John Dowdy grew up isolated on Little Sam Mountain like many boys in remote parts of the US in the early 20th century. This was how families escaped the hard life of previous generations. The story follows John from a 17-year-old boy to a mature man without minor details. It gives readers an idea of life in backwoods America during the Great Depression and World War 2 era.

1. INRODUCTION
The story of John Dowdy, a young boy that never
knew anything about the rest of the world until he
left his home on “Little Sam Mountain” is typical of
many other young boys that lived in the mountains
of Western North Carolina, Virginia, New York State
and many other remote areas of the United States.
This was their way of escaping living the hard life
that their parents, Grandparents and most all of their
ancestors had before them.
This story does not go into all the minor details of
Johns life. Only the ones that tell how he changed
from a young seventeen year old boy to a mature
young man.
Most of the older generation understands this story
and it will give the younger reader some idea of what
life was like in the “back-woods” of America During
and after the years of the great depression of the
twenties and thirties and WW 11.
Charles C Fletcher
Author