The Native Land - The David Snyder Story

A story about one family’s migration from Missouri to Colorado on the Mountain Route of the Santa Fe Trail.   

Indians, disease, weather, cutthroats, swollen rivers, and the challenge of the Raton Pass are just parts of the adventure.   

After getting to Colorado, acquiring land and building a herd of Longhorn cattle is the new test that awaits them. In the wilderness and surrounded by hundreds of Indians, they have to contend with the elements, cattle rustlers, and the land baron, Lucian Maxwell.   

The Native Land is a glimpse into the hardship of early settlers who followed the allure of the West. .

The Native Land II continues the story of the western migration on the Santa Fe Trail. This time the story deals with the Oliver Rogers family and their decision to use the Cimarron Cutoff. 

After they are attacked by Indians, and their numbers reduced, Oliver and two other families join with a group of Mormons headed for Utah to continue their journey. 

Oliver finds a wagon train scout who was captured by the Kiowa and managed to escape. He joins the wagon train and enters into an agreement with Oliver to form a partnership on a ranch once they arrive in New Mexico. 

Oliver and Bascom build a ranching operation. Oliver catches a magnificent wild stallion, saves a runaway slave from slave hunters, and he, Isom, joins the ranch crew. Indians and a 600 mile trail drive to Sedalia, Missouri, tests their resolve and brings building a profitable ranching operation into question.