Review of "Forgotten Hoosiers: Profiles From Indiana’s Hidden History," by Fred D. Cavinder

 Review of

Forgotten Hoosiers: Profiles From Indiana’s Hidden History, by Fred D. Cavinder ISBN 9781596297463

Five out of five stars

“Forgotten” and “hidden” are exaggerations

 While it may not be common knowledge that some of the people profiled in this book spent some of their childhood in Indiana, most are well known. In some cases, the declaration of the person as a Hoosier is a bit of a stretch. They were born in Indiana and spent some of their childhood there, but during most of their life lived elsewhere.

 For example, consider the case of Harlan Sanders, the founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. His biography, like his image, is hardly hidden. Another case is that of General Walter (Beetle) Bedell Smith, General Eisenhower’s chief of staff in World War II. It is impossible to read any history of the general operations of the Allied forces in Europe in World War II without seeing his name.

 The most interesting fact in the book appears in the profile of Erwin (Cannonball) Baker. He was the first person to cross the United States from California to New York on a motorcycle. He accomplished that feat in 1915 in a little over 15 days. Later, Baker claimed that only four miles of the roads he traversed were paved. It is also true that the “Cannonball Run” movies were based on his exploits and nickname.

 The stories are excellent and cover people from soldiers to poets to politicians to engineers to musicians to artists. That is a significant positive aspect of the book, for it is always entertaining and educational to learn about people that have not operated in your normal circle of interests.

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