The Making of an American Family: 1832-2013 is a compelling historical memoir that spans four generations, beginning with the log cabin origins of the 1830s and tracing a family's journey into the early 21st century. Through triumph and tragedy, William G. Bergan captures the dynamic lives of his ancestors, detailing their achievements, their setbacks, and the risks they took to build a life in America.

Prompted to write so that their stories would not be lost to history, Bergan offers a vivid look at how his family lived and how they died. This book is an inspiration for readers to investigate and record their own ancestral lives, discovering the profound, dynamic challenges faced by those who came before.

About the Author
William G. Bergan was born on 25 December 1956, in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, and continues to reside in the home where he was raised – where the telephones are still rotary and the typewriters are still manual. A graduate of Kutztown State College with a B.S. in Secondary Education, he also completed a Contract Management training program at Spring Garden College. Following a ten-year career as a civilian employee of the United States Navy, he successfully turned a hobby into a second career as an Aquatics Center Manager, retiring in 2017. A lifelong learner who reads and studies daily, he enjoys live and recorded music and attends Renaissance Faires and similar festivals in the summer months.