Life of Daniel Boone, The Great Western Hunter and Pioneer

Life of Daniel Boone, The Great
Western Hunter and Pioneer

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Title: Life & Times of Col. Daniel Boone
Author: Cecil B. Harley
Release Date: November 11, 2004 [eBook #14023]
Language: English
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LIFE & TIMES OF COL. DANIEL BOONE
Life of Daniel Boone, the Great Western Hunter and Pioneer,
Comprising an Account of His Early History; His Daring and
Remarkable Career as the First Settler of Kentucky; His Thrilling
Adventures with the Indians, and His Wonderful Skill, Coolness and
Sagacity under All the Hazardous and Trying Circumstances of

Western Border Life
To Which Is Added His Autobiography Complete as Dictated by
Himself, and Showing His Own Belief That He Was an Instrument
Ordained to Settle the Wilderness
by
CECIL B. HARTLEY

[Illustration: BOONE'S INDIAN TOILETTE. PAGE 132]
[Illustration: The Old Fort at Boonesborough]

PREFACE
The subject of the following biography, the celebrated Colonel Daniel
Boone, is one of the most remarkable men which this country has
produced. His character is marked with originality, and his actions were
important and influential in one of the most interesting periods of our
history--that of the early settlement of Kentucky. Boone is generally
acknowledged as the founder of that State. His having explored it alone
to a considerable extent; his leading the earliest bands of settlers; his
founding Boonesborough, the nucleus of the future State; his having
defended this and other stations successfully against the attacks of the
Indians; and the prominent part which he took in military affairs at this
period of distress and peril, certainly render his claims to the
distinguished honor of founding Kentucky very strong.
But Boone, personally, reaped very little benefit from his patriotic and
disinterested exertions. The lands which he had first cultivated and
defended, were taken from him by the chicanery of the law; other lands
granted to him by the Spanish government were lost by his inattention
to legal forms; and in his old age he was without an acre of land which
he could call his own. A few years before his death a small tract, such
as any other settler in Missouri was entitled to, was granted him by
Congress. But he has left to his numerous posterity a nobler
inheritance--that of an imperishable fame in the annals of his country!

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

The family of Daniel Boone--His grandfather emigrates to America,
and settles in Bucks County, Pennsylvania--Family of Daniel Boone's
father--Account of Exeter, the birth-place of Boone--Birth of Daniel
Boone--Religion of his family--Boone's boyhood--Goes to
school--Anecdote--Summary termination of his schooling.

CHAPTER II.
Removal of Boone's father and family to North Carolina--Location on
the Yadkin River--Character of the country and the people--Byron's
description of the Backwoodsmen--Daniel Boone marries Rebecca
Bryan--His farmer life in North Carolina--State of the
country--Political troubles foreshadowed--Illegal fees and
taxes--Probable effect of this state of things on Boone's mind--Signs of
movement.

CHAPTER III.
The Seven Years' War--Cherokee War--Period of Boone's first long
Excursion to the West--Extract from Wheeler's History of
Tennessee--Indian accounts of the Western country--Indian
traders--Their Reports--Western
travelers--Doherty--Adair--Proceedings of the traders--Hunters--Scotch
traders--Hunters accompany the traders to the West--Their reports
concerning the country--Other adventurers--Dr. Walker's
expedition--Settlements in South-western Virginia--Indian
hostilities--Pendleton purchase--Dr. Walker's second
expedition--Hunting company of Walker and others--Boone travels
with them--Curious monument left by him.

CHAPTER IV.

Political and social condition of North
Carolina--Taxes--Lawsuits--Ostentation and extravagance of foreigners
and government officers--Oppression of the people--Murmurs--Open
resistance--The Regulators--Willingness of Daniel Boone and others to
migrate, and their reasons--John Finley's expedition to the West--His
report to Boone--He determines to join Finley in his next hunting
tour--New company formed, with Boone for leader--Preparations for
starting--The party sets out--Travels for a month through the
wilderness--First sight of Kentucky--Forming a camp--Hunting
buffaloes and other game--Capture of Boone and Stuart by the
Indians--Prudent dissimulation--Escape from the Indians--Return to the
old camp--Their companions lost--Boone and Stuart renew their
hunting.

CHAPTER V.
Arrival of Squire Boone and a companion at the camp of Daniel
Boone--Joyful meeting--News from home, and hunting
resumed--Daniel Boone and Stuart surprised by the Indians--Stuart
killed--Escape of Boone, and his return to camp--Squire Boone's
companion lost in the woods--Residence of Daniel