Gone are the days of legendary men like Daniel Boone. There are still heroes, yes, of course, but not like those early pioneers who risked everything to go to lands completely unknown and untamed in search of a home. These brave men and women went literally into the darkest hearts of land and faced constant death on every side in an incredibly unique period of time. Everyone who was part of the waves of those coming over from Europe to settle the New World was an adventurer. Not one of them had come unscathed, they had all faced loss. And so, the nation of the United States as a whole was founded on that spirit of exploration and moving into unknown parts.

Today, it would often be considered foolish to leave a comfortable, secure life and essentially roll the dice at paradise based on rumors, but in those days, for people like Daniel Boone, it was almost a calling. In his own account of his adventures at the end of this book, he even refers to himself as the instrument that was ordained by Providence to settle the wilderness.

This volume is essentially two separate books. The first, and longer, section is the classic biography of Daniel Boone by Francis Lister Hawks, while the second, much shorter, section is Daniel Boone’s own account of his life and wars with the Indians.

May you be inspired to explore and take worthy risks.