American Hero, Kansas Heritage - Frederick Funston’s Early Years 1865-1890
Volume 1 of the Becoming Frederick Funston Trilogy
Book 1 of 3
Historical Non-Fiction
By:
Clyde W. Toland
The first book of the Becoming Frederick Funston Trilogy offers a vivid, deeply researched portrait of the young Kansan who would become one of America’s most celebrated military figures. Long before commanding U.S. forces in the Philippines, earning the Medal of Honor, or leading the nation’s largest army since the Civil War, “Fearless Fred” Funston was shaped by the rolling landscapes, challenges, and adventures of rural Kansas.
Drawing on decades of scholarship, Clyde Toland—widely regarded as the foremost Funston expert—moves far beyond familiar anecdotes to uncover the rich, often thrilling story of Funston’s formative years. Toland’s lifelong passion for Allen County history, his meticulous research, and his sharp analytical eye as a lawyer combine to create an engaging, authoritative narrative. The result is an indispensable and highly readable study destined to become the definitive account of Funston’s early life and the Kansas heritage that forged him.
“An engrossing, engaging, and superbly written account of ‘Fearless Fred’ Funston’s formative years in rural Kansas, which molded the individual who would go on to command forces in the Philippines, earn a Medal of Honor, and ultimately command in 1917 the largest US Army since the Civil War. Clyde Toland’s narrative clearly reflects Toland’s life-long interest in Frederick Funston and Allen County, his impressive capabilities as a researcher, and his incisive analytical skills as a lawyer. The product of his work is a truly delightful read!”
-- General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA
“Many are familiar with the Funston name due to Frederick Funston’s famed military career, but his early life and adventures were just as noteworthy. Indeed, this part of his life was sometimes more exciting, if that is possible, and it was critical to his later success. Clyde is, hands down, the leading Funston scholar, with decades of research and curation experience with the subject. In this volume, Clyde does not merely rely on the same repeated stories, but on a wide array of extensive research, which he critically examined for accuracy. His meticulous research and polished writing style create an indispensable book. I savored reading this book, including reading the detailed notes. Clyde’s work on Funston is certain to become the seminal study on the subject.”
-- Jarrett Robinson, BA History, MS International Relations, student of Frederick Funston’s life for thirty years
2023 Will Rogers Silver Medallion Award Winner -- Western Biographies / Memoirs Category
Winner of the 2022 SPUR AWARD ...from Western Writers of America for Best First Nonfiction Book