Browse Delaware Authors: Ruth, Jim

Nearly 300 years ago, Peter Ruth, the author's fifth great-grandfather, left his life in Germany with his family in tow for the shores of Philadelphia. Bolstered by courage and with optimism for what opportunities could await them in a land free of religious persecution, Peter would come to lay the foundation not only for the next ten generations of the Ruth family, but for American history as well. After braving a harrowing voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1733, the Ruths transformed Pennsylvania forests into farmland and endured attacks during the French and Indian War. Their children and grandchildren shed their blood fighting for America's independence in the Revolution. In the Civil War, the family again made sacrifices to save the Union and free enslaved people.Beyond the battlefield, pioneering Ruths helped settle America's heartland, pushing the country's boundaries farther west toward the Pacific. On a global stage, one ancestor won the Nobel Peace Prize, while other family patriots died fighting on foreign soil in both World Wars.Told through firsthand accounts by those who were there, The Pursuit is stitched together like a handcrafted quilt, each chapter recounting dramatic tales of courage, loss, and achievement. It chronicles how the Ruths journeyed great distances and overcame daunting obstacles. It reveals the faith they embraced, the aspirations they pursued, sorrows they suffered, and the joys they celebrated. A sweeping historical biography of one family's quest for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," this intimate portrait is a must-read for anyone who will relish an eyewitness view of authentic American history.