Customer Reviews

The Late Sooner

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The Late Sooner by Sally Jadlow catches you with the introduction. Based on an actual diary from an Oklahoma plains settler Ms. Jadlow has woven a story we can all relate to and at the same time learn from. It's an easy quick read filled with information about the hardships, and hopes of the early settlers. Even if you have no interest in the history of Oklahoma you will enjoy this book.

Ms. Jadlow has given us a rare treasure in this book. The story is based on a diary written by her great-grandfather, Sanford Deering. He tells about his adventures, and misadventures, trying to tame a homestead following the land rush to Indian Territory, Oklahoma, in the late 1800's. The voice is so clear, I felt I was sitting at the table listening in on the conversations, wiping tears during hard times, and laughing during the joyful times. The amount of research done becomes obvious as the book unfolds. Anyone can learn something from the experiences of this family and their friends. I came away appreciating my ancestors even more.

In this day and age the hardship that confronted those who settled this great land is non-existent. It is really refreshing to read about those hardy pioneers who lived, loved and died fulfilling their dream. Mrs. Jadlow's portrayal of her family history is both entertaining and relevant for us all. We all need to have our memories refreshed by reading about perseverence, hard work, sorrow and fulfillment written in a folksy style that charms. Judy Smith

The Late Sooner is aptly named, as Sally Jadlow writes of her great-grandfather's desire to settle in Oklahoma--the Sooner state. She does a masterful job of taking her great-grandfather's tattered diary, with its one sentence a day entrries, and weaving an intriging historical story. The story draws the reader in with the hardships of settling in an unsettled land, and of the struggle of the wife who was so reluctant to move to that new land.

THE LATE SOONER

Author Sally Jadlow found an old ledger with ragged edges stuffed in a walnut antique cabinet in her mother's spare bedroom. She said the yellowed pages crackled as she opened it, and the sound was her great grandfather's voice speaking from more than a hundred years ago from the pages of his diary.

Sanford Deering only entered one line a day in the ledger beginning in the 1880s, but Sally filled in the blanks with research, imagination and family legend to create this great historical novel.

The book begins in Missouri, with Sanford Deering's impossible dream of owning his own land. When he hears about free land opening up to homesteaders in Oklahoma Territory, he tells Lucy he wants to go. Lucy, who is pregnant, does not share the dream and refuses to even consider it. Unspoken words create a mounting tension between Sanford and Lucy. He tells her that many people sneak into the territory and try to claim land before the opening date, and are called "Sooners."

Later, after the baby's arrival and after their landlord notifies them they will have to give up their lease on the Missouri farm, Sanford learns from a friend that some land is still available. He brings this up to Lucy again. Lucy's parents and other friends are also planning to go, and Lucy gives in reluctantly.

Sanford staked a claim in the unassigned lands of the Oklahoma Territory four months after the first land opening in 1889 -- hence the title, The Late Sooner. Anyone who thinks life is rough now should definitely read this book, especially the chapter about the famine of 1890 - the "Year of the Turnip" when all other crops failed and there was nothing else to eat, and the lack of medical care when Lucy had to deliver her own baby all alone.

The book is a gripping memoir of the true life of Sanford Deering. Jadlow has captured the dreams, hope, bravery, and sacrifice of pioneer homesteaders settling in Oklahoma in the early years before statehood in 1907. It will be especially interesting to people interested in Oklahoma or pioneer history experiences, genealogy, or overcoming tragedy.

Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (1/07)

On April 22, 1889 Congress opened the Unassigned Lands of almost three million acres in the Oklahoma Territory for homesteading. The unassigned lands were laid out in 160-acre homesteads. Guthrie, Oklahoma was designated as the temporary capital.

Award winning author Sally Jadlow has taken the simple entries of her great grandfather's diary and crafted a gripping memoir of the life of Sanford Deering into a tribute to the pioneers who paid a high price to settle the Oklahoma Territory. Jadlow has captured the dreams, hope, bravery, and sacrifice of those pioneer homesteaders settling in Okalahoma in the years 1889 and 1890.

Sanford's dream was to have his own land and to join in the "run" to file for farm lands in the Oklahoma Territory. Unspoken words created a mounting tension and compromise between Sanford and Lucy. Lucy determined, "If I didn't love him so much, I'd just let him run off and rot there."

Weeks later, in wake of the new baby's arrival, Sanford succumbed, "He made one more last resolution to kiss his dream good-bye." However, within a month, a letter from Uriah, a friend who had staked a homestead claim, told of land still available. Sanford left to check it out and filed his claim.

While Sanford was filing his claim in Oklahoma, Lucy, who had remained at home, was struggling with her wedding vows, those vows of being Sanford's life partner and helper. Receiving inner strength from her Bible reading Lucy's heart changed. The family moved to make a home on their homestead claim.

The following words sum up Sanford's feelings. "If Sanford could have put this moment in a jar to save it forever, he would have. This longing that had rested in his heart for so long was finally a reality. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn he was dreaming."

The ensuing chapters deal with the struggles the family went though during the five years of building and establishing their family and their homestead. Jadlow has a remarkable ability to endear her characters to the reader. She builds a sense of empathy and rapport. I soon felt I was an interactive member of the family as the story moved from crisis to tragedy full circle to another round of hope and promise.

"The Late Sooner" is a book that should be in the classrooms and libraries of every school and family in the state of Oklahoma and on the reading lists of every curriculum of the history of Western United States. The story is rich in drama, inspiration, and historical insight.

Book received free of charge

Sally - I just finished reading this book. I am a great reader, but mostly of Christian books, etc., but not stories or fiction. Not sure why it took me so long to get to it. How glad I am that I did. I loved it! I think you are a very good writer. The story is precious and your literary touches sprinkled throughout delighted me. Graceful and delicate. I even wept. It warmed my heart. The book will make good gifts. Thank you for writing it.