Even though Jim had the entire Dominion to choose from, he decided to "squat- on privately owned land. The land that Jim chose was situated on Lot number eighteen on the sixth concession of the Roman Line, which was named after all the Roman Catholics that settled in the area. The owner of the property tried to reclaim his land but was chased away by the broadminded views of the Donnellys. "The latter looked into the newcomer's eyes and saw the devil.""(p.22) Jim and Johannah completed their land and home without the assistance of a "neighboring home raising bee."" Jim, known for having little money, somehow found a way to come up with lots of farm equipment. .
On September 16, 1847, Johannah gave birth to her third child John, four months after settling on the land. The author's use of foreshadowing is evident when he explains, "John was destined to end his days, sprawled face forward in a February snow, with so many shots in his body he would have had to be cut to .
mincemeat to get them all out.""(p.23) Jim created a rich, self-sufficient farm throughout the following eight years. Over the next few years, Johannah presented Jim with four more boys, Patrick, Michael, Robert and Thomas. Johannah's last child was a daughter, Jennie. "She was to be known as the belle of the district.""(p.23) .
In 1855, a big, tousled Irishman named John Farrell strolled into town. The author foreshadows John Farrell's death. -Then in 1855 dark clouds began to gather, with murder in the offing.""(p.24) John Farrell is the complete opposite of the timid landowner who was ordered off his property by the squatters. Farrell bought the property for "dirt-cheap- since no one, but he, wanted to mess with the Donnellys. Farrell and a friend marched onto the Donnellys property and demanded that they leave the property, only to be laughed at by the "thieving blackguard.""(p.24) The two argued about the land, which eventually led up to their first, of two fistfights.