Daniel Boone’s surveying work and political career helped shape Appalachia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, WCHS is paying homage to the people who helped shape the West Virginia, one of those being Daniel Boone.

Boone was born in Philadelphia in 1734 and developed a reputation as a frontiersman.

“He was a key figure, significant in what he tried to accomplish. He was a hard worker, he took chances,” West Virginia State Museums director Charles Morris said.. “He was an all-around individual who wanted to see people being able to move West.”

Morris explained that Boone was one of the people leading a push West from the original thirteen colonies, right into Appalachia.

“Daniel Boone did a little bit of everything,” Morris said. “He was a statesmen. He was a hunter. He was a trapper.”

Boone went from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, then helped cut a road from Tennessee through the Cumberland Gap and to the Kentucky River.

He clashed with Native Americans and fought the British during the later years of the American Revolution.

According to the West Virginia Encyclopedia, Boone and his family settled at the mouth of the Kanawha River at Point Pleasant in 1788. At this time is when Boone was appointed to the militia.

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“When he moved to western Virginia he was Lt. Col. of the Kanawha Militia,” Morris said. “He served in the Virginia Assembly. He was very involved in politics.”

Boone was elected three times to what was at that time referred to as the Virginia Legislature.

Around the late 1700s Boone headed West to Missouri, passing away in 1820.