This is my grandmother's story. Her name was Lottie Chandler Simms. I loved her beyond belief. She was born in 1890 in the beautiful Crooked Creek Valley of Lake County, Oregon. It is also the story of her parents, S.B. and Hattie Chandler Benefiel. They along with their parents were among the earliest settlers in that valley. The story is set in the high-desert country of south-central Oregon. S.B. Chandler was a successful rancher owning large amounts of land and sheep. Through the stories of Lottie's mother, the book goes back as early as 1873 when the valley was first settled. Lottie's story is also the story of my grandfather, Lytle H. Simms, who was employed as manager of S.B. Chandler's sheep interests. Lottie's and Lytle's love and story continues, in this book, until 1942, the death of Lottie's mother, Hattie. It is the story of building a ranch with the hope of it becoming an inheritance for children. Those dreams were dashed upon the rocks of poor judgement, depression, government regulations and life.
