Identifier: danielboone00gull (find matches)
Title: Daniel Boone
Year: 1916 (1910s)
Authors: Gulliver, Lucile, b. 1882
Subjects: Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820 Frontier and pioneer life
Publisher: New York : Macmillan Co.
Contributing Library: University Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Digitizing Sponsor: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
The French
were on friendly terms with the Indians, with whom
they bartered, and, it is said, theft and dishonesty
being rare, only two locks were necessary in St.
Louis, the capital of Upper Louisiana — one on
the prison, the other on the Government House.
Boone's fame had traveled before him and his
welcome was exceedingly hearty. The reception,
which officials as well as genial individuals gave
him, together with free and easy customs, made
Boone feel at home and happy. Indeed, he often
said that, except his first long hunt in Kentucky,
this was the pleasantest time of his life.
The year following, Boone was appointed syndic,
or magistrate, of Femme Osage District. The
honor came to him because he was able and worthy,
and because he could read and write! Most of
the French inhabitants were illiterate, and the little
education which Boone had acquired was appre-
ciated by the authorities. Quarrels between neigh-
bors and disputes of many kinds were referred to
him, as the chief official of the district, and naturally
he settled them in a manner entirely informal and
original. He knew little, if any, law and despised
Text Appearing After Image:

BOONE'S CABIN IN MISSOURI
From a photograph in possession of of the Wisoncsin State Historical Society


TRAVELING TOWARD THE SUNSET 231


those who did, believing to the end of his life that he
had been tricked out of his Kentucky lands through
the chicanery of lawyers.
Boone heard all cases unassisted, himself acting
as counsel, judge, and jury. He cared nothing for
evidence, or the facts of a case from which he
might have reasoned the truth, because he ex-
pected the parties to a suit and their witnesses to
tell him only that which was true. Upon their
testimony his decision was based. He imposed
whatever penalties he considered reasonable —
sometimes many lashes on the bare flesh, well laid
on. With a fine sense of justice and a large fund
of common sense, Boone was well fitted for his
official task, in spite of his ignorance of legal pro-
cedure. The inhabitants accepted his judgments
as fair and final, and as syndic he was altogether
respected. In reporting upon him later, the leu-
tenant governor of Louisiana wrote:
" Mr. Boone, a respectable old man, just and
impartial ; he has already, since I appointed him

offered his resignation owing to his infirmities;beHeving I know his probity, I have induced him
to remain, in view of my confidence in him, for
the public good."

Note About Images