William F. Sauer's father, Andrew Sauer, was an immigrant from Germany. He took up land for a ranch in Washoe Valley, Nevada, and, with his German wife, raised a large family there. William Sauer was the ninth child, born in 1878. Part of the ranch was still in the Sauer family in 1966, at the time of Mr. Sauer's interview. The immigrant background of this family has remained of intense interest to the children; the memoir is sprinkled with references to ethnic groups.

William Sauer was regarded by his family and others as a good source of the history of Washoe Valley. Mr. Sauer gives biographical information about his parents and other pioneers of Washoe Valley, accounts of business and social affairs of the area, and an autobiographical account of his years as a resident there.