The Taming of the Wilderness describes the process of transforming the flora and fauna of nineteenth century Indiana from Hunting Grounds of Native Americans to commercial agriculture and its supporting industry. The book is in three parts:

• 1800-1825: Living with the Wilderness; subsistence living under primitive conditions;
• 1825-1850: Bridling the Wilderness; canals and steamboats facilitate trade; and
• 1850-1875: A Wilderness Vanquished; railroads dramatically change farming and the environment.

A dominant theme portrays the fate of Native Americans who were pushed out of their sacred lands by coercion and brute force so the settlers could remake the landscape to their own liking.

The author animates the story with personal experiences of genuine pioneer families. The book reads like a novel. It gives the reader a feeling of having been there and experienced the drudgery as well as the joys of taming the wilderness.