The Minor Family of Somerset

Daniel Boone was born on the banks of the Owatin Run in 1734. H
e was named for his mother's brother, Daniel Morgan. At the ag
e of 20 he stood 5'8" talland was of a powerful build with broa
d shoulders and chest, strong arms and thick legs. He weighed 1
75 pounds. He had pronounced facial features such asa high for
eHead, a heavy brow, prominent cheekbones, a tight wide mouth an
d a long slender nose. He had his father's dark blue-gray eye
s and fair, ruddy comlexion, and his mother's dark hair, wheic
h he kept plaited and clubbedin Indian fashion.
Daniel started courting Recbecca Bryan (born Jan 9, 1739 inWest
ern Virginia) in the summer of 1756 and Justice Squire Boone off
iciated at their marriage onf 14 aug 1756. Daniel was 21 year
s old and Rebecca was17 years old. Tho this marriage was bor
n 10 children.
In her early fortiesRebecca adopted and raised the six motherle
ss children of widowed brother.Daniel's daughter, Jemima Boone
, was born 4 oct 1762. She is said to belongto his brother, Ed
ward Boone, While Daniel was in the Allegheny War. Rebeccabelie
ved that Daniel had been killed. In her grief she turned to Dan
iel'sbrother, Edward Boone, for comfort.
In Daniel's later years he suffered from sever attacks of rheuma
tism. In the last two years of his life he was nearlyblind an
d his weight had dropped to 155 pounds. He became very ill afte
r ahunting trip, and he never fully recovered. Before his dea
th, his last words to his family were "I am going my time has co
me" He died at the home of his son, Nathan. He was buried nex
t to his wife, Rebecca. Daniel and Rebecca's remains were move
d from Mo to Ky.
Pioneer families of Missouri
Life of Daniel Boone
"For several years after his marriage Boone followed the occupat
ion of a farmer, going on an occasional hunt, when the loss of t
ime would notinterfere with the proper cultivation of his crops
.
But as the populationincreased, his neighborHood began to fil
l up with a class of citizens who possessed considerable means
, and were somewhat aristocratic in their habits, which of cours
e, did not suit Boone and his plain backwoods associates, who lo
nged for the wild, free life of the frontier. Several companie
s were, at different times, organized and penetrated the wildern
ess along the Head watersof the Tennessee river, in quest of ga
me, and finally, in 1764, Boone and a small party of hunters pro
ceeded as far as Rock Castle, a branch of the Cumberland river
, and within the present boundaries of Kentucky. This expeditio
nwas undertaken at the soliciation of a company of land specula
tors, who employed Boone to ascertain and report concerning th
e country in that quarter. He was highly pleased with the count
ry, climate, abundance of game, etc., butowing to his duties a
t home, he did not maker another expedition to Kentuckyuntil 17
69.
In 1767 a hunter name John Finley, accompanied by two or three c
ompanions, proceeded as far as the Kentucky river, and spent a s
eason in hunting and trading with the roving bands of Indians
. To them the country seemed almost a paradise, and upon thei
r return to North Carolina they gave sucha glowing descriptio
n of it that Boone and several of his neighbors decided to go o
n an excursion there; but several months elapsed before their ar
rangements could be completed.
A party of six was formed, and Boone chosen their leader. His c
ompanions were John Finley, John Stewart, Joseph Holden, Jame
sMoncey and William Cool. They set out on their perilous journ
ey May 1, 1769. and by the 17th of June they were in the heart o
f the Kentucky wilderness.They carried nothing with them excep
t their rifles, tomahawks, knives and ammunition. They slept i
n the woods, without covering, and depended for food upon the ga
me they killed each Day. Their dress consisted of a loose, ope
nfrock, made of dressed deer skin, and called a hu