So much of the history of North America was written by ordinary people, preserved only in family memories, bypassed by academic history. But this is where the real flavour of history is to be found, in the details of how real peope lived their lives.

Charles Houghton was an ordinary country doctor, practicing north of Toronto in the early 20th century. His life was one of extraordinary details, working as both student and janitor in a tiny schoolhouse, labouring as young stone mason with his father, and toiling as a cowhand in the Canadian and American west, all for the privilage of entering medical school at the age of 29 and working unflaggingly on behalf of the people of Markham until his death at age 73. We thought this was a life and a time worth documenting, far more gruelling, unassuming and richly textured than today. It is researched and written by his daughter, Earla J. Houghton, and illustrated by his granddaughter Linda Shaw, the last grandchild he lived to see. It has truly been a labour of lover.