William and Lydia

 As I read their story, these pioneers of the Lake Minnetonka area seem to have a lot of hardship that was self inflicted. One never reads about William the dreamer who neglected legal details, or his wife who was never happy with much of anything. If you read excerpts of her detailed diary this seems to be evident. William died when he fell through the ice while walking on Excelsior Bay. To me, this happens, but to novices who do not know the ways of a frozen lake.