Native American Choctaw Nation

 HALITO

(Hah-lih -toh)

[‘hello’ in Choctaw language]

Traditional Choctaw dance dress

The Choctaw people of North America have a history dating back to the 16th century.

Actually, their oral traditions are much older than that. As noted in written history of invaders, the Choctaw are distinctive in song, dance, dress, beadwork, pottery, basketry and stickball. This holds true today. The Choctaw language is a living language. That means that there are people right now speaking it, and not because they have to in a school room. (Think Latin).

Choctaw and Chickasaw languages  are very closely related, with even creation stories having them both come from the same ancestors. This Muskogean language group also includes Creek, Seminole and Natchez people groups.

Choctaw creation story as explored by Marvel’s Echo

When conflicts among the community needed to be resolved, a non-lethal game of stickball was played! There could be anywhere from 20 - 300 players. Wish more people resolved conflict that way, today.

‘Eagle Dance, Choctaw’; artist George Catlin (1845-1848)

Early Choctaw ancestors believed in a benevolent spirit, and a malevolent spirit. Think ‘good guy’ versus ‘bad guy’. They regarded the sun as a deity with the power of life and death. They used mounds of dirt/grass as part of their religious ceremonies.

Examples of Choctaw basketry 

Choctaw communities were hunters and farmers. They planted crops together, such as corn, beans and pumpkins; and hunted for fish, deer and bear. Their diet included nuts and wild fruits. Everyone helped, and everyone shared in the harvests.

They built thatch roof homes with mud plaster walls. There were summer homes and corn houses that were oblong or square in shape. Then the winter homes were circular, known as ‘hot houses’.

Typical Choctaw round home

Choctaw were known to be fierce warriors, and skilled traders with other tribes. They had a reputation as being very sports-oriented (stickball). They located in Southeastern woodlands of what is known today as Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. Of course back then there were no states or boundaries like we have today. They were not nomadic, and stayed with their communities and crops.

Choctaw 1910

By the 1700’s there were enough ‘strangers’ here that they found it prudent to ally with the French. However by 1795 Spain was in control of their ancestral lands, and the Spanish ceded the land over to the Americans. Most Choctaw had already by then sided with the Americans during the American Revolution and then in the War of 1812, so it shouldn’t have been a big change.

President Andrew Jackson

7th USA President; 1829 - 1837

Perhaps not, but soon Andrew Jackson would be voted in as America’s seventh president, and General Jackson had very strong opinions on where Indians belonged in the USA. White immigrants that wanted to settle on tribal lands had the highest priority. The Indians would have to move, whether they wanted to or not.

Greenwood LeFlore, elected Choctaw Chief

In 1830 the Choctaw Nation signed a treaty with the United States of America called the “Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek”. They ceded their traditional lands in Mississippi over in exchange for new land in the West.

Chief Mushalatubbee (1765-1838) painted by George Catlin 1834

Some Choctaw chose to stay in Mississippi instead of traveling west. Chief Mushalatubbee was elected to preside over the Choctaw moving to new lands.

The Choctaw refer to this event as

‘The Trail of Tears and Death’

Before the forced removal of Choctaw people there were around 15,000 - 17,000 tribal members.

After The Trail of Tears and Death anywhere from 3,000 to 6,000 had died along the way. It is estimated at a minimum 25% - 35% of the tribe perished. Many died from malnutrition, starvation, exposure and disease. The US government couldn’t wait for indigenous peoples to move, and forced the removal during brutal winter conditions. There was also a cholera epidemic that took many lives along the way.

Unknown artist

These death marches took place over 3 years’ time. Around 2,000 - 5,000 Choctaw remained in the Mississippi area. (The estimated numbers are wildly different on the internet!). These later formed The Mississippi Band of Choctaws and they became the first major non-European ethnic group to be recognized as US citizens.

The (Chief)Greenwood LeFlore plantation prospered with many acres of land, 400 slaves, and a fabulous mansion built in the French style called ‘Malmaison’. It’s interior was almost exclusively imported from France with rich woods, furniture and silver.

It was quite a sightseeing destination until it burnt to the ground in 1942.

Malmaison, Mississippi

The Choctaw had been considered 1 of 5 ‘civilized’ tribes by the invading Europeans. The Choctaw were friendly, adopted Christianity, had a centralized government, literacy and written constitutions. They were open to intermarriage with white settlers. The other ‘civilized’ tribes were Cherokee, Chickasaw, Seminole and Creole. 

Oklahoma Choctaw men

By 1831 there were about 6,000 Choctaws that arrived in what was known as ‘Indian Territory’.

After suffering so much death, starvation and loss of livelihoods, the Choctaw remained a compassionate people. In 1847 they heard about the severe potato famine in the distant country of Ireland. Called The Great Potato Famine of Ireland millions died from starvation and disease. Ireland lost over 50% of its population in some areas. There were mass numbers of Irish migrating out of Ireland and becoming refugees.

The Choctaw tribe collected what little money they had - at the time it was $170.00 - and sent it to Ireland for their relief.

In today’s money that would be several thousand $, which is an absolutely astounding amount of money.

Unknown artist; Choctaw collecting money for Ireland

Even with all the trials and tribulations the Choctaw had gone through, they still wanted to fight for the United States during the Civil War of 1861-1865. Located primarily in Southern states it was natural for them to fight on the Confederate side.

Choctaw family

Unfortunately the general population, including tribal members, participated in legal conflicts, racism, harassment and intimidation.

By 1930 there were only 1,665 Choctaw left in Mississippi.

As with any group of people, a lot happened to the Choctaw between then and now. Since I have promised you to not write any chapter books here, let’s try to condense history.

There has been a revival of traditional arts such as basket weaving and pottery.

Several tribal members have been recognized for their military service and outstanding bravery.

In World War I Joseph Oklahombi (Choctaw for ‘man-killer’) is recognized as the most decorated soldier from Oklahoma. Serving in the 36th Infantry Division he led 23 soldiers in capturing 171 German prisoners in 1918. He was also a Code Talker, using his native language as an unbreakable secret code for the Allies. (Choctaw) Tobias Frazer was another Code Talker during the Wars.

There were several Code Talkers that helped the Allies win the War:

There are other ‘famous’ Choctaw that have contributed to this nation, such as Norma Howard, a painter of traditional Choctaw life; and George Quincy, a composer, conductor and music educator.

It has been said that several current celebrities have Choctaw blood in them, although I was not able to verify these claims. I present them as a matter of possible interest:

Jessica Biel

Johnny Mathis

Ian Somerholder

Farah Fawcett

Terri Hatcher

Billy Bob Thornton

Wes Studi

In 2017 Ireland established a monument called

‘Kindred Spirits’

in Middleton, County Cork, as a commemorative to the Choctaw for their sacrificial donation of $ during the Great Famine. The Irish president Mary Robinson renewed a thankful recognition on 1996, prior to this.

In 2018 the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar established a scholarship fund for Choctaw students to study in Ireland.

Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and Choctaw Chief Gary Batton

In 2020 a deadly virus - Covid-19 - became rampant, particularly among the Navajo (Dine’) and Hopi Native American tribes in the USA. Ireland decided to ‘pay it forward’ as a symbol of thanks to the Choctaw, and send monetary relief to the Navajo and Hopi peoples.

As Chief Gary Batton is quoted “sharing our cultures makes the world smaller.”

That’s it for today. Thank you for reading about an USA native tribe and its history. You can also search for ‘Pawnee” for info about another tribe.

I find US history both fascinating and tragic, as any country’s history has positive and negative. I think it is important to know the triumphs, but also the mistakes that have been made. With knowledge of the past, may we not repeat those mistakes ever again.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few of the sites I visited while researching, in no particular order:

misspreservation.com

Choctaw.org

Wikipedia

Pinterest

The Oklahoman

Choctawnation.com

NativeCelebs

WikiMedia 

History Hustle

SmithsonianMag.com

Real stories Real heroes

 

Christopher Reeves as ‘Superman’

 I like stories about real people. Maybe not the ‘famous’ people as much as just people like you and me.  

I like stories about regular folks who have discovered something new or different that makes life easier for others. George Washington Carver was born a slave in the US South, yet he educated himself and ended up teaching poverty-stricken sharecroppers how to rotate crops and over 300 new inventions for the lowly peanut. Wow.

George Washington Carver

Then I like hero stories. Average, nothing-special people who have responded to an extraordinary circumstance in a way that is above and beyond our everyday life. Dick and Judy Hoyt come to mind. They never gave up on their severely disabled son, Rick. Because of this Rick was able to communicate, graduate from college and participate in over 1,130 endurance events (think marathons and triathlons) thus inspiring millions of people. He raised the bar of expectations for millions of severely handicapped individuals and their caretakers. Impressive.

Team Hoyt in marathon

I also love stories about animals. Now, I can’t watch movies where an animal dies, especially at the end. Oh my, way too emotional for me! I also cannot stand stories where an animal goes through abuse, even if in the end they find a wonderful home environment. Black Beauty? I made the mistake of reading that because it is a classic. Never again. And don’t even talk to me about Old Yeller! 

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

Animals can be heroes too. I am in awe of Binti Juwa, an 8 year old Western Lowland gorilla who rescued a young boy that fell into her enclosure at a Chicago area zoo. Not only did she protect him from other gorillas, but she safely carried him to the door for her keepers to care for him. Another wow. 

Western Lowland Female gorilla

Do you know an ‘ordinary’ hero? I’m willing to bet you do. Heroes come in all sizes, shapes, ages and colors. Most of them do not wear capes (tights are optional). Generally heroes do not think of themselves as heroes. A classic answer from them is “I just did what needed to be done. I didn’t think about it.” Perhaps that is a key to what forms a real hero. They don’t think about being famous or getting a lot of money or recognition. Many of them shy away from any public accolade. 

Bondi Beach, Australia

Ahmed al Ahmed was at a beach in Australia on Dec 16, 2025. He owns a fruit shop, and has 2 kids. Pretty average. Only on this day he saw a gunman shooting people - 15 of them died. Dozens were injured. Think about that. A shop keeper. A dad. A gunman actively shooting a gun at people. First inclination? Run away! Hide! But not Ahmed. He jumps the guy, wrestles with him and takes the gun away. Oh, AND he gets shot twice in the process. He did not stop to think of consequences. He did not weigh the pros and cons of approaching a man shooting a gun. He just reacted.

Ahmed al Ahmed wrestling gun away from shooter

He just ‘did what had to be done’.

Why?

I think heroes and yet-to-become heroes have some  basic things in common. They know right from wrong. Hurting other people or animals is wrong. Helping others is right. It seems today so many people step on others so they can climb higher. A little backstabbing? Well, that’s okay if it helps me. A small insider trading tip? That’s not going to break or make a company, it’s just a little thing that puts a little extra $$ in my pocket. No one gets hurt - not really. Besides, if you were smart enough you would do the same thing. Right or wrong can vary with the situation, right? I mean, everyone’s doing it.

I repeat, heroes know right from wrong.

Good from bad.

Found on Pinterest

Now, there’s knowing something, and then there’s the doing. I may know that kicking a dog is wrong. It is a bad thing to do. However if I see that abuse, and just walk away, I am participating in that abuse. I am agreeing with the bad by doing nothing to stop it. If I truly believe that kicking an animal is wrong, then I will not allow it to happen without intervening. I think so many people get this part wrong.

 “It’s not my problem.” 

“It’s none of my business.” 

“That’s someone else’s job to take care of.”

 “Why try? I’d just get in trouble.”

“What difference can one person make?”

Nicholas Winton

A hero sees a wrong, and acts.

Nicholas Winton was a British stockbroker working in Czechoslovakia in 1939. He saw the Nazi party rise to power. He saw the train cars jammed with ‘undesirable’ people - Jews, gypsies, priests & nuns - anyone who the Nazi party determined to be less than perfect for their New Society Order. He was just an ordinary man who knew right from wrong, and what he saw he knew was wrong. What could one man do? It would be dangerous to himself. The Nazis did not take lightly anyone who opposed their ideologies and practices. But Nicholas Winton was a hero in disguise. So he did something.

 By the end of the war, he had rescued 669 children; sending them to safety and life. The war ended. He married and started a new life. He never said anything about the children or his part in the rescues. One day his wife found some old scrapbooks of his - and in them he had detailed everything he had done along with name after name of children he had saved. The world was about to hear about a true hero. A simple man who knew right from wrong, and could not sit back and watch evil win against good. So he acted.

Nicholas Winton surrounded by some of the now grown up 669 children he saved from death camps.

Heroes also value life. In today’s world too many people are ‘throw-away’ people. A human life is a thing to be wasted if it is in your way to success. Our life becomes more valuable than anyone else’s. Those starving children in Haiti? That’s really sad, but doesn’t have anything to do with me. I’m never going to meet one. And I need every penny I make to love the life I want.

But heroes know that every life has worth.

Even if that means they lose their own life.

Dave Sanders

Dave Sanders was a teacher at Columbine High School, Colorado, USA. He was a father and a grandfather. When he heard gunshots he didn’t hesitate, he started directing students and employees to safe exits. Then he went out into the hallway to warn more people, where he encountered 2 gunmen. He was shot and they moved on. He managed to climb up to the 2nd floor and helped students barricade themselves inside a classroom, the entire time bleeding from his wounds. The students did what they could, but Mr. Sanders eventually bled to death while waiting for help to come. It is estimated that he saved the lives of over 100 people by directing them to safety.

Mr. Sanders thought the lives of others had value, even at the expense of his own.

Let’s look at that again. Dave Sanders heard gunshots. He knew what they were, and he immediately, without hesitation, began directing students and others to safety. He did not follow them. Instead he went in the direction of the gunshots. He went towards danger, not away from it. Why? To warn other people. To try and keep safe other children, not himself. Even after being mortally wounded, he still thought of others. He still moved forward to try and save more lives.

That’s what heroes do. They value all life, not just their own, even to the point of losing their own life.

More than awesome.

Heroes are not fearless. They do not necessarily have a huge amount of courage. Some of them are not really very nice people, overall. But in a moment of crisis their better self shows through. When they look beyond past life choices and expectations, they may do an heroic action. Will they miraculously become a perfect person and live a good life from then on? Maybe not. If you look closely, many heroes have smudges and stains and do not wear halos. Heroes are not perfect. They get scared. They may hesitate before acting. 

But the point is, in the end they make the right choice. They do ‘what needs to be done’ in a time of crisis.

One more story, about two heroes.

 Valley Springs Manor for elderly and mentally ill patients is a facility in California.

2013

The owners abruptly close, and stop paying the employees. Logically, everyone leaves.

Leaves 16 round-the-clock care patients that is.

Except Maurice Rowland, a cook

and Miguel Alvarez, a janitor.

‘I couldn’t live with myself if I had just left them alone.’

These two men cared for 16 elderly and dependent people for 2 days. They administered medicine, provided food and basic care. Just the 2 of them, with no expectation of getting paid or reimbursed. For over 48 hours with no outside help, and very little sleep.

That’s a hero.

Actually, that’s two heroes.

Maurice Rowland and Miguel Alvarez

Because of their selfless act, a state law has been passed to protect the fragile and helpless from elder abuse such as these 16 people experienced.

Basically, these 2 men saved their lives.

(The rest of the story: the fire department and local sheriff stepped in and took over after 2 days. The owners were charged with elder abuse.)

I hope I have encouraged you to think about the heroes that have touched your life. Perhaps it’s time to let someone know that they are a hero.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few websites I looked at while researching this blog, in no particular order:

Pinterest

TeamHoyt.com

Wikipedia

npr.org

History.com

storycorps.org

Sciencehistory.org

Daniel Boone, American Frontiersman

Nihkwe

 (‘Welcome’ in Shawnee language)

..Hunter…Soldier…Husband…

…..Trapper…..Thief….Trailblazer…

..Coroner….Land Speculator…Sheriff…

Slave Owner…Horse Trader…Tracker…

..Wagon Driver…Blacksmith….Father…

…Murderer…Explorer…Surveyor…

…Criminal…..Teamster…Quaker…

…Indian Killer...Storyteller…Poacher..

…General Assemblyman……

…Grandfather…..Traitor…Folk Hero..

…Prisoner of War…..Bear Killer…

..Tavern Keeper…..Backwoodsman…

…Politician…..Christian…

…Avenger…..Frontiersman…

…Adopted Son of Shawnee…

By Chester Harding, 1820

Who was Daniel Boone?

He’s been called all of the above names, and probably a lot more.

Daniel Boone was born 6th of 11 children in 1734 in Berks County, Pennsylvania; into a Quaker family.  They all lived in an 1 room cabin. America was a British colony at that time.

Frontier Culture Museum, Staunton, Virginia

Example of 1 room cabin

He had little formal education, but was taught by siblings how to read and write.

His family was content to have him learn how to hunt and trap from local settlers and Indians*.

By the age of 15 he was known as the region’s best hunter.

Berks County, Pennsylvania

In 1750 his family moved to North Carolina, leaving the Quaker faith at the same time. (2 of his siblings had married outside of the Quaker community, causing the Boones to be kicked out).

Cree Indians, North Carolina, 1895

In 1754 the French & Indian War broke out between the French and the British with Indian allies on both sides. It would continue to 1763, with the British winning substantial territory. Daniel joined the North Carolina militia (British). In 1755 there was a significant battle called the Battle of Monongahela where the British were soundly defeated. Daniel returned home and in 1756 he married neighbor Rebecca Bryan.

The Wounding of General Braddock, The Battle of Monongahela;

Artist unknown

*while the current politically correct term is indigenous people, or First Americans, during Daniel Boone’s time period it was ‘Indian’. I have chosen to use the term he would have used.

Daniel and Rebecca had 10 children:

1756 Levina

1757 James

1759 Israel 

1760 Susannah

1762 Jemima

1768 Rebecca

1769 Daniel Morgan

1773 Jesse Bryan

1775 William

1781 Nathan

In addition, they raised 8 children orphaned from other relatives.

Wow. That’s a lot of kids!

Friend’s magazine

Daniel Boone continued to support his family by hunting and trapping. He would go on ‘long hunts’ which were extended trips that lasted for weeks or months at a time. He would go alone or with a small group of men, following bison migration trails. He would return with deer skins, and beaver and otter pelts to sell to fur traders.

Side note:

He never wore a ‘coon cap’ and in fact disliked them and thought they were uncomfortable. He DID wear caps made from beaver.

  During this time the French & Indian War brought a lot of anxiety and uncertainty, not to mention danger. He brought his family to the Yadkin Valley, North Carolina after peace was made with the Cherokee Indians. He continued hunting, trapping and land speculation. In 1769 a friend convinced him to go on a long hunt through the Cumberland Gap.

Pinnacle Overlook, Cumberland National Park; photo cred: Jessica N. Reynolds 

That same year Henderson and Company hired Daniel to explore the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky.

In 1773 he pulled up stakes, sold his land to pay debts, and moved his family to Kentucky to establish a settlement.

Overlooking the Kentucky River

In the Fall of 1773 Daniel Boone’s first-born son, James (age 16) was leading a small party of settlers and slaves to meet up with a main group on their way to the main encampment of settlers. They were attacked by a mixed party of Cherokee and Shawnee (and possibly Delaware) and all but 3 were brutally massacred. Ultimately only 2 survived to tell of the ordeal.

“I Think We Have Company”; artist: Robert Griffing

Cherokee/Delaware Indian

In 1775 Daniel started leading settlers through The Wilderness Road that ran through the Cumberland Gap into the region of future Kentucky.

He was not the first to ‘discover’ or use the Cumberland Gap, but he made it popular by guiding settlers through it.

Gateway to the West; Artist: David Wright

That same year Daniel built Fort Boonesborough, the 1st fortified settlement in Kentucky of English speaking peoples, west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Although unrest had been building for several years, the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775 and would last until 1783, with American colonists fighting for independence and what they considered unfair taxation from Great Britain.

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Daniel Boone became a militia officer for the colonists. History repeats with different Indian tribes siding with one or the other of the primary combatants, depending on what was promised to them.

War Chief Dragging Canoe, Southern Cherokee, Revolutionary War

Artist: David Wagonner

In 1776 Daniel’s daughter, 13 year old Jemima, decided to take a break from camp with a couple of friends. Together with the Calloway sisters, aged 16 and 14, she ‘borrowed’ a canoe and went floating down the river. They were kidnapped by a group of Cherokee/Shawnee Indians. 3 days later Daniel Boone and a party of rescuers caught up with the kidnapping Indian party and returned the girls home safely. 

The Abduction of Daniel Boone’s Daughter by Indians

Artist: Charles Wimar, 1855

This incident became the basis for James Fenimore Cooper’s fiction novel “The Last of the Mohicans”, 1826. It also became a popular subject for paintings and illustrations.

Photo of Jemima Boone Calloway and her family, decades later

The Life of Daniel Boone by Cecil Hartley, 1865

In early 1778 Daniel Boone and a party of men were gathering salt at a place called Blue Licks. Daniel was captured by a party of Shawnee Indians and British militia. He learned they were on their way to attack the Fort. Daniel devised a plan where he promised the war party he and the salt gatherers would give up peacefully to the Shawnee, declare allegiance to King George, and Daniel would lead the Shawnee in the Spring to capture Fort Boonesborough.

Back at the Fort news of the capture spread. After many months and hearing nothing of the men, it was assumed all had died. Many families, including Rebecca and the children, relocated back to North Carolina.

Movie Poster

Later one of the kidnapped salt gathering men escaped and made it back to the Fort, convincing those there that Daniel was colluding with the British and had turned traitor, according to what he had seen and heard in the Indian encampment.

Apparently Daniel was a good actor.

Photograph of a Shawnee warrior

During this time it is said that Daniel was adopted by a Shawnee Chief, possibly Chief Blackfish, and given the Shawnee name “Sheltowee” or Big Turtle. Months passed before Daniel was able to make an escape and travel back to Fort Boonesborough to warn them of the pending attack. Arriving there, he was declared a traitor and placed under court martial, based upon the testimony of a few previously released prisoners. Daniel was able to give convincing enough arguments to refute this charge, and rallied the remaining settlers into defending the Fort against the oncoming Spring Indian raid.

He was promoted to an officer in the Virginia militia, helping defend Fort Boonesborough against overwhelming numbers of enemy attackers. Afterwards 

Daniel reunited with his family, and the Boones moved to Missouri.

Daniel Boone’s home, Defiance, St. Charles County, Missouri

Daniel continued to fight as a militia officer; hunted and trapped to help support his family, and dealt with land permits and purchases. Once, on his way to purchase land permits with money from settlers, he was robbed. Many settlers demanded that Daniel repay them their lost $$, and when he couldn’t some even sued him. During this time he also lost several members of his family, both close and extended. 

In 1780 his 5 year old son, William, became ill and died while out on the trail with the family. Another son and a nephew were killed in the Battle of Blue Licks, Revolutionary War; with a couple of his brothers killed there as well. His last child, Nathan, was born in 1781.

The Paris Peace Treaty of 1783 ended the Revolutionary War with the American colonists achieving independence from Great Britain.

After their loss, the British abandoned their Indian allies to their own fate. Shawnee/Cherokee Chief Tecumseh continued his fight against the encroaching white settlers.

‘These lands are ours. No one has the right to remove us. The Master of Life has appointed this place for us to light our fires and here we shall remain.’

- Chief Tecumseh

 Chief Tecumseh was killed in the War of 1812. This effectively ended any attempts of uniting Indian tribes together against the white settlers. Almost all tribes were then relocated to reservations on extremely limited lands in harsh conditions.

Shawnee/Cherokee Chief Tecumseh 

1784 saw the publication of John Filson’s book about Daniel Boone. The folk hero was born.

“Many heroic actions and chivalrous adventures are related of me which exist only in the regions of fancy.”

- Daniel Boone

In 1786 a large number of Shawnee were captured and imprisoned. Daniel Boone housed, fed and treated humanely the prisoners until they were sent to reservations.

After all, he was Sheltowee - Big Turtle.

John Two Moons, Northern Cheyenne

In the next few years Daniel tried many different occupations to support his large family. Hunting and trapping were harder to do with the influx of more and more people. Daniel was a tavern owner, land surveyor, horse trader, land speculator, and county coroner.

The problem was, he wasn’t very good at any of them.

Movie Poster

1795 saw the Treaty of Greenville end the Northwest Indian War. After two decades or so of vicious attacks and counter-attacks by all sides, enmity was put to rest. Maybe. Britain was worried about land in the north (Canada), Indians were rapidly losing tribal lands and hunting grounds and more and more settlers were pouring into the area wanting their very own slice of heaven.

Daniel Boone moved his family to Missouri, again. Things were getting crowded. He had tried three terms as an assemblyman, and tried his hand at being a sheriff. All he really wanted to do was hunt and trap.

‘Returning a Favor’ artist: Lee Teter

In 1813 his wife Rebecca Bryan Boone died.

There are no images of her. She was born into a Quaker family and most likely kept many of the simple Quaker traditions.
She was a true pioneer woman who raised 18 children, much of it by herself. From narratives by her children and neighbors she could equally skin a deer, chop firewood, grow flax and shear sheep to sew clothing and grow and maintain crops and a vegetable garden.

She was 75 years old when she died, and had been married for 56 years.

1830 Quaker woman’s dress and cloak.

He volunteered to fight in the War of 1812, at age 78. (He was rejected due to old age). Daniel was becoming crippled with arthritis, and hunting and trapping became more difficult. Not that that stopped him from going hunting.

He moved in with his son Nathan and daughter-in-law Olive.

Most likely a family photograph of Nathan Boone’s family

September 26, 1820 Daniel Boone passed away of natural causes, in son Nathan’s home. His legendary status as an American Folk Hero continued to grow.

Numerous books, poems, movies, TV series, paintings and stories grew his legacy to epic proportions.

Fess Parker, TV series

Would he have approved?

I think he would have chuckled over the stories, told a few whoppers of his own to his grandchildren, and sat back and enjoyed the show.

He was, after all,

Daniel Boone.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

A few of the websites I visited while researching for this blog, in no particular order:

study.com

native-languages.org

libquotes.com

crimereads.com

Answers.com

Wikipedia

Californiasar.org

teachingAmericanhistory.org

ncdanielboonetrail.org

Pinterest 

Tennesseeencyclopedia.net

Americanrevolutioninstitute.org

Biography.com

History.com

thefamouspeople.com

notablebiographies.com

Britannica.com