As a child, a boy would sit patiently and listen to his great-grandfather's stories. His great-grandfather, George Hanford, told his stories in pieces, but the boy, now a man, still remembers them well. As a young man, George Hanford lived in Connecticut, but when the Gold Rush began, he left his lover Martha Stewart at home, and fled West in search of wealth. Throughout his travels, George was visited three times in the night by strange men who were also headed West. The first warned him of dishonest men, and then stole George's fortune. The second convinced him to remain on his journey despite his financial failure, and George listened. The third convinced him that there was no shame in defeat, so George returned home to Connecticut. George and Martha wed and had three children, only two of whom survived. After a few years back in New England, George and Martha decide to move to the Dakotas. Their first year there, the Dust Bowl came, followed by famine. George wanted to once again admit defeat, but he made the best of the Dakotas thanks to Martha's grit. They raised their family there together. When George's great-grandson asks if he still remembers the three traveling men, George tells the boy they were Jim Bridger, Davey Crockett and John Frémont, all legendary pioneers.