The author attempted to portray a number of real people who were significant in Illinois history by placing them in fictional situations. He says that, “The work might be called a drama in which characters appear upon the stage in connection with events in which they acted.” He has divided the volume into three ‘books’;

Book 1 – The Pioneer
Book 2 – Political Upheaval
Book 3 – In War-time

Some of the historical figures in the book are: Stephen A. Douglas, John Wentworth, Owen Lovejoy, Abraham Lincoln, John Hay, Lyman Trumbull, David Davis, Norman B. Judd and Richard J. Oglesby.

A story of the prairies, written from the memories of over half a century lived in Illinois. The author has endeavored to present his views of the position and influence of Illinois among the states, to give an estimate of events, and of those Illinoisans who were conspicuous actors in them, from 1850, the year in which the Fugitive-slave law was enacted, to the opening of the Civil war.
— Bookman