Daniel+Boone

Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was born on November 2nd, 1734, the sixth oldest of eleven children. He loved to explore. His father, Squire Boone, (a Quaker) gave Daniel Boone a rifle when he was 12. He was so good at hunting, his family expected him to feed them every day! In 1750, his family decided to move near the Yadkin River on the edge of the wilderness to get away from other settlers and Quaker roots. Unfortunately, the tribes of the Cherokee and Shawnee were extra dangerous in that region and would attack without warning. They did it for a reason however; To protect their hunting grounds. Four years later (1754), the French and Indian war began and Daniel Boone drove supply wagons for the British. On July 9th, 1755, Daniel Boone was involved in an interesting ambush. During the British’s retreat, Daniel Boone cut his horses from their reins connecting to the wagons. They were defeated before they even reached Fort Duquesne.

Daniel Boone returned to North Carolina and became interested in a courageous young woman named Rebecca Bryan. They married in 1756 and owned a small farm in North Carolina. Also in 1756, the English bought and opened Florida to Americans to go there! You could guess Boone would not refuse to such an offer and started with a group of people in late summer. They saw swamps, snakes, and bugs. He claimed a piece of land and raced back home, just in time for Christmas dinner. He told of his experience but Rebecca Boone refused to go to Florida so Daniel Boone had to think of another adventure. That new adventure became Kentucky. On their way, Boone and his group of explorers hunted and trapped for they planned to get rich selling furs. Winter was near, and Boone and his group got caught in a snowstorm. When winter descended, they returned home in 1768. Also in 1768, an old friend named John Finley paid a visit to Daniel Boone to tell Boone about a gap he had heard about through the Cumberland Mountains. This was another offer Boone couldn’t refuse. His team of explorers left North Carolina in the spring of 1769. The gap had been named the Cumberland Gap after its discovery in 1769. On the other side of the Cumberland Gap was exactly what mostly every American would hope for: Rich soil, which would be perfect for farming and wild game. Boone stayed there for 2 years. Next, he had the urge to explore Kentucky. He traveled on what would be called The Wilderness Road. Unfortunately, the Native American tribes were angry about Boone’s group intruding their hunting grounds. They captured Boone’s son and killed him. The pioneers abandoned their mission. The (new) Boone family moved near Clinch River in Virginia and Daniel Boone enrolled in the Virginia militia. After a fight with the Virginia militia and the Native American tribes, Boone blazed a trail in 1775. You guessed it! The Wilderness Road. The Wilderness Road was Daniel Boone’s most notable accomplishment. But Boone didn’t stop there. Judge Richard Henderson was the proud owner of the Transylvania Company because he wanted to get to and colonize the region quickly. So, he asked Daniel Boone, who by now was a very notable explorer, if Boone could help him. Daniel Boone widened the Wilderness Road wide enough for buggies and other transporters.

His next adventure was Boonesborough, a settlement, at the end of the Wilderness Road. Since Boone discovered the Wilderness Road, they named it Boonesborough after him. Boone’s family moved there but left shortly because of attacks by Native American tribes. In 1778, Boone was  on an expedition looking for salt when he was captured by the Shawnee. Amazingly, they did not kill Daniel Boone but brought him to their tribe. He pretended to adopt their ways. One day he overheard the Shawnee proposing to attack Boonesborough. Somehow Boone escaped and ran to the settlement. He told the settlers what the Shawnee had planned and soon after 400 Shawnee tribe people surrounded the fort and demanded surrender.

The Shawnee’s attack failed, and soon retreated. For his braveness,Boone was promoted to major in the militia. His wife thought he had been killed after his captivity with the Shawnee but obviously not. The family founded another settlement Boone’s Station is now called Booneville, Kentucky. Later, in 1780, Daniel Boone was promoted lieutenant. In 1792, Kentucky became a state. In 1813, his beloved wife died at age 73. Boone hunted close to home because his health was also failing. He was suffering from arthritis. Just before turning 86, in 1820, the great, national hero died. His family buried him next to his wife. Daniel Boone’s gravestone stands in Frankfort, Kentucky.

By: Hannah