Archive for July, 2010

The Poe Mystique

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Almost every school child in the Tri-State area centered on Georgetown, PA is familiar with the story of the frontier Indian fighters, Adam and Andrew Poe.  The famous battle in 1781 between Adam and Andrew Poe and the Wyandot Indian named Bigfoot occurred along the Ohio River in Hancock County, VA (now WV) at the mouth of Tomlinson’s Run.  Andrew was severely injured by a tomahawk strike.  Adam shot Bigfoot. 

 

PA Profiles by Patrick M Reynolds, The Red Rose Studio, Willow Street, PA 17584 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

PA Profiles by Patrick M Reynolds, The Red Rose Studio, Willow Street, PA 17584 (Anna L and John F Nash Collection)

The land patents of the Poe brothers were in the path of almost every Indian raid on that exposed section of the “western frontier”.  And they participated in the chase of every raiding party.  The sight of the Poe brothers made the other settlers along the river feel more secure.

 

Kentucky had Daniel Boone; the Alamo had Davey Crockett; the Tri-State had the Poe boys and the whole mystique that goes with the name.  The Poes to follow achieved their fame on flatboats, keelboats, and steamers.

History

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Reading the book “Operation Mincemeat” by Ben Macintyre during the holiday weekend made me think about history in general. Much of what we know as “history”, in truth, is nothing more than propaganda or a well meant observation on how events and people are perceived by writers with a strong prejudice or poor vision.  We believe all kinds of things that are either grossly distorted or patently false.  For example, July 4th, the birthday of the United States, is in dispute.  The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 2nd when the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain – not July 4th as commonly believed.  John Adams wrote to his wife that the day July 2, 1776 would be remembered and celebrated for centuries to come.  The wording of the declaration was formally approved by Congressional vote on July 4, 1776.  The document was adopted by all thirteen states on Aug 2, 1776.   On which date should we observe our national birthday?

This is why I will rely on my own primary sources and research and experiences as I write these biographies and stories of Georgetown.