Just as Anna and Engel traveled from Norway to Washougal, this book begins in Norway, then travels to America, the Pacific Northwest, Washington State, Clark County, and ends in the City of Washougal. Early Norwegian history reminds the reader what the Engelsen genetics survived, including harsh weather, unusual geography, deadly plagues, and famines. The book speculates why Norwegians left their country to take their chances in America and points out the similarities of Norway and Washougal, Washington, in farming, fishing, and logging. In America, the Engelsens lived through history that repeats itself in financial panics, economic depressions, severe winds, and freezing temperatures. As early Washougal homesteaders, they witnessed fires, floods, isolation, disease, slow transportation, drownings, and other accidents. They saw the arrival of trains, automobiles, electricity, and plumbing. Anna and Engel Engelsen, born in 1845 and 1846 in Norway, lived long, eventful lives before they died in Washougal, Washington, at ages 75 and 83. Only four of their ten children lived past 70 years of age. Why the other children lived shorter lives than their parents is unknown, but the author looks for clues and hopes the reader will seek insights that could extend their lives.

Just how far is it from Norway to Washougal, Washington? That depends on when and how you traveled. From Norway to New York took four months by sailboat and two months by steamship. From the American east to the west coast took four months to a year by horse or oxen pulled wagons. Travel from the east to the west took days to weeks on early American trains after the first transcontinental train started in 1869. This book starts at the beginning of everyone's genetics, with a brief story of the first modern humans. It moves briefly through Norwegian's history from the Ice Age to the 1800s. Significant people and events mark American history from the 1600s to the early 1900s As the book travels to the Pacific Northwest, the reader meets fur trappers, Native Americans, American pioneers, and European settlers. Along the way, there are explorers, British forts, and struggles over land ownership, and battles. As the book arrives in the Pacific Northwest, geology tells the story. Washington and Oregon Territories form from donation land claims, homesteads, river transportation, natural disasters, and the birth of small towns. The farming life in the mid to late 1800s, the first settlements north of the Columbia River in Washington, and the growth of towns then cities are told through the families who lived there. A history timeline adds a correlation between Norwegian and American history and the American presidents. Paul and the Roman empire, Hebrew history, Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation, early American missionaries show religious faith in history. Finally, the book is the story of a deep desire to honor one's family, leave a legacy, and the author's mission to grow in her Christian faith.

Susan Tripp, BA, MS Psy, is a wife, mother, grandmother, credentialed teacher, businesswoman, community volunteer, and past Mayor of La Mirada, California. Born in Long Beach, she grew up in Newport Beach, California. Susan Mulker graduated from San Jose State University, California. Married in 1987, Susan and Rolan Tripp, DVM, share an interest in animal behavior and a passion for helping people enjoy the best relationships possible with dogs and cats. Susan's specialty is early puppy and kitten development and training. Susan and Rolan owned the La Mirada Animal Hospital for ten years after starting TeleVet in 1886. They started AnimalBehavior.Net in 2001, and PetHappiness.Net in 2017. Susan is the author of pet-related articles, books, and training curriculum. Her interest in family history surprised her when she discovered her paternal grandmother was born and raised about ten miles from her home in current home in Vancouver, Washington. From 2017 to 2020, Susan researched her Engelsen family history and the nearby town of Washougal. From there, her curiosity spread to the history of her Norwegian and American roots. As she researched, she added briefly to the book what she learned and felt was important to know. Just as her great grandparents, Anna and Engel Engelsen, traveled from Norway to America, this book does the same.