Daniel Boone

Biography More than any other man, Daniel Boone was responsible for the exploration and settlement of Kentucky. His grandfather came from England to America in His father was a weaver and blacksmith, and he raised livestock in the country near Reading, Pennsylvania. Daniel was born there on November 2, 1734.

Biography If Daniel Boone was destined to become a man of the wild, an explorer of unmapped spaces, his boyhood was the perfect preparation. He came to know the friendly Indians in the forests, and early he was marking the habits of wild things and bringing them down with a crude whittled spear. When he was twelve his father gave him a rifle, and his career as a huntsman began.

Biography When he was fifteen, the family moved to the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina, a trek that took over a year. At nineteen or twenty he left his family home with a military expedition in the French and Indian War. There he met John Finley, a hunter who had seen some of the western wilds, who told him stories that set him dreaming. But Boone was not quite ready to pursue the explorer's life. Back home on his father's farm he began courting a neighbor's daughter.

Biography In 1767, Boone traveled into the edge of Kentucky and camped for the winter at Salt Spring near Prestonsburg. But the least explored parts were still farther west, beyond the Cumberlands, and John Finley persuaded him to go on a great adventure. On May 1, 1769, Boone, Finley, and four other men, started out. They passed Cumberland Gap and on the 7th of June, they set up camp at Station Camp creek. It was nearly two years before Boone returned home, and during that time he explored Kentucky.

Biography There was another visit to Kentucky in 1773, and in 1774 he built a cabin at Harrodsburg. On this trip, Boone followed the Kentucky River to its mouth. Colonel Richard Henderson of the Transylvania Company hired Boone as his agent, and in March, 1775, Boone came again to the "Great Meadow" with a party of thirty settlers. They began to clear the Wilderness Road and by April they were establishing their settlement at Boonesborough.

Biography Boone left the Bluegrass in 1788 and moved into what is now West Virginia. Ten years later he again heard the call of unknown country luring him, this time to the Missouri region. As his dug-out canoe passed Cincinnati, somebody asked why he was leaving Kentucky. "Too crowded" was his answer. He lived in Missouri the rest of his life, although he twice revisited Kentucky before he died at the age of 85.

Biography He was buried beside his wife in Missouri. A quarter of a century later they were brought back to the Bluegrass and laid to rest in Frankfort's cemetery. There they rest, on a bluff above the river and town, on a "high, far-seeing place" like the ones he always climbed to see the land beyond...a monument to the new country in the wilderness which they had helped to explore and settle.

Daniel Boone's Deer Late one night, Daniel Boone and a friend went out fire hunting. Fire hunting involves the shining of the light from a fire pan (a pan full of blazing pine knots) into the woods. The light reflects in the eyes of the deer, which is too dazzled to run and the hunter can shoot it.

Daniel Boone's Deer This night, as they neared a creek bed, Daniel Boone caught a glimpse of blue eyes shining in the darkness. He dismounted from his horse and aimed his rifle, but found himself unable to shoot. He had never seen a blue eyed deer. A rustle told him his prey had fled, and he followed it over a fence and into a meadow. The moonlight told him his "deer" had really been a young woman, and fate had kept him from shooting her. He followed her across the meadow, but lost her when she realized he was following her. Hoping to find out who she was, he went to his neighbor Mr. Bryan’s house, who lived near the meadow.

Daniel Boone's Deer Mr. Bryan welcomed him in, and while they were still greeting one another, a young boy and girl burst into the room, babbling excitedly about their older sister's adventures. She appeared in the doorway, the young woman from the meadow, still flushed from her flight, the light shining on her gold hair. Daniel Boone was smitten. Mr. Bryan introduced her as his daughter, Rebecca. Being a determined sort of fellow, Daniel proceeded to woo Rebecca as doggedly as he once chased her across the fields, and did not give up until he had won the heart of the maid and married her.

A Few Legends Bear Creek got its name from the season that Boone killed ninety-nine bears along its water. Boone used to say that when he could not fell the top of a tree near enough to his door for firewood, it was time to move to a new place. Daniel Boone tracked down and defeated a party of Indians who had kidnapped his 14-year-old daughter and her friends. When Daniel Boone was held captive by Indians, they were so impressed with his courage and skills, they made him part of the tribe. He later escaped and fought off this tribe during the siege of Boonesborough.

Daniel Boone Song An ol’ Carolina along his back, A hunter followed an Indian track, Headed west over mountains bold, To see the things that he’d been told. Chorus Deerskin shirt, beaver hat, Leggings greased with turkey fat, Braided hair and a bearded chin, Thick and black as a buffalo skin.

Daniel Boone Song One cold day met a grizzly bear, Dogged the trail and said, “I swear, Bears can sleep all the winter through, Well, Daniel Boone can hold up too. Chorus Deerskin shirt, beaver hat, Leggings greased with turkey fat, Braided hair and a bearded chin, Thick and black as a buffalo skin.

Daniel Boone Song Indians searched the country ‘round, But Daniel Boone they never found, Hidden in a cave so snug, Safe and warm as a bug in a rug. Chorus Deerskin shirt, beaver hat, Leggings greased with turkey fat, Braided hair and a bearded chin, Thick and black as a buffalo skin.

Daniel Boone Song One fine day in ol’ Kentuck’ “Here,” he said “is my good luck.” Bring my folks out here someday, Settle down for a good long stay. Chorus Deerskin shirt, beaver hat, Leggings greased with turkey fat, Braided hair and a bearded chin, Thick and black as a buffalo skin.