Meet Alexander McLeod

Another entry in my month-long series of posts on Oregon, all in support of my Kickstarter Campaign.

The American West was first settled (in the European sense) by a rough collection of mountain men, fur trappers, and missionaries who were attracted by the untapped resources, whether adventure, beavers, or souls. Foremost among them was an infamous scotsman named Alexander McLeod.

Little is known of McLeod, though stories of his exploits can be found in local museums and historical societies from Quebec to California. And because there have been several Alexander McLeods that have made a name for themselves in the past several hundred years, I can’t even be sure the picture above belongs to the right one. The McLeod of which I am speaking played a significant if little known role in early Oregon.

Here’s an excerpt from Quitting the Grave:

For many young men, the journey West was more about what was being left behind than what was waiting for them at the end. They were looking to escape the lives they were locked into, no matter if it was poverty, or the law, or an unwanted marriage that was chaining them down. By the 19th century, the states had established a network that allowed for the repatriation of fugitives, whether they be slaves, criminals, or debtors. But the West was still untapped wilderness, and a person could become whomever they wanted, no questions asked, safe from the still somewhat short arm of the law.

According to the journal of Helen Hunsaker, with whom he traveled on their way to Oregon in the summer of 1846, McLeod was “a tall man, of dark tan complexion and intense blue eyes. Unlike most of the men who claim to be riders and explorers, he places a high priority on cleanliness and his appearance, keeping his face shaved smooth, and his hair trimmed. But despite this adherence to cultured behavior, a certain wildness always attends him, marked by a disdain for conversation, a dislike of society, and the propensity to mock most civilized conventions. He gives the impression of the noble savage that Cooper wrote about, a heathen idolator of nature who follows a natural virtue based on instinct. He is, in a word, dangerous.”

Alexander McLeod is just an example of the kinds of larger-than-life characters who populate Quitting The Grave. And you can buy your copy right now by contributing to my Kickstarter. Please remember that every little bit helps. The more contributions I get now, the better the finished product will be.

Thanks for your support.

Check out Decater's new novel, available now at Amazon. Plus, don't forget his earlier books: Ahab's Adventures in Wonderland and Picasso Painted Dinosaurs.