Creating Fiction From History: 5/18/2022

James Robert Bennet III was born into it, one might say! Making a grand entry into this world in late June of 1883, the 23rd, to be precise, Jim-Bob emerged into this life in the local physician's office in little Dorchester, an unincorporated town in Allamakee County, near the Minnesota border. Jim-Bob's parents, James II and Elisha Bennet were among about 50 other inhabitants of the small farming area.

James the Second was a pensioner from the Mine, drawing a decent $16 a month. Because of the nature of the injury for which he drew his pension, James had moved his small family from great...