TJ Douglas was born in Philadelphia. At the age of 14 he dreamed of going west. When he was 15, he snuck out of his parent's house and headed west to California to go to the gold fields. After being disillusioned with the violence in the gold fields, he took his earnings and worked his way north. He ended up in the northwest part of Canada. TJ discovers a large strike of gold in Canada and begins to build a town. Wagon trains passing through his town would stop and some would end up staying.

After being disillusioned by a female friend he met in his newly formed town, he packed up and re-turned to the mountains. He is befriended by Indians and lives with the tribe and marries. After his wife dies, he leaves the Indians and his travels return him to the town he helped build. He establishes a sawmill and freight company to service towns in the territory and he marries again. After losing his wife he is distraught and returns to the mountains.