A Squire Boone Jr. Timeline

In my opinion, the events and activities of Squire Boone Jr.’s life are at minimum equal to his brother Daniel’s exploits. While Daniel Boone has  been immortalized for generations … it seems to me that Squire’s activities are sometimes overlooked.  He was a hero’s hero.  What fascinating history!

The famed historian, John Filson, wrote about Daniel Boone’s fantastic frontier experiences.  Daniel’s popularity was also boosted to subsequent generations by Fess Parker’s portrayal in the Disney series, Daniel Boone.  

Whether you are studying Squire Boone Jr's activities as a gunsmith,  businessman, carpenter, Indian fighter, pastor, politician, or  frontiersman, he was a man of accomplishment.  I am sharing a timeline of events in his life…  

   
A Squire Boone Jr. Timeline
1744    Squire Boone Jr. (the subject of this timeline) was born on  October 5th, to the Boone family in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He  was younger than his famed brother, Daniel Boone by ten years.  
1747    At age five, his family relocated to the Shenandoah Valley, near Winchester, Virginia.
1749    The family again relocated … this time to the Yadkin Valley in Rowan County, North Carolina.
1759    At age 15, Squire was sent back to Pennsylvania to apprentice as a gunsmith under his cousin Samuel Boone.
1764    After completing apprenticeship, he returned to his family in North Carolina.
1765    Squire Boone and Jane Van Cleave married on August 8th.
1765    Later in the year, Squire, Daniel, and three others trekked  to Florida. They did not think the land they saw (near the Altamaha  River) was suitable for settlement and returned home.
1766    A son, Daniel, is born to Squire and Jane.
1766    A son, Jonathon, is born to Squire and Jane. (I do not know if Daniel and Jonathon were twins)
1767    A daughter, Jane, is born to Squire and Jane.
1769    A son, Moses was born to Squire and Jane.
1769    In November, Squire volunteered to search for his brother Daniel and brother-in-law John Stewart who had not returned from an  exploratory trip to Kentucky. He was accompanied in this search by Alex  Neely. Squire eventually found his brother Daniel. The brothers decided  to hunt thru the winter. Neely does not want to winter in Kentucky and  starts the trek back to North Carolina.
1770     In late spring Daniel told Squire he decided to stay in Kentucky. Squire decided to return to North Carolina. They make a pact to meet, defining the location and date. On his return trip to North Carolina, Squire was robbed by Indians of the pelts and he and Daniel collected. Squire returned to North Carolina unharmed and let the families know Daniel was alive.
1770    Squire battled Indians on the headwaters of the Clinch River.
1772    A son, Isaiah, is born to Squire and Jane.
1773    Squire battled Indians in Powell’s Valley when the settlers were ambushed.
1764    A daughter, Sarah, is born to Squire and Jane.
1775    Squire battled Indians at Twetty’s Fort.
1775    In May, as part of Kentucky’s first legislature, Squire Boone introduces a bill to preserve the range.
1775    Squire was among the thirty men led by Daniel Boone that  blazed the Wilderness Road. This road led from the Cumberland Gap into  what is now Madison County. The group assembled a log fort and named it  Fort Boone. It later became known as Boonesborough.
1776    A daughter, Elizabeth, is born to Squire and Jane.
1776    On August 7th, Parson Squire performs the first marriage  west of the Appalachian Mountains when he performed marriage service for  Samuel Henderson and Elizabeth Calloway.
1777    A son, Enoch, is born to Squire and Jane.
1777    Squire battled Indians at Harrod’s Fort. This battle included hand to hand combat.
1778    Squire battled Indians at Fort Boonesborough in 1778. This  battle included hand to hand combat. Simon Girty was present at the  siege.
1779    A daughter, Rachel, is born to Squire and Jane.
1779    After the siege of Boonesborough, Squire moved his family to  the settlement that eventually became Louisville. He brought 13 families to Shelby County and built Squire Boone’s Station. The station also was known as Painted Stone. Squire battled Indians here.
1780    Parson Squire Boone delivered the first sermon at Painted Stone. The Painted Stone area is part of modern Louisville Ky.
1781    A wounded arm in April during an Indian attack on Painted  Stone left Squire’s right arm an inch and a half shorter than his left  arm. The settlers abandoned the station and headed for nearby Linn’s  Station. Squire was injured and could not make the trip, so he and his  family stayed behind. Those bound for Linn’s Station were attacked and  many were killed. There were few survivors.
1782    Squire battled Indians at Painted Station.
1782    Squire lost much of the land he had claimed while working  for wealthy land speculators and was forced to settle elsewhere in the  county.
1785    A daughter, Mary, is born to Squire and Jane.
1787    Squire lost more land. He and Samuel Boone, his cousin, head  south to start a settlement near Vicksburg Mississippi. They were met  by hostile Indians. They then traveled to New Orleans and opened a gun  shop.
1790    The Spanish Government closed the gun shop and confiscated his inventory. Squire then returns to Kentucky.
1790    Squire served in the Virginia Legislature. It met in Richmond Virginia. He was the primary sponsor of primary sponsor of the bill to charter the town of Louisville.
1799    Squire and Daniel Boone move to Missouri. Squire stays a few  years then returns home with one of his sons. When he arrives in  Kentucky, he learns that his remaining land has been lost to land sharks  and back taxes.
1804    Squire settled south of Corydon Indiana about 1804. His cousin Samuel settles nearby.

1809 Squire established Boone’s Mill and opened it for business.

1813    Two years before his death, Squire built the first Baptist Church in the State of Indiana with the help of one of his sons.       
1815    August 15, Squire Boone Jr. died. His sons buried him in a cave on his property where he had once hid from hostile Indians.  The  burial cave of Squire Boone was sealed by his sons and his remains were  left undisturbed for many years; but in the mid-20th century, relic hunters began taking parts of his coffin and even some of his bones. The cave eventually became a commercial attraction (Squire Boone Caverns)  with guided tours. According to Boone Cavern staff, Squire Boone’s  remains were placed into a new coffin (circa 1973) which can be seen at  the end of the cavern tour.   

Squire was severely wounded eleven times, and he carried many of those injuries with him for life. While he is sometimes overshadowed  by stories of Daniel, Squire Boone Jr. was very well known in his day.  This brave man was a skilled gunsmith, carpenter, farmer, Indian  fighter, pastor, politician, and a frontiersman.

Sources:  Wikipedia, The Incredible Adventures of Daniel’s Kid Brother, Squire  (Conway), Familysearch.com, Squire Boone (Jillson), and  squireboonecaverns.com   No copyright infringement intended.