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Frio Point 200 B.C. to 600A.D.

Mountains of Stone

Mountain
Man

North West
Token

Beaver Pelt

Bead Work

Grey Owl

Backrest


Wampum

Cooking Pot

Horn Spoon

North West
Coat of Arms

Stone Hammer

Seed Beads

Plainview Atlatl Point
8150-8010 B.C.

There are thirty-three historical articles on this site. The articles cover Pre-historic Indians, Anasazi and Fremont Indians, Lewis and Clark, David Thompson, Mountain Men, Plains Indians Horses, Smallpox, and Alcohol, Oregon and Mormon Trail, Martin Willey Handcart Companies, Western Expansion and Manifest Destiny to the Oregon Country and California, Forest Fires.  All of the articles contain Pictures, Maps, and based on Historical Facts.

  Comments, Questions, or Suggestions

 MOUNTAINS OF STONE
Guide Posts to the West
by
Orland Ned Eddins

To order a copy of Mountains of Stone click on the picture...

  Reader Comments   About the Author    Bibliography   Dead Beat List

 Western expansion beyond the Mississippi River set in opposition two peoples: one with an insatiable thirst for furs and land; the other a territorial people with no concept of land ownership...Mother Earth was shared by all. A rich historical background coupled with the cultural and religious aspects of Native Americans makes Mountains of Stone a gripping blend of historical fact and fiction. An exciting, page turning, storyline makes Mountains of Stone a "good read", as well as, educational.

Mountains of Stone contains an abridged account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition  and some of the major Hudson's Bay and North West Company fur traders and explorers. The interaction of Mountains of Stone's  central character, Broken Knife, with George Drouillard, Auguste Chouteau, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, John Colter, Manuel Lisa, François-Antoine Larocque, and the Upper Missouri River Indians brings life to America's early western expansion.

Click on snake for Dead Beats details: Sidney McLaughlin, Virginia Perches, Kris Giedosh, Brett D Pfingston, Gail Belt,  Shelly Lemonte, Shawn Seigler, Gerald Gallimore, Sandra Bowden, Nikki Davenport, William May, Don McCall, Brian Karcher, Gary Blauser, Randy Adam, Feigue Cieplinski, PhD., Jim Georgeson.

A sad commentary on present-day values is that there is little trust in people anymore, but being old fashioned, I trust people. You are not required to pre-pay when ordering Mountains of Stone, and the overwhelming majority of people bear out my faith in people. The "Dead Beats" are people that bought Mountains of Stone and have not paid for it. These people are not poor...just true worthless "Dead Beats". It is too bad that a few individuals with no integrity take advantage of this offer, and end up on my dead beat list.

 After receiving the book, please pay the enclosed invoice. Mountains of Stone makes an excellent birthday gift. Each copy of Mountains of Stone will be signed with your message, and along with the picture CD, mailed directly to anyone you designate.

Reader Comments:

Dave Smith - Riverside, California

Dr. Eddins, I have read the book and find it one of the best novels covering the early Fur Trade Era in our history. My copy is so "dog eared" I need to order a second copy for my neighbor and good friend.

Dan Judd - Tracy, California

Just finished the book.  A great read.  I don't do a lot of reading (rather particular).  Had trouble putting it down.  I really enjoy a book that has this kind of flow.  Your style is the kind that I particularly enjoy.  I can't stay with a book if I don't feel the spirit.  I have to be able to live in a book that I read.  This one really put the hook in me. 

Tim Heinse - Madison, Alabama

Mountains of Stone was a fascinating read, a real page turner that I hardly put down. I appreciated the authenticity and the obvious research you did on the subjects in the book. It reminded me a lot of Louis L'Amour's work.  Please send me the next one as soon as it's done. I also really enjoyed the photos, they bring back memories of my childhood out west. 

 For all the "deadbeats" that got the book and didn't pay, I can only assume you haven't read it as you would recognize its quality and value if you had read it. Please read the book and pay up. 

Kevin Fechtelkotter - Rapid City, SD

 I recently received your book MOUNTAINS OF STONE.  Just finished reading it.... for the second time.  First book that I've ever read and then read again, right away.  It was that enjoyable.  I'm looking forward to your next historical novel.  God's Blessings.

Gary Staton - Sedalia, Missouri

I purchased your book in NOV 2005 but for some reason never got around to reading it.  Finally I took time out to read and enjoy this fine book.  The depiction of the Indians and the times depicted were outstanding and a learning experience.  Fact and fiction were interwoven to make it a great learning experience and whet my appetite for more knowledge on the early days of the west.  Your writing is entertaining and makes the entire story come alive.  My only regret was that the book ended too soon and on a sad note of time to come for Wind & Broken Knife.  It is unfortunate that the Indians history went to a very sad period after the years covered in the story. I look forward to Winds of Change but hope it has bright spots to offset the history of the declining Indian ways.

This comment from a reader that didn't give his/her name was added because it made me feel good. Comments from knowledgeable people of the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade are especially gratifying.

Great book!! Due to clean up and repairs from Hurricane Katrina, I was not able to read your book until several months after I received the book in the mail. Once I started reading, I was not able to stop until I finished the last page. When will "Winds Of Change" become available? Soon I hope. I am a devoted student of the Rocky Mountain Fur Trade and the Native Americans of that era. Your book is one of the best I have read in a long time. Thank you very much for transporting me back in time to that wonderful age of the early Mountain Men. May God bless and keep you safe.

Arvene Wallem – Tabor, South Dakota

Just finished your book today.  Tried to go slow so the pleasure would last longer.  What a book.  I have read so much Wyoming, South Dakota, Dakota Territory history but none so interesting. Just wanted to applaud you, your book and efforts to redeem so much of the blame and hatred so many have for the American Indian. I always hate the attitude and contempt the majority of people have for the Indians.  They were doing just fine until "we" whites tried to "civilize" them. 

Gregg Gapp Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

It took two nights, falling asleep with your book in my hands, to read it. I have to compliment you for your exceptional feat of mixing accurate historical facts with a story that must fascinate all that read it, even if they are not aware of the true history of the events and people that shaped not only our great nation, but also Canada.

My interest is in the Upper Great Lakes fur trade and your comments in your book regarding this area are 100% accurate. Your book should be mandatory reading for all school children in both of these great countries. Please put me on your mailing list for when your next book is available.

Anna Lee Waldo, author of SACAJAWEA, PRAIRIE, and the DRUID CIRCLE Series, wrote this about Mountains of Stone.

A friend sent me a copy of your book, MOUNTAINS OF STONE. I enjoyed it very much. I can tell by your background material and your extensive bibliography that you have put a lot of work into researching your material, I appreciate what you have done. Your work makes me think of the TV series by Ken Burns called AMERICAN STORIES. Part 5 of his series is about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Part 6 continues through the Battle of the Little Bighorn and the Battle of the Mormons. Both of you writers use known historical facts in a fair and balanced manner to show what happens when two different cultures clash. We can not change the history of the American West but we ought not forget it. I especially liked your book because you used fictional characters, who seem truly authentic, to tie together the various Indian Nations and the encroaching fur traders, explorers, military men and pioneers. I look forward to your new book WINDS OF CHANGE.  

Jim Davidson, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

Got your book. Great read! My only disappointment is that it's not bigger. Looking forward to more from you as I have a great interest in this time period. Keep up the good work.         

There have been many requests for copies of pictures from the website. To view a sample of pictures, click on...

The best website pictures, and others from Jackson Hole, Yellowstone, and Star Valley, Wyoming, have been put on a CD. The pictures make beautiful screensavers, or can be used as a slide show in Windows XP. When ordering Mountains of Stone, request the CD and I will send it free with the book.

About the Author:

O. N. Eddins is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He was born and now resides in Afton, Wyoming, which is near Jackson Hole and the Grand Tetons—a landmark for Indians and Mountain Men. The majority of Mountains of Stone was written deep in the Greys River mountains near the Strawberry Indian trail from Jackson Hole and the Tetons to the Snake River plains. By horse and pack string, Dr. Eddins has ridden many of the trails described in Mountains of Stone. His campfires have been built in the same places as those of the Rocky Mountain men and explorers one hundred and ninety years ago. 

Dr. Eddins was an approved judge of the American Quarter Horse and the American Paint Horse associations, as well as, a certified ski instructor in Park City, Utah.