In search of Home — Bernard Albertson

In 1864, a beautiful young Indiana woman, her injured son, and a black man leave Indiana and start west in a small farm wagon straight into danger, death, and adventure. This eighty-fiveâ€"thousand word story plays out in the years just prior to the Civil War. The black character, Zacaria Farley, developed into a strong character immediately. Like so many of the early free black men, this character remained true to himself and was ever willing to go to his death for his freedom of choice and manhood. In writing this book, I found in each instance of danger he seemed to do those things that came naturally to him. In each given situation, this character seemed to grow in strength and almost became the dominant character. The white woman Nancy Weliever, and her son Peter seemed to draw and learn from Zacharia's strength right from the beginning. The main character, Nancy Weliever, was strong from the beginning as well. Her strength and determination to seek out a new life for herself and her son Peter made her to me at least, a complete person. The loss of her husband and the injury of her son strengthened as well as hurt her, yet she was not afraid to be a woman in a man's world.