By Johnnie Alexander
You may be familiar with the famous exploits of Daniel Boone, one of our nation’s first folk heroes thanks to his blazing of the Wilderness Road through Cumberland Gap, his military exploits in the Revolutionary War, and his legendary heroism as a frontiersman. Daniel’s adventures made him a household name during the last quarter of the 18th century and into the early years of the 19th century.
[Caption: 1820 Painting by Chester Harding (only known portrait of Daniel Boone)]
But Daniel wasn’t the only Boone who was popular at that time. So was his younger brother ~ Squire Maugridge Boone, Jr.
Daniel (1734-1820) was the sixth of eleven children born to Squire Boone, a weaver and blacksmith who immigrated from England, and Sarah Morgan. Her family were Quakers from Wales.
Squire Jr. (1744-1814) was the tenth child born to the couple. During his lifetime, he was as well-known as his older brother. He was also a frontiersman, an explorer, and a politican. Both brothers served in the Virginia Legislature.
[Caption: Squire Boone Crossing the Mountains with Stores for His Brother Daniel, Encamped in the Wilds of Kentucky, by William Title Ranney (1852)]
Squire accompanied Daniel through the Cumberland Gap in 1775 and helped to settle Boone’s Station, known today as Boonesborough, Kentucky. Later he moved to other settlements and eventually ended up in southern Indiana where years before he and Daniel evaded Indians by hiding in a local cave.
Squire believed the cave was sacred and wanted to be buried there. Instead he was buried in a cave on his property until the mid-20th century when relic-hunters looted the coffin. Now he's buried at Squire Boone Caverns, an attraction near Mauckport, Indiana.
The grist mill which Squire built is listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures.
Visitors can tour the grist mill, caverns, and the nearby pioneer village. For more information visit the Squire Boone Caverns official website.
Squire may not be as famous today as his older brother, but they shared similar experiences and contributed to the settling of our country. Both were born in a 1 1/2 story log house built by their father near what is now Reading, Pennsylvania. The farm is now a museum with interactive displays and hiking trails known as the Daniel Boone Homestead. But perhaps it should be known as the Daniel and Squire Boone Homestead!
Where Treasure Hides
While British officer Ian Devlin fights for freedom on the battlefield, artist Alison Schuyler works with the Dutch Underground to find a safe haven for Jewish children and priceless pieces of art alike. Will Alison and Ian have the faith to fight for their love, or is it their fate to be separated forever?
Interesting! Thanks for posting, Johnnie. I never knew about Daniel's brother.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this post! I found the fact that relic hunters scavenged his first burial site appalling.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Squire Boone before. It's amazing how much history this is to learn about.
ReplyDelete