The Man in Bearskin

Title: The Man in Bearskin
Author: J. Keuning, rewritten by Cobie Bos
Major Themes: Michigan, Dutch, Pioneer Life
Synopsis: When Gerrit Kolf and his family landed on the shores of Lake Michigan in the 1840s, they were met by a mysterious stranger who wore a bearskin robe.

I was given a copy of The Man in Bearskin for my 12th birthday. I found the book absolutely fascinating, both because is it an action-packed story and because it is historical fiction set near the area in which I grew up. I read this book aloud to my family when my older children were young, and now, about 15 years later, one of them asked me to read it again. She remembered enjoying it even though she couldn’t remember any of the story, and she thought the younger ones would enjoy hearing it.

Garrett Kolf brought his family from Holland to Michigan in the New World. After a long and difficult trip, they finally landed on the shore of Lake Michigan, near the settlement where many other Hollanders were beginning a new life. It was difficult to sleep that first night, especially after a mysterious stranger wrapped in a bearskin left a gift clearly marked with Gerrit’s name. Who could this man be? How did he know Gerrit’s name and why would he give him a gift?

Not too long after they arrived in the new settlement, Gerrit’s son, Jacob, while exploring the forest, came upon the Man in Bearskin. The mysterious stranger had become trapped between two logs, and Jacob was able to rescue him. They became friends, although Jacob never learned much about the strange man. 

Life was very difficult in the wilderness of Michigan in the late 1840s. Starvation and sickness threatened the infant colony and the Kolf family suffered as much as anyone else. As well as the struggles that faced everyone around them, Gerrit’s family also had their strange relationship with the Man in Bearskin to try to understand. Would they ever learn what was behind his strange friendliness?

I’m not sure how accurate a portrayal The Man in Bearskin is of frontier life in Michigan in the 1840s. I had to wonder about that when I came across a scene in which Indians were boiling sap down to make syrup in the fall. However, it is most likely accurate as far as the hardships that early settlers faced, and their faith. I know that that region, even today, is home to many, many Dutch Reformed people. The story was fairly predictable, but we enjoyed it anyway. If you’re looking for historical fiction about Michigan, with a Christian worldview, this is a great book to try to locate. It’s out of print but there are used copies available.

WARNING: Chapter 2: A man shoots at other men. Chapter 3: Cursed trees. Chapter 4: A bear is killed. Chapter 5: Dog bites a man, who swears (not written out), man threatens to kill another man. Chapter 6: Children die. Chapter 8: Man punches another man in the face, threatens to shoot, then is tied up and left for dead.

——————
Related posts:

The Journeyman More Stories From Grandma’s Attic Sarah Whitcher’s Story The Sign of the Beaver