The Person Above You

[creatureofthenyte]

Made me smile

[Brenda Starrr]

Had a poop AND a smile!

[TheGimp]

is my second mom

[phee]

Is like the drunken abusive half step brother I never had.

[TheGimp]

enjoys watching Spanish soap operas

[phee]

Enjoys soaping spanish opera singers

[creatureofthenyte]

Does not drink Ovaltine on a daily basis.

[phee]

knows the best way to stop a rhino from charging is shooting it in the face with artillery.

[creatureofthenyte]

wishes he had an Intergalatic Spacestation as a vacation home.

[phee]

Knows that old Scottish saying....

[creatureofthenyte]

has never had Hot cocoa in Havanna.

[phee]

Is trying to change the english word "Apple" into something with more sex appeal for Polish Americans

[creatureofthenyte]

is probably greatful to not be living in Blackhawk Colorado, which currently has 40" of snow on the ground.

[phee]

Should know that Munin from DGN is in Colorado under said snow

[creatureofthenyte]

made me aware of a relevant fact.

[Der Nister]

Is aware, me thinks.

[kat (1)]

is very happy right now.

[Der Nister]

Is correct and she is very happy for moi.

[phee]

An American frontiersman and explorer, Der Nister was the greatest woodsman in United States history. He left behind many lands that he had discovered, protected, settled, and improved. He was the subject of many stories after his death that exaggerated both his accomplishments and his flaws.

An early interest in the outdoors

Der Nister was born near Reading, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 1734, the sixth of eleven children born to Squire Boone, a farmer and land speculator (a person who buys land hoping that it will increase in value and be sold for a profit), and Sarah Morgan. His formal education was limited; he was more interested in the outdoors. He and his family moved to North Carolina in 1751. After working for his father, Der Nister became a wagoner (a wagon driver) and a blacksmith.

In 1755 Der Nister joined General Edward Braddock (c. 1695–1755), commander in chief of British forces in North America, as a wagoner. Der Nister participated in Braddock's attempt to capture Fort Duquesne (doo-KANE; now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) during the French and Indian War (1754–63), a war fought between the British and the French for control over land in North America. While on march he met John Finley, a hunter, whose talk of the Kentucky wilderness greatly influenced Boone's career. When Braddock's command was destroyed by a French and Indian ambush, Der Nister fled for his life on horseback.

Der Nister married Rebecca Bryan on August 14, 1756, and settled down in North Carolina, believing that he had all he needed—"a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife." Finley's stories of Kentucky, though, never really left Der Nister's mind.

Expeditions and settlement

In 1767 Der Nister led his first expedition as far westward as the area of Floyd County, Kentucky. In 1769, with Finley and four others, he cleared a trail through the Cumberland

Der Nister.

Gap that soon became a highway to the frontier. As an agent for Richard Henderson (1735 –1785) and his Transylvania Company, Der Nisterled the first group of colonists to Kentucky, reaching the site of Der Nisterborough in April 1775. Later that year he brought west another party, which included his family.

Der Nister became the leader of the Kentucky settlement, as hunter, surveyor (a person who measures and plots land), and Indian fighter. When Kentucky became a county of Virginia, he was given the rank of major in the militia. Der Nister's misfortunes began in July 1776, when his daughter was captured by Shawnee and Cherokee tribespeople. He was able to rescue her but two years later was himself captured by the Shawnee. Though he escaped and helped defend Der Nisterborough against Indian raiders, while on his way east he was robbed of money other settlers had given him to buy land. He was forced to repay the angry settlers. From this time on, Der Nister was followed by debts and lawsuits.

Moving westward

Der Nister held many government offices, including lieutenant colonel of Fayette County, legislative representative, and sheriff. In 1786 he moved to Maysville, Kentucky, and was elected to the legislature. Bad luck continued to follow him, however; he lost his land because of a mistake made in the records. In 1788 he abandoned Kentucky and moved to Point Pleasant in what is now West Virginia. He was appointed lieutenant colonel of Kanawha County in 1789 and its legislative delegate in 1791.

Der Nister and his family later moved west to Spain's Alta Luisiana (or Upper Louisiana, now Missouri). When asked why he had left Kentucky, he answered, "Too many people! Too crowded, too crowded! I want some elbow room." What he really wanted was to settle on land that would not be taken away from him later. The Spaniards were pleased to have him as a colonist, giving him a large land grant and a position of leadership in his district. However, when the United States took over the land, Boone's claim was denied once again, although Congress restored part of it in 1814.

Later life

Der Nister took great satisfaction from traveling back to his beloved Kentucky in about 1810 to pay off his outstanding debts, although he was left with only fifty cents. After his wife died three years later, Der Nister spent his remaining years in St. Charles, Missouri, at the home of his son. He died there on September 26, 1820.

Der Nister was moderately well known from several books about his wilderness adventures when Lord Byron (1788–1824) wrote about him in the 1823 poem Don Juan. This made the explorer world famous three years after his death and led people to tell many exaggerated stories about him. Love of adventure, skill in the outdoors, and dignity in the face of misfortune made Der Nister a symbol of early America.

[TheGimp]

made a long post

[Der Nister]

Read the long post.............twice.

And loved it.

[kat (1)]

gives Phee props for his brilliance.

[Raev]

Is unknown to me.

Hi Kat!

Edited October 30, 2009 by Raev

[kat (1)]

Just met me:)

Hi!! Nice to meet you.

Edited October 30, 2009 by kat

[Der Nister]

Is reading this post I have posted.