The White Indian Boy and its sequel The Return of the White Indian Boy

by Elijah Nicholas Wilson, Charles A. Wilson, JOHN J STEWART (Foreword)

First published in 1910, The White Indian Boy quickly became a western classic. Readers fascinated by real-life 'cowboys and Indians' thrilled to Nick Wilson’s frontier exploits, as he recounted running away to live with the Shoshone in his early teens, riding for the Pony Express, and helping settle Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The volume was so popular that Wilson’s son Charles was compelled to write a second book, The Return of the White Indian, which picks up in 1895 where the first memoir ends, telling the adventures of Nick Wilson’s later life.
These books, published here as a single volume, are testaments to a unique time and place in American history. Because he had a heart for adventure and unusual proficiency with Native American languages, Wilson’s life became an historical canvas on which was painted both the exploration and the closing of a frontier, as he went from childhood among the Shoshone to work as an interpreter for the U.S. government on Indian reservations in Wyoming and Idaho in his later years. This volume includes new introductory material, a family tree, and a background of Indian-white relations in Jackson Hole. Packed with amazing details about life in the Old West, Wilson’s colorful escapades are once again available to a new generation of readers.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

430 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1985

About the author

Elijah Nicholas Wilson was known as "Yagaiki" when among the Shoshones, and in his later years as "Uncle Nick" when entertaining young children with his adventurous exploits. He was a Mormon American pioneer, childhood runaway, "adopted" brother of Shoshone Chief Washakie, Pony Express rider for the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company, stagecoach driver for Ben Holloday's Overland Stage, blacksmith, prison guard, farmer, Mormon bishop, prison inmate (unlawful cohabitation), carpenter/cabinet maker, fiddler, trader, trapper, and "frontier doctor" (diphtheria and smallpox).

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first part of this book. It was amazing to read the story of a young Mormon boy who decided to run away from his family to join the indians. His experiences with the indians were fascinating. After he returned to his home I found it to slowly decline in excitement. By the time I finished the first book, I was ready to quit. But I decided to at least start the second book. The writing in the first book didn't bother me, but the writing in the second book was so choppy and incorrect at times I could hardly stand it! I think the only thing that kept me reading was learning about areas that I was familiar with. Some of the stories were very interesting, but I had to skip a lot of crap to get to them. My advice? Read the first book, but don't read the second unless you are interested in the history of the early west.

[MQR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the first book a lot better, but just because it is told from such an honestly innocent standpoint, and also quite full of suspense all the way through . I have been told that this new version has been truncated, so thatn is sad. The second book, is just as good a read, the author, Nick's son, tells the story of his life, but it is very tragic and sad. The two books nearly equal each other in the depth of captive and emotional element. My suggestion, and what was suggested to me, is not to read the second without a week or more time in between spent to absorb, and appreciate fully, the first.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father first read The White Indian Boy to me when I was a child. It was used as as research in a book I recently read and so I knew I needed to re-read it. The Return of the White Indian is told by the original author's son and gave a good feel for the beginnings of the Jackson Hole area. The White Indian Boy is the autobiography of a man who as a boy ran away to live with the Inidans for a while and his experiences as an original pony express rider, etc. The vernacular is not amazing but the subject is good if long-winded at times.

[Rod Endacott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the book I dreamt of . . . What would it be like living in a Native American tribe during colonizing days of mid 1800’s? Nick Wilson did and his documentation in this book met and surpassed my expectations. We are a nation born of much hardship and drama. The only thread that has kept any decency alive is people like Nick. Thank god for him, his son, and those like-spirited of my great grandfather’s generation . . . it is to them I owe my existence.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first story was pretty interesting about a 12 year old boy who ran away from his family and joined the Shoshone Indians. The second book was suppose to be a continuation of his life told by his son, but for the most part it was a history of the early days of Jackson Hole Wyoming.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Nick's book earlier. This is Charley Wilson's account of life in early Jackson Hole when he grew up with his father, Uncle Nick.

[Rodell Bate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give "The White Indian Boy" 5 stars but the sequel isn't written half as good.

[Kellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This edition of the book leaves out many details and stories found in other editions

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite an adventure book! Pioneer life in the days of the
Old West and the founding of Jackson Hole Wyoming.

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I was told the Elijah Nicholas Wilson was related to me on my grandfather’s side. I thought it would be interesting to read a book on one of my ancestors. And it was for the most part. Knowing you’re related to someone makes reading about their life very interesting. I did eventually look up how I was related since I didn’t see my grandfather’s name pop up anywhere in the book. It turns out Elijah’s daughter, Harriet, married a man and had a daughter who married into the family and had a son who was my grandfather’s father…. Confusing. I don’t know what that makes Elijah to me. But essentially my grandfather’s grandfather married the daughter of Elijah’s daughter. More removed than I expected from all the family talk. But still the book was fairly fascinating. When Elijah’s story began to wane I found I enjoyed reading about life in the 1800 in the wild west. I’ve always loved learning about the wild west and this had plenty of it, including the transition from the wild west to the colonized west. It wasn’t always an easy read, and dragged a little here in there, but it was a good book. There was even some great photos in the book that helped illustrate stories and events. I’m glad I got to it.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by my Grandfather's uncle and cousin. It is essential reading for any Conways or Cheneys. My mother rediscovered this book after discovering that her book club picked it, independently of her. I read this as a kid and it didn't disappoint reading it again with my son. It is the story of Nick, a pioneer boy living in Grantsville that meets some Shoshone Indians from Chief Washakie's tribe. He goes and lives with them for two year and is essentially another son to the Chief's mother. Later, he became a pony express rider and helped settle Jackson Hole, WY. Every time I drive from Utah to Idaho, I think of all that Uncle Nick did in that area.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My dad loved the true story of the "White Indian Boy" so I felt compelled to read this. I did find the original story to be interesting and educational. I was a bit shocked at young Nick Wilson, as he seemed too ready to run away from home and too ready to get into physical fights. Nonetheless, I was reasonably entertained.

The sequel, also included in this volume, is very difficult to get through. I read it because I'm compulsive, but I can't recommend it to anyone except relatives, Jackson Hole natives, or die-hard fans of the first story. There are good tidbits in it, but the author was unwise to avoid the heavy editing that it needed.

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is a great story. It's the true story of a boy that was taken by the Shoshone in the 1800's and what he learned while he was with them. This had special interest for me because he was taken from Grantsville, a town close to where I live. The book tells the life story of Nick and after he quit writing his son finished it in the sequel. Read this book. You will love it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grew up reading the first book, The White Indian Boy and loving it. It gets 4 stars with me. Sadly the sequal was mostly irrelevant, and poorly written. Only 2 stars. So I guess it averages to three stars for my rating.

[Benji Cossa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy and exciting read- A first-hand account of life in a savage country along the lines of The Man Eaters of Tsavo, Little House, or Captured by the Indians.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as well as it's sequel. Very historical and funny at the same time. Highly Recommended !

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun! It mentions a few relatives and many of the places in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming that I know well.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history of a white Mormon boy who ran away from his family and lived with the Shoshone Indians and Chief Washakie for two years before returning home.