Residents of a mining camp in California have named their community 'Body" after William Body, a smithy who deserted his family in New York, moved to California, located a mine, and perished in a blizzard. But citizens are tired of jokey references to the spelling of the name, and elders in the camp decide to change the town's name to 'Bodie."

To mark the occasion, they recover Body's remains and schedule a funeral and town rechristening on the Fourth of July. News of the grand event makes its way to New York and sets off a battle in Daniel Owen's household, a battle which becomes intense...