Davy Crocket 5/5/11

Davy Crockett Max Kauker Per.4

5/3/11

Davy Crockett was born in a small log cabin on August 17, 1786 in eastern Tennessee. Though he was named David, everyone soon after called him Davy.

John Crockett and his wife had nine children. six sons and three daughters, and which Davy was the fifth born. Life was difficult growing up, especially living in the wilderness, without the benefit of an education, as there were no schools, no churches, and no books. It was pretty empty of knowledge.

In an attempt to find a better location, the Crockett family moved often, until they settled on the Holston River, and opened a tavern. Davy helped operate the tavern, even at the young age of eight when records confirm his presence there. The Crockett Tavern was an overnight stop for travelers going Virginia to the West. Seeing new people frequently at the tavern, and after listening to stories they told, Davy was intrigued with the outside world.

Four years later, when Davy was only twelve years old, a Dutchman stopped by the tavern his way driving his herd of cattle over the mountains to Virginia. Needing assistance to drive his herd, he made a deal with John Crockett for the help of Davy. Davy didn't want to go, but the money John received meant more to him than the safety of Davy, so the next day, he and the Dutchman started off on their journey. Their travel took them about twenty-five days to cover the four hundred miles to their destination. The Dutchmen was very nice to Davy along the way, and once in Virginia, asked him to stay with him. Davy told him he would stay, but soon his homesickness took over, and he ran away, heading home. Soon he came across a caravan, and they let Davy ride with them. But, the caravan traveled very slowly, and thought that he could make better time on his own. Three days after beginning his journey, he came upon a man who was going in his direction, and who had an extra horse. The man let Davy ride the horse, and they traveled together with this man taking him very close to his home.

Once at home, Davy learned that a school had opened near his house in the time he was away. Excited, Davy entered the school in the beginners class, but unfortunately his stay was cut short. After class on his fourth day, Davy was bullied by another boy, and not desiring to take it, beat the other boy up. The following morning, Davy, knowing that a beating was awaiting him from this boy and his friends, did not go to school, but rather stayed in the woods until it was time to go home, as if he had been there. Davy repeated this pattern for a few days, until the schoolmaster sent a note to his father, asking why he was absent. Davy now knew that a more severe punishment was imminent, when his father, with a hickory stick in hand, came after him. Running to the safety of the woods, he dodged his father, hiding until his father was fed-up and retreated.

Afraid of the punishment that awaited him, Davy decided to run away, joining a cattlemen who was taking cattle to Front Royal, Virginia, a 200 mile trip. Over the next two years, Davy worked at various jobs earning about twenty-five cents per day. Whenever he thought of going home he thought about what his father would do to him and the idea went away.

Finally, he grew more courage, and being older, he decided to return home. When he walked into the Tavern, and during the celebration of his return, Davy told his family that he would have suffered many beatings rather than cause his mother and sisters any more worry by staying away.

By the customs of the time, Davy was bound to stay with his father until he reached the age of twenty-one. As his father was in debt, he purposed to Davy that he work off some of this debt. A note for thirty_six dollars, after which he could have his freedom. To gain his independence, Davy worked hard for six months, paid off the debt, and gained his freedom. Having developed a sense of honesty through his work, he discovered that he could earn forty_dollars for another six months work. In doing so, he could pay off another note of his father's. He did so, and six months later, he presented the canceled note to his father, who thought it was a bill. His father said that he could not pay it, after which Davy surprised him with the news that it had been paid.

Now 16, Davy was sensitive concerning his lack of education and the fact that he could not read or write. Desiring to learn, but too old to start again in school, he took a job where he worked two days a week for board, and attended school for four days. After six months, Davy learned to sign his name, as well as could accomplish a few simple math problems, and very low reading. With this limited knowledge, Davy then looked for a fine wife.

Within a short time, he found a pretty Irish girl. Soon after they married, and with fifteen borrowed dollars, settled in a log cabin. Still living in the wilderness, Animals were plentiful, and Davy was an outstanding shot with his musket. Thus, they had food, and cloth, as his wife was good with a loom. Moving frequently, finally settled in 1813, in what is today Franklin County, Tennessee.

About this time in Alabama, Davy had learned that the Creek Indians were destroying homes and killing settlers. When the news of the massacre at Fort Mins. in Alabama reached Davy, he decided that the settlers must get organized to mount a defense. Among the first to enlist, he joined a volunteer army under the command of General Andrew Jackson. Because he was a natural in the woods, as well as one of the best shots, Jackson placed him in charge of a scouting party. Soon he learned that the woods were quite live with Creek Indians, and brutal and savage battles ensued. By April 1814, the Creeks finally asked for peace. Interestingly, during the fighting, Jackson's army was very poorly provisioned almost to starvation countless times. Had it not been for Crockett and his skills as a crafter and rifleman, able to find and kill game, the troops would have starved. Returning home from the War, sadly he found his wife was quite sick, and who died shortly after, leaving behind their two children.

Davy then met and married a widow with two children. Desiring fewer crowded surroundings in which to live, as by this time, many settlers were moving to his part of Tennessee, Davy and his wife and four children moved about eighty miles west, to what is today Giles County, Tennessee. Being quite popular with the people there, and although he knew little about the law, he was made the area's magistrate. But, legal knowledge really meant little, as most disputes of the time were handled using common sense, and Crockett had a great deal of that.

When he first took over this position, all the warrants he issued were verbal, but as times progressed, he found that the warrants had to be in writing. At the beginning he still could barely write his name, but with drive and ambition, he soon mastered the art of writing.

By this time Davy was very popular among the town. A great storyteller, his popularity grew and soon he was asked to run for the legislature. Davy accepted the challenge, but soon admitted that did not know what the legislature was. After a hunt he met his opponent. Davy, knowing he had to make a speech, was nervous. But, Crockett shined with his jokes and wonderful stories, and soon thereafter, was elected with twice as many votes. In no time after occupying his seat in the legislature, Colonel Crockett was as informed as any of his peers. He had a talent for remembering anything that he had learned or heard.

As Crockett never desired to be too close to civilization, and upon the legislature adjourning, he set out westward, actually to look for a place to build a new home, where water and game were bountiful. After traveling about 150 miles he found himself to the west area of Tennessee, on the Obion River. On this spot, Davy later decided to build a cabin. The country here was wild, with an abundance of bears, wolves, panthers, deer and lots of smaller animals. As Davy loved the isolationnessness because he lived 10-20 miles away from his closest neighbors. After settling here, Crockett and his family were very well liked, so much so that he was reelected to the legislature. Once there Crockett was urged to run for Congress, and he agreed. But later he lost the election by only 2 votes!

Having another attempt at Congress, Davy was elected in 1827, and traveled to Washington, D.C.

Davy didn't think kindly to the next president. Usually, Davu was supportive of Jackson. But, on several occasions, Davy did not believe in Jackson's Thoughts, thinking that they were wrong.

Davy felt that he could renew his career by fighting in the great battle of the Alamo. The Alamo was a mini war to regain Texas's independence from Mexico.

Davy Crockett, who was born on August 17, 1786, died on March 6, 1836 at the age of 49. He was then and still remains an outstanding American, statesman and folklore hero. On the same day that he passed away, he wrote a letter saying not to worry for he is now with his friends. R.I.P. Davy. You were truly an inspiring man.