Butcher made hundreds of photographs and collected a wealth of information from and about pioneer families. His Pioneer History of Custer County, Nebraska contained four hundred pages of photographs and text. From this voluminous material, Conrad selected portions she believed would enhance and strengthen a book about Butcher and the era in which he lived.

It is in this selection that her artistry is apparent. The book is concise, to the point, and without a burden of details.

Although not a traditional biography, it gives the reader a sense of familiarity with Butcher and his hardworking wife Lillie, and it provides a remarkable look at pioneering families, the lives they lived, and the stories they thought worth preserving. The information on sod houses, the Homestead Act of 1862, and the beginnings of photography enrich the book. Conrad's easy, informal style fits the book well, and her love...