Presentations

Have Kate visit your school or group.

Power Point presentations on local history and the writing process available.

See presentation synopses and watch a video clip on the Presentations page.

 

Makes a Great Teacher's Gift

If your child's teachers have all the bath gel and apple-shaped objects they can ever use, consider giving them a copy of Ruth by Lake and Prairie for an end-of-the-year gift!

The Westward Expansion of our country is taught in every school, and new materials to assist the lessons are eagerly sought after. Everyone knows the "Little House on the Prairie" stories, but much less has been written about the 1830's, the earlier years of Westward Expansion.

Whether used as a read-aloud in class or as supplemental reading for older students, Ruth by Lake and Prairie accurately depicts the day-to-day life of children in the early nineteenth century and introduces the historical figures whose names have been left behind on the northern Illinois landscape.

Order a copy for your favorite teacher today! Or pick one up at one of the fine bookstores in downtown Naperville.

Waves! Wind! Wagon Trains!

Yes, the founders of Naperville traveled by covered wagon, but first they endured weeks sailing a schooner across the Great Lakes!

Battered by savage storms, idled by windless days, and navigating dangerous waters, Naper's settlers finally anchored their over-crowded ship near Chicago.

Some of the passengers stayed to help build the swampy young town, but the others pointed their wagons west toward the DuPage River. Meet some of their descendants on the Settler's Virtual Reunion Page.

The Voyage To Naper's Settlement

In the most complete retelling of how this small settlement was founded, long-forgotten facts uncovered over months of research are woven into an historical narrative reminiscent of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" books. Follow the trail of clues on the Research page.

Meet Ruth Eliza Murray

Twelve-year-old Ruth Eliza Murray, niece of Joseph Naper, is the engaging focus of the story. Join Ruth, her mischievous younger brother Amos, her tough older brother Ned, and thirteen courageous families on their journey to a new home on the Illinois prairie. Learn a little more about who Ruth was or read the first pages of her story.