{"id":1408,"date":"2012-07-31T16:00:01","date_gmt":"2012-07-31T16:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=1408"},"modified":"2017-03-24T11:18:13","modified_gmt":"2017-03-24T15:18:13","slug":"the-lessons-of-daniel-boones-obituary-check-and-double-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/the-lessons-of-daniel-boones-obituary-check-and-double-check.html","title":{"rendered":"The Lessons of Daniel Boone\u2019s Obituary: Check and Double Check"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, Mary points out some lessons learned from an early obituary of the American folk-hero Daniel Boone.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) once said: \u201cThe rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did you know that another great American character, Daniel Boone, could have said something similar? He died at the age of 85 on 26 September 1820\u2014but his death was widely reported in 1818!<\/p>\n

\"Daniel<\/a>
Providence Gazette (Providence, Rhode Island), 19 September 1818, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first correct death notice for Daniel Boone that I found in GenealogyBank<\/a> was published on 30 September 1820, four days after his death. This was a more factual obituary than the one published in 1818, although the legendary image of Boone lying in a blind, with one eye shut and aiming his gun at a deer when death overcame him, still resonates.<\/p>\n

\"Daniel<\/a>
St. Louis Enquirer (St. Louis, Missouri), 30 September 1820, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The conclusion of this obituary is fairly close to the truth: Boone remained impressively fit and active well into his later years.<\/p>\n

\"conclusion<\/a>
Conclusion of Daniel Boone’s obituary, St. Louis Enquirer (St. Louis, Missouri), 30 September 1820, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So the lesson from Daniel Boone\u2019s obituary is this: check and double check. Don\u2019t be satisfied with just the first obituary you find. Keep looking for more, since that first obituary may contain exaggerations or inaccuracies\u2014although hopefully, unlike the case of Daniel, the first obituary of your ancestor wasn\u2019t published two years before he or she died!<\/p>\n

Interested in finding out more about Daniel Boone, the quintessential American folk-hero, or his family history?<\/p>\n

Daniel Boone Family & Genealogy<\/b><\/p>\n

A search of online family trees reveals that Daniel Boone was one of at least 11 children born to Squire and Sarah (Morgan) Boone. Daniel and Rebecca (Bryan) Boone also had a number of progeny, who in turn had many children. With such a large family, you can find numerous Boone relations in your genealogy searches.<\/p>\n

A general search of \u201cDaniel Boone\u201d in GenealogyBank will produce over 52,000 hits, so you may wish to limit your results by using keywords or date ranges.<\/p>\n

\"GenealogyBank<\/a>
GenealogyBank search box to refine search for Daniel Boone<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here are a few examples of Daniel Boone’s descendants:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em> of 25 January 1881:<\/p>\n

Ex-Mayor Levi D. Boone<\/strong>, of Chicago, died yesterday, aged seventy-three years. He was a descendant of Daniel Boone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Dallas Morning News<\/em> of 20 December 1892:<\/p>\n

YOAKUM, Tex., Dec. 19.\u2014Died at his residence on East Hill J. B. Boone<\/strong>, aged 58 years, after a lingering illness. Mr. Boone came to this city about two years ago from Hillsboro, Tex. He was buried in the city cemetery at 4 p.m. to-day. Mr. Boone was a descendant of the illustrious Daniel Boone<\/strong> of Kentucky, was born and lived in Louisville, Ky., until sixteen years ago when he moved to Hillsboro.<\/p>\n

Kalamazoo Gazette<\/em> of 27 January 1903:<\/p>\n

New Cambria, Mo., Jan. 26.\u2014Fay Boone<\/strong>, an old time Mississippi river captain and a direct descendant of Daniel Boone<\/strong>, is dead, at the age of 89 years.<\/p>\n

Idaho Statesman<\/em> of 22 May 1903:<\/p>\n

PIONEER DEAD.<\/p>\n

Kansas City, Mo., May 21.\u2014Linville Hayes<\/strong>, a descendant of Daniel Boone<\/strong> and a well known freighter in early days, when he directed the movement of large wagon trains to Salt Lake, New Mexico and Arizona, died today, aged 82 years.<\/p>\n

Facts and fiction about Daniel Boone:<\/strong><\/p>\n