Jacob Wright Harlan was born in Wayne County, Indiana, on October 14th, 1828, and died on March 7, 1902, in San Leandro, California. During his seven decades of life, Jacob took part in many of the historic events that led to the settlement of the West, including the gold rush and the fight for California's independence.

Jacob's early life was not an easy one. His migration to California, as a member of the Donner party, was even more difficult. His eyewitness accounts of his experiences provide a valuable historical account of the events that led to the formation of California and the western states.

Jacob Wright Harlan's ancestors, George and Michael Harlan, landed in New Castle, Delaware, in 1687. These original Harlans were Quakers and came to the new world seeking religious freedom. This book also contains some of the history of the Harlan family, one of America's first families