John Lower was a soldier from Clarion County, Pennsylvania. While most people think the tradition of hiding a pickle in a Christmas tree came from Germany, it did not. It was the result of an incident in Andersonville Prison during the Civil War. 

Bob O'Conner is a full time author, having published 47 books, mostly on the American Civil War. I write both fiction and non-fiction. The historical novels are well documented and researched to stick to the actual story but also include dialogue which is fabricated. Bob has received numerous writing honors. He writes about stories even the most ardent enthusiasts are not familiar with. This is one of those stories.