We Suffered Much

“Wilson has provided a masterful look at the work and dedicated project carried out by pioneer railroad surveyor C. W. Irish during his years on the Minnesota and Dakota prairies. Through a thoughtful and introspective view of Irish’s own logs, journals, drawings, and personal correspondence, Cindy’s weaving of this story makes for a unique look at a more-often-than-not overlooked time in the development of the Northern Plains. Facing illnesses, doubt, shortages of men and materials, and the ever-present challenges of geography and weather—Irish endeavored on in his quest to negotiate a path through the elements, and the inhabitants of the Dakota lands, in the lead up to the Great Dakota Boom of the 1880s. This marvelous work belongs in the collection of any student of Dakota history and of anyone who enjoy a riveting story of dedication and family interactions.”
— Rick Mills, curator and historian, South Dakota State Railroad Museum, Ltd.

“We Suffered Much is a monumental, never-before-told tale of a significant aspect of the closing of the American frontier: the building of railroads. This book is the gripping, adventurous account of Charles Wood Irish as he surveyed the most feasible routes for extending the Chicago & North Western Railroad through Dakota Territory. Author Cindy Wilson transforms Irish’s 1879–1881 diaries and letters into a lively narrative. Her characterization of Irish creates the persona of a memorable Western trailblazer. Irish’s accounts of weather, illness, and poor lodgings and nutrition typify his challenges in the unsettled Midwest. His brushes with the Lakota are poignant; they illustrate the clash between White progress and the resulting decimation of Native cultures. Irish’s words read like a vibrant latter-day Lewis and Clark expedition narrative. We Suffered Much is a page-turner and an unexpected gift for those interested in railroad history and the development of the upper Midwest. This book celebrates an unsung hero whose sacrifices were necessary in linking the railroads from east to west. It is an entertaining and insightful read.”
— William Anderson, historian, editor of The Selected Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and author of many other titles

“‘Thar’s gold in them (Black) Hills!’ And the Chicago & North Western (C&NW) Railway was determined to benefit from the expected prosperity boom. But before their tracks could be extended from southwestern Minnesota to that far corner of what was then Dakota Territory, a route had to be surveyed. The C&NW assigned this daunting task to Charles Wood Irish, and author Cindy Wilson makes it immediately clear that her book is not about surveying, but surveyors. Over the next two years, 1879–81, Irish and his crew would suffer extreme heat, the historic winter of 1880–81, wildfires, floods, illness, separation from family and friends, horse thieves, gunfights, and the reluctance of the Lakota Sioux to have their reservation invaded by the ‘iron horse.’ Moreover, the C&NW was racing the rival Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul to be the first to reach the coveted Black Hills. Irish’s crew did, indeed, suffer much while surveying the route, and the reader will find inspiration in Charles Wood Irish’s fierce determination and endurance. Serious students of railroad history are aware that not much has been published about the survey work that preceded construction. This book does much to fill that gap.”
— John Berg, director of the Chicago & North Western Historical Society and retired American history teacher

“Through the bitter cold and blazing heat of 1879–1881, Charles Wood Irish led a team of surveyors across south-central Dakota Territory on behalf of the Chicago & North Western Railway. As he confided to his diary over and over again, the men ‘suffered much’ from mosquitos, blizzards, subzero temperatures, disease, lack of water, and poor rations. Combining Irish’s observations from his diaries, letters home, hand-drawn maps, and other notes, Cindy Wilson masterfully retraces the surveyors’ journey, supplementing the story with her own field research. The result is a fascinating look at the strength of character it took to blaze the trail for the railroads across the Great Plains.”
— Nancy Tystad Koupal, director of the Pioneer Girl Project

“Wilson takes the reader through the everyday life of Charles Wood Irish and his crew via her extensive research of letters, diaries, documents, historical publications, and Irish’s hand-drawn maps. She also brings us along on her own investigative journey, weaving together her emotional insights and her connections to collection materials and the physical landscape. Wilson’s work illuminates the critical need for support of the long-term preservation of our cultural heritage and speaks to the important role libraries and archives play in uncovering and understanding our past.”
— Giselle Simón, director of Conservation and Collections Care, University of Iowa Libraries

“Cindy Wilson has produced another amazing book after her gem The Beautiful Snow. Railroads and weather are central to both books. While The Beautiful Snow told the story of how a railroad tried to remain in operation during an unusually brutal winter, her new book, We Suffered Much, describes the work of the survey crews who charted a route for a railroad in Dakota Territory between 1879 and 1881. While reading We Suffered Much, the word that kept coming to mind was epic. The conditions under which Charles Wood Irish and his crew often worked were so terrible that I often wondered how they were able to stay alive! This is a well-researched and well-written tale of incredible experiences, railroads, and fascinating nineteenth-century Midwest history. I highly recommend this unforgettable book!”
— Bob Sandeen, Nicollet County Historical Society, Minnesota