Boone, DANIEL

Boone, DANIEL, a famous American pioneer, was born in the state of Pennsylvania, February 11, 1735. At an early period of his life he emigrated to North Carolina; but his love of the wilderness not being sufficiently gratified there, he planned an expedition into Kentucky, then almost unknown. In June 1769, along with five companions, he halted on the Red River, a branch of the Kentucky. After a few months' hunting, he was captured by the Indians, but soon escaped, and accidentally falling in with his brother, who had pursued his track, lived with him in a cabin during the whole winter. In May 1770 his brother went home, and Boone himself was left alone in the perilous forest. In July his brother returned, and after exploring a considerable portion of country, they returned in 1771 to Carolina, determined to emigrate with their families to Kentucky; but the opposition of the Indians rendered the attempt unsuccessful. Shortly after, Boone was engaged as the agent of a Carolina company in purchasing the land on the south side of the Kentucky River, and here in 1775 he built a stockade-fort on the site now occupied by Boonesborough. In 1777 the place was twice attacked by a swarm of Indians, who, however, were repulsed. In 1778 Boone was once more captured, but once more managed to make his escape and reach the fort in time to repel, with his little garrison of fifty men, another determined Indian attack. On the admission of Kentucky to the Union, Boone lost his property for want of formal titles, and retired in 1798 in disgust into the wilderness of Missouri, which did not become United States territory till 1803. In 1812 his claim to a tract of land was allowed in recognition of his public services. Boone died at Charette, on the Missouri River, September 26, 1820. An account of his life, based on his own relation, was written by Filson in 1784, and lives have been written by Flint, Bogart, and J. S. C. Abbott.