Daniel Boone

Originally Aired: April 16, 1940 Cavalcade of America #183, "Daniel Boone," artist Chester Harding journeys over 200 miles into the Missouri wilderness to paint the legendary frontiersman's portrait. As the elderly Daniel Boone holds still for his likeness, he recounts the story of settling Kentucky, known to the Indians as the "dark and bloody hunting ground." With his wife Rebecca and daughter Jemima, Boone leads settlers across the mountains to establish Fort Boonesboro in 1775, purchasing the land fairly from the Cherokee despite British opposition. The narrative unfolds as Boone and the settlers face the challenge of holding their newly claimed territory against British forces determined to drive them out. Despite having only thirty horses and thirty guns in the vast wilderness, Boone organizes a government and fortifies their position. He brings his family to this dangerous frontier, where Rebecca pledges to follow him with the Biblical devotion of Ruth. The episode captures the spirit of American expansion and the determination of pioneers who sought freedom and "elbow room" in the untamed wilderness beyond the mountains.