We Suffered Much

Surveyor Charles Wood Irish had a job to do: chart a path for the Chicago & North Western Railroad, beginning in Tracy, Minnesota, and heading toward gold-rich Deadwood in the Dakota Territory. But roaming the prairies was an unpleasant endeavor. “We suffered much” was Irish’s not-uncommon refrain.

Artfully drawn from diaries, letters, and contemporary newspapers, We Suffered Much chronicles Charles Wood Irish’s two-year odyssey through the Dakota Territory. It’s a tale of ordinary work and extraordinary adventures. A tale of sickness and hardiness. A tale of unimaginable conditions and awesome wonders. It’s also a tale of Irish’s devotion to his profession as well as his family. A man ahead of his time, he strove to stay connected to his wife and daughters, who proved to be just as adventurous and capable as he.

In a special behind-the-scenes look, We Suffered Much also includes author Cindy Wilson’s own research adventures as she retraces Irish’s footsteps.