Daniel ISoone
C losely connected with the early
history of \orth Carolina is the
life of this intrepid and wide-
traveling explorer, lie lived a
strenuous and dnngckrons life.
fit; IIAICKY Z. TUCKDK
Til
К
story <»f Daniel Booue is
и*
much
и
port of North Carolina
as are l In* sand dunes of Hatterus.
or the fain** of towering Mi. Mitchell,
and it is jn-t as imperishable. More¬
over, any «lory concerning this in¬
trepid frontier-man i- always in¬
teresting. not only to the people of
North Carolina but to the nation as
well. Daniel Boone ranks along
with Washington as a national figure*.
While we have often tried to follow
the career of the great hunter and
outdoorsinnii, it seems that ever and
anon some new and interesting event
of his life is cropping tip in connec¬
tion with his spectacular roaming',
his eventful days and wnvs. However,
according to the general consensus
of opinions, the true story of the life
and career of Daniel Boone varies
hilt little ill detail wherever it i'
heard.
Moved from Pennsylvania
It was in 1750 that Daniel Boone
eame with his parents from Pennsyl¬
vania to settle on the Yadkin River.
In this wilderness region, etit off from
the social contacts he had been ac¬
customed to cherish, the sixteen-year-
ohl boy found surcease from a grow¬
ing ennui by roaming the woods and
streams. It was along the environs
of the Yadkin River that Boone
learned the accurate and first-hand
knowledge of the ways of Nature. He
nUo learned here the life and manners
of the Indians, things which served
him well in the future he was to
experience.
Though the parent- of Daniel
Boone virtually turned him loose in
the great forests of Piedmont North
Carolina, they wore, unlike many of
our pioneer settler*, by no means il¬
literate. Daniel’- father. Judge
Squire Boone, was one of the first
justices of Rowan County, an infinite
stretch of territory which extended
from the Yadkin River f” the South
Sea. From the original Rowan
County, incidentally, more than
thirty of the present counties ..f West¬
ern North Carolina were carved.
The position of judge in frontier
days was one of great trust ami im¬
portance. Settlers who filled this pub¬
lic position had to he men of probity,
education, and far-sightedness. In
several instances the judgeship i-
known to have Ihs-ii filled after con¬
ference’s with the king. The posi¬
tion is said to have been n lucrative
one in pioneer days, carrying about
the same prestige as a Judge of the
Superior Court» of today.
Founded Baptist Church
While the Boone family i- reputed
to have been regular communicants
of the (junker Church in Pennsyl¬
vania. it i- a matter of record that
they foumh’<l and built a Baptist
Church on the Yadkin — “Boone’s
Kuril Bapti-t Church.’’ The site of
this early place of religious worship
i* known, being included in the
present Davie County.
Although Daniel Boone won his
spurs ns a soldier under the sagacious
Indian fighter, (ieucral Hugh Wad¬
dell. Daniel Boone was. hiuisclf. a
type-figure in American history. Kven
if he did serve as a wagoner and black¬
smith under Waddell in the French
and Indian War. he had such com¬
rades as (leorge Washington and
Thomas Sumpter and John Findlay.
The French and Indian War made a
man of Daniel Bootle.
It was the expansion |»criod fol¬
lowing this seven-year conflict of
nations that cradled Boone on it-
bosom, lie had been told many times,
around the ramp fir*** in the Ohio
Country, of the beautiful Indian
lands that lay to the westward. John
Findlay, his informant, had lioon
there. It is easy for us of today.
Above — The old home of Daniel
Boone, still standing in Davidson
County. Below — Marker which has
been erected at the Boone Home.
knowing Danid Boi
do, to realize with
listened
to Findlay’s tales, often boast
I*!, . 11.. 1, .. 1 1
1 11 1 nnd
captious, runllay nan new:
f Conti nun!
