Article provides and introduction to and includes an excerpt of the autobiography of Otto Koeltzow, a migrant from Germany who homesteaded Greer County, Oklahoma Territory and weathered many difficulties to establish a community there.

Photograph of a large field subject to severe wind erosion recently deep-plowed. Note the clay subsoil brought to the surface by deep-plowing. OK-1523-9.

Photograph of a grassy landscape of Hollister soils in foreground, Tillman soils in background, and Rough broken land in far background. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Soils – Typical landscape of Hollister soils in foreground, Tillman soils in background on gently sloping areas, and land type, Rough broken land in far background."

Photograph of "a Loamy Breaks range site in good condition. The soil is Loamy Broken land; soil symbol 28w."

Photograph of youthful badland soil/Eroded Red Clay range site showing rawness of material in foreground, and sparseness of vegetation. The limited vegetation shown in photograph includes mesquite and prickly pear. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Soil – Badland, showing rawness of material in foreground, and sparseness of vegetation. Usually some scattered mesquite and prickly pear occur on this raw, youthful soil. This in the Eroded Red Clay range site. Land Capability Class VIIs."

Article provides context to the recollections of the author's grandmother, Mrs. M. E. Rogers, who was a survivor of the flood at Frazer in Old Greer County that resulted in the founding of Altus, Oklahoma.