Tales from Tennessee and Beyond: Daniel Boone

Daniel Boone was a frontiersmen, soldier, and later a prominent businessman. He and his family were some of Tennessee's first settlers. Throughout his life, Boone led many settlers into the land now known as Tennessee. Boone was born in Pennsylvania to Squire and Sarah Boone. His father worked as a blacksmith in the village, and his mother worked as a seamstress. They were both very devout Quakers. Somewhere down the line the Boone family had a falling out with the Quakers in the village. They decided that it would be best if they moved west to start a new life. The family first moved to North Carolina, but eventually decided to cross the Appalachian Mountains and settle in the Cumberland Gap. Young Daniel's role in all of this was to go out and hunt, in order to provide food for the family. Daniel also served with the British in the French and Indian War. He did not see any action, because he was a wagon driver. Upon returning from the war, Boone met, fell in love with, and eventually married Rebecca Bryan. The Boone's became parents to ten children. Daniel's military career did not stop with the French and Indian war however. He served in the Cherokee Uprising, and later in the American Revolution. Boone became most famous for his work as a guide. He helped to guide many settlers into the Cumberland Gap (what is now Tennessee and Kentucky). Boone also worked as a "long hunter," and as a fur trader. Later in his life, he even worked as a tavern keeper. On September 26, 1820 Daniel Boone passed away from natural causes at his son's house in Missouri. Daniel Boone's legacy continues to live on through books, movies, and by word of mouth. As historians it is important to distinguish the fact from the fiction. The fact is Daniel Boone, like Davy Crockett was not a super hero, he was an average guy trying to do what was right to help his family, friends, and country. Daniel Boone is an American hero.