Along these same lines, the book "The Western Photographs of John K. Hillers - Myself in the Water" by Don D. Fowler is a good read as well.
Wet-plate photographer for many of John Wesley Powell's expeditions mapping the Colorado River, Yosemite Valley and the Grand Canyon, as well as some work in Indian Territory (latter day Oklahoma).
Interestingly enough, he worked his way from mule-skinner to the Chief Photographer of Powell's expeditions via tutoring by E. O. Beaman and self determination.