Hough, << huhf, >> Emerson (1857-1923), was an American author known for his novels and nonfiction about the American West and the frontier. Hough became best known for his novel The Covered Wagon (1922), which describes the progress of a wagon train from Missouri to Oregon in 1848. His novel North of 36 (1923) follows a cattle drive from Texas to Abilene, Kansas. Hough also wrote several popular nonfiction studies of the West, notably The Story of the Cowboy (1897) and The Story of the Outlaw (1907). In addition, Hough wrote many short stories and articles for magazines.
Hough was born on June 28, 1857, in Newton, Iowa. He received a B.A. degree in 1880 from what is now the University of Iowa. In 1895, Hough explored Yellowstone National Park and became a spokesman for conservation causes, especially preserving American wildlife. He died on April 30, 1923.
