If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.


– Rudyard Kipling

The State of Franklin

Here is some interesting information concerning a state that did not quite make it -the “State of Franklin”.  On to the story… The State of Franklin was an unrecognized proposed

Read More »

“Wildcat McKinney”

I recently found a story about one of the first schoolmasters in Kentucky. It can be found in various renditions online. The story, published by Peck and Bliss in 1853,

Read More »

Indian Dress on the Border

Recently I read a historian’s comments about settlers dress and appearance on the frontier.  That author indicated that settlers on the frontier shunned native clothing. Maybe the shunning of Native

Read More »

The Sluss Massacre

I became familiar with the Sluss Massacre several years ago.  Recently I found this account that was published in the July 13, 1928 issue of the Southwest Virginia Enterprise in

Read More »

Wolf Trapping and Fur Trade

Several years ago I found an interesting affidavit from June 2, 1847 which reads: “You, Benjamin Wallingford, do solemnly swear that the five scalps now produced are the scalps of

Read More »

Frontier Health and Wellness

There are two historic sites near my residence that portray life circa 1800.  As a volunteer, I often heard visitors say that “they wished they had lived back then”.  Life

Read More »