If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

The First Miss America During the Birth of the Golden State

by John E. Cyr

88 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #06-1197; ISBN 1-4120-9442-9; US$12.50, C$14.37, EUR10.27, £7.19

The story of a courageous eleven-year-old girl who, before California was even a state, overcame indescribable hardships and suffering and she became an example of the pioneer spirit it took for others to endure in the settling of the new lands.

This is the story of an actual, real life little girl, America Kelsey, who accompanied her parents and siblings on a rugged wagon trip from their home in Missouri in the 1840's to settle in California as the first Anglo family before it became a state.

That is the true part. Much of anything from there on has been somewhat fabricated, due to lack of historical substance. Her father was truly the first white man to die and be buried in what is now the Charles M. Weber Event Center in Stockton, California.

All this was truly happening while California was a Department of the Mexican Nation and the story includes the difficulties that the American Emigrants were having in trying to wrest the future State from the Mexican Government.

American Kelsey is truly revered in California as an example of how a little girl could surmount all kinds of difficulties to establish a fine home for her family in a strange new land.

John E. Cyr was born of French parents who were living on a cattle ranch near Missoula, Montana in 1915.

Education in Montana schools, during the Great Depression in 1934 he gravitated to California where he finally settled down in Stockton.

After experiencing a number of jobs and vocation he finally settled into the real estate business for a 50 year duration. He retired from that in 2004 and chose to writing vocational books and western novels as a hobby and his final vocation.

The novels he has written include: The Shotgun Rider and the Lady; Troubles Along The Mullan Trail; Danger in The Delta; Destination Oroville; A Love Story and The First Miss America During The Birth of The Golden State.

Excerpts

---

---