New historical novel about New Ulm | News, Sports, Jobs

The book, “A place called home”follows the Beck family through the eyes of 10-year-old Carolina Beck. As German immigrants expelled from Cincinnati because of their anti-immigrant sentiment, they travel by steamship to New Ulm and attempt to settle there. In 1862, the family must defend their home against attacks during the US-Dakota War.

Silcox said she came up with the idea when her cousin told her about a quote in which trader Andrew Myrick said the starving Dakota could eat grass when they were hungry.

“This made me think more about the war between the US and Dakota,” said Silcox. “Then I really wanted to learn more about the settlers who came to New Ulm. Why did they come?”

Although the genre is historical fiction, Silcox wanted to make sure that everything she wrote about reflected as closely as possible the real living conditions and experiences of immigrants in New Ulm. To this end, she contacted several local experts.

Submitted photo: The cover for Nancy Silcox’s new book, which describes the journey of an immigrant family from Cincinnati, Ohio, to New Ulm, Minnesota, from 1856 to 1862.

“Most of it came from files, memoirs and personal accounts that I found at the Brown County Historical Society,” said Silcox. “Darla Gebhard found many things that could inspire me to write historical novels. I also went to Cincinnati because that’s where history begins. I met with librarians at the public library and the archivist at the Cincinnati Historical Society.”

Silcox said she learned of an active community of Germans who came with the Turners to settle in New Ulm in 1857.

To get a sense of what had already been written on the subject, Silcox combed through numerous nonfiction books about the U.S.-Dakota War. She said those books focused on the battles and tragedies that took place there, and she wanted to focus on a different side of that story.

“I wanted to write something that appealed to people’s emotions,” said Silcox. “(They) experienced what it was like to build a new community, find and grow their own food, build a house and start from scratch.”

The book is currently at the printers and Silcox is waiting for the final proofs. The book itself will be released on August 24. Silcox said she has been working on the book for four years and now that the finish line is in sight, she is relieved to have told the story she set out to do.

“It has really become a part of my life,” said Silcox. “The characters became real for me and also for my friends and family. One of my friends regularly asked me: ‘What is Carolina doing today?'”

On August 24, Silcox will host a book talk and signing at the Brown County Historical Society Annex from noon to 1 p.m. Admission to the event is free, but advance reservations are required.

For more information about the event, visit https://www.browncountyhistorymn.org/event/book-release-author-talk-signing-a-place-called-home/.

For more information about the author, visit https://nancynoyessilcox.com/.