With the acceptance of his first two novels in 1907 Jim Curwood definitely proved that he knew what he was doing and that he was on the right road to success. Even then, as the young author received official word of the forthcoming publication of his first two works, he was drafting plans for the writing of three other pieces of fiction work. These were only the forerunners of many others which followed and which established James Oliver Curwood as one of the foremost authorities on the Canadian Northwest.

Jim’s first book, “The Wolf Hunters,” was somewhat of a juvenile story centering about the Hudson Bay wilds. Although starting it had been rather hard for him, Jim soon developed it into an easy task, and so, fired with still greater ambition, he wrote a second novel, “The Courage of Captain Plum.”

Writing book-length novels was new to Jim, but it was work which was both interesting and good. He was always out of bed by five in the morning and by six o’clock he could be found fast at work. Jim would write steadily until noon and many times long past noon. There were many occasions when his wife would have to call him several times before he would leave his desk, so engrossed was he in his writing.

For over a year he pounded his typewriter. He never rewrote any of his work, believing that once a story was written it could never be rewritten quite so good. Of course, he did take time to correct his grammar and punctuation, but that was as far as he went.

It was during this period of incessant writing that Jim’s home life began to suffer a severe blow, for he had been neglecting his family. Jim began to notice a great change in his wife.

Yet, while he felt that something was wrong in his household, it never dawned upon him that not only was he driving himself to the limit, but he also was driving his wife’s patience to the very end. For it was very little that she saw of him, and even when she was with him, it seemed as if his mind was always on the waiting typewriter and paper, and not upon her or their children. In two years the great blow fell. Early in 1908 the inevitable result came ... divorce.

Some time after the divorce had been granted, Jim remarked:

“As we grow older we all learn that it is better to let the dead past bury its dead in peace.”

After the acceptance and publication of his first two book-length novels by the Bobbs-Merrill Company Jim began the long drive for publicity that is so vitally important to an author. Realizing that in order to become famous he must get his name before the reading public, Jim induced more than one newspaper to print his success story. Perhaps the best one was that which appeared in the Detroit News-Tribune. Even the Argus, back in Owosso, gave him a great write-up, and Jim Curwood at last knew that he was really on his way to a colorful and glorious career.

Slowly but surely the little city of Owosso began to claim James Oliver Curwood as its own native son. In fact, the writer’s name was upon every tongue. Even those who at one time had felt that they were much too good to speak to Jim Curwood, now regarded him as a close friend. Even those who had never seen him boasted of having grown up together. Such talk as this was going on in and around Owosso and in other parts of the state. All were eager to make claim upon one whom they had once shunned and laughed at.

At long last Jim decided that he wanted and needed a vacation very badly, so he wired his brother Ed, down in Ohio, to come up and join him for a trip into the wilds.

Jim lost no time in getting ready, and soon the two brothers started on their long trek into the wilds of northern Canada. Traveling aboard the Grand Trunk railways, they received free transportation because Jim was well known by officials and was well liked.

The trip was to be a long one. They were headed for the Athabaska Landing territory and possibly farther up to the edge of the Great Slave country that abounds with all sorts of North American wildlife, which for the most part, roam about at will.

Jim and Ed took to canoes many times, thoroughly enjoying their fight in the roaring rapids of the swift, turbulent northern streams.

On their walks in the forests Jim stopped many times to listen to the sounds of wildlife all about them. High above in the towering pine trees came the ever welcomed songs of the birds. Over on a ridge could be heard the calls of foxes. Somewhere in the heart of the forests came the sounds of mink, the hoot of owls, and the roar of the grizzly bear.

Along the banks of the roaring stream, the Marten, the mink and the weasel could be heard as they slipped down to the water’s edge for a drink of cooling water. All of these sounds and noises of the twilight and early nightfall James Oliver Curwood studied and loved. He loved nature and wildlife with a savage love, and hated those who dared to disrupt their silent, peaceful and happy abodes.

Jim Curwood fought for those animals throughout all his life and was even waging a valiant battle for them up until the time he died. Ed marvelled at his younger brother’s devotion for wildlife, and he, too, grew to love the wilderness and all it stood for with an undying love during the first trip of theirs together into “God’s Country.”

For three months the two brothers stayed away from civilization, taking in all the wonders of nature. Jim took countless photographs of wildlife during this trip, and these, together with others he took over a period of years he made into one of the largest and finest collections of its kind in the world.

With the publication of Jim’s first two books and the release of numerous articles and short stories in various magazines, all of which were based upon settings in Canada, the Canadian Government offered the now somewhat famous James Oliver Curwood the sum of $1800.00 a year with all his expenses if he would explore the distant wilds of the Dominion and use all he saw as a basis for material in his future writings.

This plan was primarily to induce tourists and vacationists into the picturesque provinces. It also was to be used in an effort to bring settlers into the wilderness to cultivate the soil and provide the citizens of the Dominion with an abundance of wheat and other fine crops. Jim was to write all he saw and was interested in for publication in any form he chose. Jim accepted the offer almost immediately. It was toward the latter part of 1908.

An exploration trip such as this had long been somewhat of a “far-fetched dream” of Jim’s, and now at last that dream was becoming a reality.

Plans were soon under way and he began conferring with government officials. The Canadian officials complied with Jim’s every request and within four short and eventful weeks, Jim Curwood was completely ready for his long journey into the wilderness.

Back in 1902, while employed at the News-Tribune in Detroit, Jim had become acquainted with M. V. MacInness. MacInness was then representing the Canadian Immigration Department in Detroit whose offices were located on Jefferson Avenue. He was affectionately known to all who knew him as just “Mac,” and Jim was one of his very best friends.

“He was rather portly and always in jovial humor. He never tired of painting vivid word pictures for me of his beloved Canada, more particularly the vast panorama of unexplored wilderness toward the north and west. His mind was filled with information concerning that magnificent expanse of territory and he never lost an opportunity to introduce me to important Canadians who came to his office. I met many Dominion immigration officials, members of Parliament, Hudson Bay Company officials, officers of the Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific, members of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police, and scores of others whose interests were in the vast areas of the Canadian Northland.”

It was MacInness of the Canadian Government who now handed Jim Curwood the necessary papers for the trip into the northern wilds and at the same time wished him all the luck in the world. “Dear old Mac” passed away a short time after Jim returned from his trip. Jim always liked to speak of M. V. MacInness after his passing in a heart-felt, reverent voice.

“There has been an empty place in my heart since he died, and whenever I go up into that great Northland I know Mac’s spirit is there, for it was God’s Country to him just as surely as it always will be to me.”

At last, after all preparations had been made, Jim started out on the first of the many exploration trips which he was to make into the wilds of the Canadian Northwest in years to come. He went first to the vast, beautiful wilderness of the Peace River Country, over to the sweeping, towering mountains to the westward, then to the great reaches and solitary plains of the Arctic to the Athabaska and the Mackenzie. From there he traveled down to the uninhabited forests and timberlands about the mighty Hudson’s Bay. These forests later became a ruling passion and a dominant force in Jim’s life. He wanted “the uneducated people of civilization” to love them just as he loved them. Upon his return he pleaded with the populace to conserve and protect the virgin forests and all the wild life that inhabited them.

“It is my ambition to take my readers with me into the heart of nature,” Jim Curwood once said and there is little doubt but that he did. Indeed, Jim took more than seven million of his readers into the heart of that nature and wilderness. This same devout love he held for the “great outdoors” later led Jim to start the great conservation movement in the State of Michigan. He led the onslaught against the “game hogs” unmercifully, broadening his crusade throughout the country.

It was during these trips into the wilds of Canada that he decided to make his home in Owosso. So in the little town in central Michigan where he had been born and raised Jim finally settled down. His father had quit the cobbling shop and Jim supported him, as he had faithfully promised.

Within three weeks after his return to Owosso, Lou Allison invited Jim Curwood to a chicken-pie supper which was to be held at the Congregational Church. Here he met a very charming and beautiful young lady named Ethel Greenwood. Jim did not recognize her at first, but at a later date remembered her as being in school at the same time he was, two or three grades below him. He especially remembered her sparkling eyes, and he found that they had not changed with the passing of years. Jim always liked to think of her as the little schoolgirl of several years back. Those sparkling eyes made a great impression upon him at once. Later on during the church supper Jim and Miss Greenwood found themselves alone.

As they talked, Miss Greenwood told Jim that she had read of his expeditions into the far North and she appeared to be genuinely interested in his travels and in his work. It was then that he decided that he should become better acquainted with the young lady. As time passed by Jim Curwood found himself thinking a lot of this new and very interesting personality. As a matter of fact he was beginning to believe that she would make an ideal companion for him on the many trails of the wild on which he planned to travel. Her eyes were like shining stars that sparkled both day and night, and her personality was pleasing.

Then it dawned upon the thirty-three year old writer that he must be falling madly in love with Miss Greenwood. Of this he was convinced after meeting her again. Their interests were mutual. She too loved the wilderness country and all of God’s wonderful Nature. She loved to hear the murmurs of the streams, the chirping of the birds and the chattering of the squirrels just as he did. This interest which she expressed and showed in his work set Jim Curwood to thinking very seriously.

It was not very long before Jim and Ethel Greenwood were married. The ceremony took place in the old home on John Street, at six o’clock in the morning. It was quiet and simple. By seven of the same morning the bride and groom were on board a train headed for the wilderness and God’s Country.

Jim and his wife were as happy as any couple could ever hope to be. Together they fought and loved the wilds. Side by side they worked and built their cabin deep within the heart of the forests surrounding Hudson’s Bay. That autumn Jim began cutting his supply of wood for the winter and storing up provisions. Even though they worked hard in preparation for the long, hard and cold winter, they were gloriously happy.

Fall soon came and with it the turning of the leaves, the strangely different sounds of the rivers and the mating calls of the wild. Still Jim Curwood worked frantically for the oncoming of winter, for he knew what winters in the north were like, and he did not intend being caught shorthanded. Cord-wood was cut and still more provisions were added to their mounting larder. The cabin was made more secure and warm. The cold months were but a short way off, for the leaves were rapidly beginning to fall.

Already the bears had gone into hibernation. The chattering squirrels were providing themselves with their winter’s supply of nuts and the birds had all returned to the south with the exception of the few families which always remained behind.

It was during this long winter that Jim began work on his third novel, “Steele of the Royal Mounted.” What with his regular routine work and with his writing added, James Oliver Curwood had a rather full and busy winter. His writing took nearly three quarters of his day. The rest of the time was given over to his wife, some reading and other activities.

“I had found a wife who was proud of the work by which I earned my living, who looked fearlessly into the future with me, splendidly caring for my little daughters; a mother who later gave me my son, James, the last blessing to our family, now almost ready to go to college.” Indeed he was happy and content.

As the snows blew and the winds howled about the tiny cabin far off in the Canadian wilds, Jim’s log fire would burn cheerfully as he and his wife would sit in front of it and read or talk. Darkness would arrive around three in the afternoon and sometimes before that.

Jim Curwood continued work on his new novel up until the beginning of spring. It was then that he proudly announced to his wife that “Steele of the Royal Mounted” was completed. Not only was he happy over the completion of the book, but because of his wife’s happiness. He was happy, also, over the joy and love Ethel had for his two daughters. She cared for them and loved them just as if they were of her own flesh and blood. They were a part of Jim and that in itself explains her new-found happiness. Jim once said that the winter spent in the cabin around Hudson’s Bay was one of the most supreme winters of their lives.

Spring was at last upon them, and the buds were beginning to pop out on the trees. Green patches of grass were beginning to show here and there. Bushes were already taking on their various colors and some of the animals and creatures of the natural and untouched country had come out of hibernation.

Towards the close of spring Jim and Ethel returned to Owosso. Here Jim definitely established himself at home. He built a large, fine house, a brick structure of two stories. This house still stands. Surrounding it on all four sides is a large and spacious yard that extends for many yards around the mansion. Thousands of dollars went into its construction and today the house remains as it was years ago, except that its beauty has increased.

Jim Curwood did not remain in Owosso as long as he had expected. For he now had the money to travel to and from his beloved wilderness at his own choosing. Jim went back into the forests and wilds at least once a year, often spending five to six months at a time. Usually Mrs. Curwood accompanied him, but on a few of his exploration and writing trips, she did not go. Each year when he returned to upper Canada, he went back with all the happiness and love one man can possibly have for any one particular spot.

Perhaps there is one basic reason why Jim built the fine home in Owosso just where he did. It has been established that on the spot where his home is located, one of the large camps of the Chippawayan Indians once stood.

In 1909 Ethel Greenwood Curwood bore her first child for Jim, a son. The youngster was named James Oliver Curwood II. With the arrival of his baby son, Jim Curwood became the proudest father in the entire city of Owosso. For now he had a son to carry on his name, a son who would prove himself a great man and who would follow in his father’s footsteps. James Oliver Curwood II was the only child Mrs. Curwood bore.

As soon as the baby had grown somewhat the family began to spend a great many months far from civilization in the timber country. The two girls and the baby boy were growing quite rapidly and becoming very healthy by their constant play and travel in the fresh, cool air.

Ethel and the children grew to love the strange and unusual people, the “Nomads of the North” who were their only friends away from civilization. Of course Jim had loved them for many years, but he wanted his wife and their offspring to regard them in much the same manner as he did.

Hundreds of miles from civilization the Curwood family would bury themselves in God’s Country. James Oliver Curwood’s feet have trod many unknown trails throughout the north. The stars, the heavens and the virgin forests came to be a living part of all of them. All the things which Jim had dreamed of as a boy were at last coming true.

Jim had roamed through the boundless prairies, the highest mountains, fought his way through deep Canadian snows and sub-zero temperatures all along the northern plains. He was now enjoying himself more than he ever dared dream.

James Oliver Curwood actually lived each story that he wrote.

He began to realize that the long and arduous struggle that he had had to go through to reach success had been worth it. He had fought and battled as few other men ever have in order to reach that pinnacle of success and fame that he desired. Fortunately enough, Jim was possessed of the spirit of everlasting perseverance.

About this time came the release of “Steele of the Royal Mounted.” At the outset its sales were rather disappointing as were the sales of “The Wolf Hunters.” Eventually, however, after the slow progress that his books had been making, they began to sell and sell fast. In fact his first three books sold as few others had ever sold before. Up to that year, 1911, James Oliver Curwood had three novels and one book of non-fiction to his credit: “The Wolf Hunters,” “The Courage of Captain Plum,” the book of non-fiction, “The Great Lakes,” and the sequel to “The Wolf Hunters,” “The Gold Hunters.” “The Danger Trail” was the last of Jim’s books for the year 1910. In 1911 Jim published two more works of fiction, namely: “Steele of the Royal Mounted” and “The Honor of the Big Snows.” Realizing that he now had a firm foothold on the ladder of success, Jim Curwood was prompted to write something of non-fiction that would fully express himself and his beliefs.

At last came that opportunity in the volume “God’s Country—The Trail to Happiness.” This book is the strangest that Curwood ever produced and one of the most wonderful messages of hope ever addressed to mankind. It was a rather small volume and the price was far below the usual price of Curwood books. “God’s Country—The Trail to Happiness” sold for $1.25.

“Philip Steele of the Royal Mounted” had, of course, been released in 1910, along with “The Honor of the Big Snows,” which was written the same year. This made a total of two novels and one volume of non-fiction for 1911, which was indeed a great output of words for that length of time. In 1912 Jim Curwood’s output was limited to one novel. This one was entitled, “The Flower of the North,” a saga of the wilderness country that was chock full of red-blooded adventure and romance. 1913 saw the arrival of another novel, “Isobel.” In 1914 Curwood wrote probably the greatest work of his entire career. That was when he turned out “Kazan,” which sold 500,000 copies. This story ranks with “The Call of the Wild,” and “White Fang,” by the famous Jack London. “Kazan” is the story of a wolf dog of the far north. The dog is three-quarters husky and one-quarter wolf strain. Kazan is torn between his wild mate and the man whom he loves most dearly. The story is so excellently woven about the dog and so wonderfully told that many thousands of people have reread it many times.

Although some of the so-called critics did not give this particular book as high a rating as Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild,” it is the belief of millions that “Kazan” is equally as good and as thrilling as Mr. London’s famous book.

After the publication of “Kazan” Jim and his family headed back to the north country. This time, however, they did not go back to the old cabin, but to a new one that Jim had built in the British Columbia mountains some months before. Here among the picturesque mountains of towering spruce and pine, James Oliver Curwood penned “God’s Country and the Woman,” a story so well written that it immediately sold better than one hundred thousand copies. The woman in the story was none other than his own dear wife, Ethel. Jim once said that he loved this country devoutly, but it was not God’s Country unless there was a woman. “No country is God’s Country without a woman.” This was in 1915.

The United States had already declared war on Germany when Jim completed “God’s Country and the Woman.” So he immediately returned to Owosso with his family to see if he could help his country. A great deal of time passed before Jim was eventually assigned to anything. Then, in 1917-1918 he was officially designated as a World War Correspondent. During the time he received this information and the time that he was to have sailed, something intervened and Jim did not get a chance to go to France. The government felt that since he had three children Mr. Curwood should remain behind. He was given an assignment to do propaganda. He wanted to go along with the rest of the boys and help protect our country’s liberty and freedom. Instead, however, he was forced to remain behind, and from his magazine articles flowed many words of truth and wisdom during those hectic months of war. Jim termed the war “the thrill of man killing man.”

In another article came this statement: “The momentary pangs of the war could be compensated for in time by the benefits it would confer spiritually.” During the course of the war, however, Jim not only penned magazine articles, but he also turned out such novels of major rank as “The Hunted Woman,” in 1916, and the sequel to “Kazan,” “Baree, Son of Kazan,” which was published in 1917.

After the world’s first great tragedy, Jim’s books began selling faster than they had before the war. Still, despite the fast sales of his books, some critics were very harsh toward him.

In 1910, James Oliver Curwood made one great mistake of his life. He started playing the stock market. Jim invested a sizeable sum of money and immediately realized a profit of over $100.00. This encouraged him to further speculation, and in a short space of time he lost all his savings.

Now there remained but one thing for him to do. So, with his wife, Jim left for the wilderness once again. From his countless number of friends Jim borrowed the necessary money for expenses.

This time, the Curwoods went deeper into the wilds of upper Canada than they had ever gone before, and buried themselves completely away from civilization. Here Jim Curwood picked up his implement of trade and commenced writing another one of his famous novels. He had no idea of what he was going to write, except that he had to write something which would sell.

Buried deep in the beautiful wilderness of the Canadian Northwest, where lakes and streams run deep and the forests are thick and quiet, from Jim’s pen came the wonderful, romantic adventure story of “The Honor of the Big Snows,” the story of little Melisse and Jan Thoreau, a book which was, in time, hailed as another great Curwood masterpiece. Again Jim had money and again with the arrival of spring, Jim and Ethel left the wilderness and headed back to civilization. He was cured of gambling.

Shortly before the release of “The Honor of the Big Snows,” Jim’s contract with the Bobbs-Merrill Company expired. Immediately, Harper and Brothers brought out his works which included “Flower of the North,” published in 1912.

After some time with Harper, Jim Curwood began to grow desperate and returned to Bobbs-Merrill. Upon renewing partnership with the Indianapolis firm, “Kazan” appeared. He had taken this fine story to Bobbs-Merrill hoping that it would become as popular and famous as “The Call of the Wild.” However, the critics denied Jim this honor in their many reviews of “Kazan.” Despite the reviews the book later sold in great quantities, particularly in England and later in the cheaper American editions.

“By the time ‘Kazan’ was written I had made five trips into the wilderness about Hudson Bay. Thrice had I gone into the Arctic and spent a winter with the Esquimaux. I had crossed the great Barrens four times and explored the unknown regions of British Columbia and the Yukon country.”

Regardless of the critics’ adverse criticism, “Kazan” enjoyed an immense sale, and continued to do so for many years afterward. This book is rated by all Curwood admirers as one of his best, regardless of the opinion of the literary critics. The partnership with Bobbs-Merrill continued until the latter part of 1914, when Jim left to join Doubleday, Page and Company of New York City (now Doubleday, Doran and Company).

Jim’s first book under the new imprint was “God’s Country and the Woman.”

It seemed at that time that James Oliver Curwood had reached his prime and the top rung of the ladder of success. Immediately after the publication of “God’s Country and the Woman,” Jim wrote “The Hunted Woman,” in 1916, and a year later the grand animal story, “The Grizzly King.” The latter was the story of Thor, one of the largest grizzlies ever known to mankind in all the wilds of British Columbia. Over 300,000 out of all the millions of Curwood fans chose “The Grizzly King” as Jim’s outstanding book on wildlife and nature. Also, in the same year Jim wrote the sequel to “Kazan,” “Baree, Son of Kazan.” This novel of wilderness dogs did not quite reach the high standard that “Kazan” did, but it was excellently written and vividly told.

All sales on his books, which now totaled fifteen, were slowly but surely increasing. It was during these years that James Oliver Curwood came to fully understand that peace, love, health and faith may be found in the presence of Nature and of God’s lowly creatures. He began to realize more than ever how small and insignificant we human beings are as compared to the mighty nature that surrounds us. In James Oliver Curwood’s last work he brought out the latter fact....

“I have often wished that some power might rise to show us how little and insignificant we are. Only then, I think, could the thorns and brambles be taken from the paths to that peace and contentment which we would find if we were not blinded by our own importance. We are the supreme egotists and monopolists of creation. Our conceit and self-importance are at times blasphemous. We are human peacocks, puffed up, inflated, hushed in the conviction that everything in the universe is made for us. We look down in supercilious lordship on all other life in creation.”

Jim Curwood came to know that a dead stump of a tree still has life and a soul. He voiced his opinion many times on that.

“If I did not believe a tree had a soul I could not believe in a God. If someone convinced me that the life in a flower or the heart in a bird were not as important in the final analysis as these same things in my own body I would no longer have faith in a hereafter.”

This thought was reflected somewhat in his following book, “The Courage of Marge O’Doone,” released in 1918.

Only two more of James Oliver Curwood’s books were to be handled by Doubleday, Page and Company. These were “The Golden Snare” and “Nomads of the North.” The latter novel of animal life Jim Curwood thoroughly enjoyed writing much more than any of his novels depicting North American wildlife. “The Golden Snare” was made into a motion picture of the silent film days with Lewis Stone playing the lead role. “Nomads of the North” was the last of the James Oliver Curwood books to appear from the presses of Doubleday, Page and Company, for in that year of 1919 a greater opportunity presented itself for the much wider distribution of Jim’s novels. So he parted from his good friends at Garden City with deep regret in his heart and he always cherished the memory of their association.

Jim Curwood left the Doubleday organization and went to the Cosmopolitan Book Corporation in 1919. The first book written by the diverse hand of James Oliver Curwood for that firm was, without a doubt, his greatest and finest work. “The River’s End” was the first of his novels that sold more than one hundred thousand copies of the first edition. Modern advertising arrangements ran up the advance sales on this book alone to one hundred thousand copies. It later sold while it was still new to the reading public, and the first edition had been exhausted to over three hundred thousand. Since the time of its publication, twenty-four years ago, “The River’s End” has sold many hundreds of thousands of copies, and many new editions have had to be printed. Sergeant Derwent Conniston and John Keith, the two principal characters of “The River’s End,” have now become immortal, as has the entire story. Many motion picture adaptations of it have been shown. The latest version was filmed and released in 1941, with Dennis Morgan in the starring role of Sergeant Conniston.

Very quickly after the release of “The River’s End” came “The Valley of Silent Men” in 1920. The advance sale on “The Valley of Silent Men” ran to better than 105,000 copies. Today more than five million people have read this famous work of fiction. It is the story of the Three River Country long before the railroads came. Jim traveled more than three thousand miles down the mighty Saskatchewan before he wrote the great novel, “The River’s End.” If he had not gone with the “Wild River Brigades” of God’s Country down those fabled streams that flow north, the millions of readers who enjoyed James Oliver Curwood’s writings, and those who still enjoy them today, would never have had the opportunity of reading the powerful novel, “The Valley of Silent Men.” Jim Curwood always lived the stories he wrote.

In all of Curwood’s stories he portrayed great souls and strong men who wage their battles of life, death and love in the open spaces. There is little wonder why he had the great and loyal following that he at one time possessed and still retains today. He was truly a master in his particular field.

The sales on “The Valley of Silent Men” grew into much larger numbers than the book, “The River’s End,” as far as advance sales were concerned. The totals on the advance sale of “The Valley of Silent Men” were 105,000 copies, and “The River’s End” ran up to 100,000. These two stirring dramas of the Canadian Northwest alone brought out the true genius of James Oliver Curwood. At long last the world was beginning to sit up and take notice. The flowering genius of Jim Curwood was at last beginning to bloom. Owosso townspeople were claiming him now more than ever before as their native son. Not only they, but thousands upon thousands of others were hailing James Oliver Curwood as the greatest writer to appear on the literary horizon since the days of Charles Dickens and Anton Tchekov.

Shortly following the release of “The Valley of Silent Men,” Jim again headed into the land of tall timber. During this stay in the backwoods Jim worked on various jobs. He did a share of sledge driving for he delighted in seeing the wonderful huskies and malamutes of the big snows work. He also studied at great length the characters of the people of the far North.

Six months later Jim returned to his home town and with him came a series of short stories that he had written during his stay in the beautiful northwest. These were now edited and compiled into the volume of short stories published by the Cosmopolitan Book Corporation under the title of “Back to God’s Country.” This was in 1920.

Many of the stories which appeared in this collection were actually lived and experienced by Jim Curwood in those six months back in the “far-reaches.” Among them were: “The Mouse,” “Peter God,” “The Honor of Her People,” “The Strength of Men,” and “His First Penitent.” “The Honor of the Big Snows,” Jim’s novel of little Melesse and Jan, originated from the short story, “The Honor of Her People.” Many of these stories appeared in such publications as Good Housekeeping, Outing, American Magazine, and many others.

The title story, “Back to God’s Country,” was later filmed and made into a great motion picture. With the arrival of this collection of short stories on the market, it was immediately hailed and heralded as one of the finest collections of short stories of its type ever published.

In 1921, sixteen years after Jim Curwood started out on his prolific writing career, came still two more exciting and well-written novels of rugged adventure: “The Golden Snare” and “The Flaming Forest.” The latter was praised highly for it was a magnificent story, a story so well told that it sold nearly 100,000 copies before it was actually released, thus nearly putting it on an equal with “The Valley of Silent Men” and “The River’s End.”

“Teddy” Roosevelt praised “The Flaming Forest” with these words:

“I have read with great interest Mr. Curwood’s book, ‘The Flaming Forest.’ It is excellent. It is good, clean adventure in the open spaces.”

“The Flaming Forest” was the third and last of Jim’s tense novels about the Three River Country. The first two had sold better than 100,000 copies in the advance sale. This would have been flattery to the majority of authors, but to Jim Curwood, who lived in the vivid and exciting northwoods life of which he wrote, it was just a fighting challenge.

The advertisement of Jim Curwood’s book, “The Country Beyond,” read something like this:

“2,000,000 people have bought his books. He is no one book author. Every one of his novels has outsold its predecessors.”

With the publication of “The Country Beyond” Jim Curwood had reached his 44th birthday and was still considered young in his profession. His books themselves contained youth and what it stood for and fought valiantly for. People rushed to the bookstores when they learned a new James Oliver Curwood novel was coming off the presses. They actually went in droves to get a single copy of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th editions. Incidentally, most of his books ran into more than five editions, for many printings had to be made in order to supply the great demand for his writings, and printings still continue to be made to this day.

Three months elapsed before the ever prolific pen of James Oliver Curwood brought forth another first-rate novel entitled “The Golden Snare.” Although “The Golden Snare” did not enjoy the major sales of his other works, it still was listed among the “best sellers” of its day.

In the little volume “God’s Country—The Trail to Happiness,” James Oliver Curwood did a magnificent job of non-fiction. In this book Jim tells of his conversion from a “killer of wildlife,” to “a savior of wildlife.” He openly confesses his sins about his former treatment of the wild creatures that roam our forests, as no other man of his fame, ability or popularity has ever done before or probably ever will do again.

“God’s Country—The Trail to Happiness” is a series of four essays, none of which was written to please those people who believe that the organized church is an institution of importance in our national life in every respect. The four essays were entitled: “My Secret of Happiness,” “I Became a Killer,” “My Brotherhood,” and “The Road of Faith.” The little book by itself is nothing else save a summary of the religion of a nature loving and God fearing man. It has often been called the strangest thing James Oliver Curwood ever wrote and at the same time a most wonderful message to all mankind. At the age of 44, James Oliver Curwood was already at his goal, for he had to his credit a total of twenty novels and two works of non-fiction, fourteen of which were on the “best seller” lists, with the remainder selling much better than the average fiction book.

Early in 1922, Jim constructed his town studio which he named Curwood Castle, because it was an exact replica of the old Norman fortress. The Castle itself stands on the edge of the Shiawassee river and within twenty feet of the old home just off John Street. Frequently Jim was prompted to burn the old home place, or else tear it down and add those grounds to the ones of the Castle. But because there were too many memories embedded within the walls of the old house Jim was reluctant to destroy it.

The Castle is surrounded on three of its four sides by a great sweeping expanse of beautiful green lawns, which are kept beautifully trimmed and immaculately clean. At the front, leading in from John street, is a long, winding concrete walk which leads to the only entrance to Curwood Castle. No one is allowed inside the studio at all. It is kept up and maintained by Mrs. Curwood and once each week a housekeeper thoroughly cleans the studio from top to bottom.

Overlooking the Shiawassee is the tower study which James Oliver Curwood loved so well. It is the room and study from whence many of his writings were created. The tower study has windows extending around it in circular fashion and from all directions Jim could look out upon the peaceful little town of Owosso and the lazy sweeping river. Down the river, a short distance from the Castle, lies a small island. Here the tall, weeping willows gently bend their heads down to the water’s edge and sway in the gentle breeze. Here the birds of a thousand different varieties gather and sing. This was one of the spots which Jim was entirely devoted to.

In the old home next to the Castle remain all those wonderful Curwood memories of not so long ago. There stands the second-hand Caligraph typewriter and improvised desk his parents provided for Jim when he was yet only a budding author. In his room the walls still hold the old magazine and newspaper pictures that Jim had cut out as a boy and had pasted and pinned up.

Long after Curwood Castle had been constructed and in use, Jim Curwood used to go back to the old bedroom-study to finish many of his articles and stories. Here he recaptured the inspiration that drove him onward when he felt that he was going stale. But James Oliver Curwood never went stale in his writing, for he kept constantly at it both day and night and led a full and happy life.

Many, many times Jim would leave his town studio in Owosso for his northern Michigan studio along the banks of the Au Sable, where it is quiet and peaceful. Jim’s northern studio, in the thick forests of northern Michigan, was built as a hunting lodge far away from mankind and the noises of the city. It was indeed a beautiful spot.

Not very far from the only entrance to the Castle there stands a large, stately tree. It was under this masterpiece of nature that James Oliver Curwood once sat and talked by the hours with his many friends. Here beneath this old oak Jim used to sit with prospectors from the wilds of Alaska and northern Canada who had come to visit him.

Jim would carefully listen to these men of the north and have enough material to weave a wonderful adventure story. Time and again he would invite the swarthy, weatherbeaten men of the gold fields down to spend days and weeks with him so that they might spin yarns for him and thus provide him with material for future stories. It was not only that he wanted stories from them, but he also wanted to see their faces again and hear them talk.

Many were the nights when several of them would gather at the Castle after a long journey and sit before a great open fire, swapping yarns and smoking huge cigars and strong pipes. All this Jim Curwood enjoyed to the fullest extent. He loved to have his old friends around him.

Many residents of Owosso and of other parts of the country have told that regardless of how famous James Oliver Curwood ever grew to be, he always remained “Jim” to everyone. He might be walking down the street or be riding in an automobile and still he would throw up his hand to those people he knew and even speak to those who were strangers. He considered everyone a human being and felt that all men and women should act as “brother humans,” and not try to appear superior. Jim’s usual reply to anyone who spoke to him was this:

“Hello, there, Bill! What’s new?”

James Oliver Curwood, the famous man that he was, loved his home town of Owosso with an undying love. It had persecuted him, laughed at him, scorned him, but still he loved it. Of Owosso he would say to his friends in New York:

“Come out and see, I think it is the nicest place in the world. I was born there and I hope to die there. Of course my love for it does not make me blind to its defects. We have our poor, pathetic smart set, our misguided flappers and a wee bit of the salt and pepper of life ... and we make coffins for half the world. I tell you these things because it would take too long to tell you all the good things about my home town. I think the nicest thing is that we’re not afraid to let the geese go barefoot around about where we live. Come out and see.”

A good many people have done that very thing and many who came to see have remained behind and have made their homes in Owosso or nearby. Such is Owosso, the town where James Oliver Curwood was born and died—one of the nicest, most beautiful little towns to be found anywhere on the North American continent. There is no wonder Jim loved it as he did.

Today the lodge that once belonged to Jim is no more in Curwood hands. In the fall of 1939 Mrs. Curwood sold it to a buyer who wanted it very much. Fortunately enough it was sold to a great lover of James Oliver Curwood stories as well as a great admirer of Jim himself—a man who promised to keep it as it always was.

Today in Owosso, at 508 Williams Street, stands the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Oliver Curwood, where Mrs. Curwood still resides. The house is a very large, majestically built domicile standing on the very spot on which the former tribes of the Chippawayan Indians camped. Jim chose this site for that reason alone. The home could more readily be called a mansion, it is so large and beautiful, with spacious gardens surrounding it. It is just a few hundred yards from Curwood Castle.

Jim Curwood was without much doubt the greatest and foremost naturalist of his time. He loved nature so sincerely and lived in such intimate communion with it, that, as he once put it so naively:

“I have become a bit estranged from a large part of the rest of humanity.”

Any and all times are good times to seek nature in all of her wondrous glory, and that was precisely what he believed.

Jim Curwood believed that even a twig from off a tree, or a blade of grass have souls. Souls that are every bit as important as the vital organs and souls of human beings.

James Oliver Curwood’s God was nature. The same nature that he so wonderfully preaches about in all his writings. He vividly tells of nature, the reasons, the idea of nature and just why we must protect and conserve it. Jim’s books and writings go straight to the hearts of his readers for he was a common man even when his fame had been assured. His readers knew that. Everyone knew him as Jim ... just Jim.

One of his common hobbies was raising radishes and onions. Jim once said concerning these two vegetables that he delighted in raising:

“I can beat anyone in Shiawassee county raising onions. I mean green onions, the kind you eat with bread and butter.”

Even about his own home somewhere in the back Jim always had an onion patch along with some fine and assorted radishes. He loved to work in the rich, black earth.

No matter where Jim might happen to be, whether on the stream in a birchbark canoe, in the forest, or in his studios or gardens, his mind was constantly upon the subject of nature. In fact Jim devoted much of his life to the helping of nature and the consistent fighting of “game hogs.”

True enough, Jim Curwood did not know all the scientific names for the trees, toads, shrubs and so forth, but he could tell you all about them; all about their life from birth to death. Jim practically knew the day a certain plant or flower would die, so intent had been his study.