David Crockett

The sculpted millstone (three have been found) would crush the grain and ground it down into fine particles before being sifted through a screen. Gunpowder factories were quite dangerous and required a careful process of mixing charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter under proper temperature and humidity. The distillery required patience and disciplined management, so that the fermentation process could be achieved. Undoubtedly, all three operations, demanded intensive labor and proper management to succeed. Most experts agree that it was Elizabeth Crockett who mostly ran the operations while David tended to politics and hunting.

Importance and Influence in American History , During his life, David Crockett embodied the spirit of the true pioneer. Indeed, a man well acquainted with adversity. He suffered great losses and terrible setbacks while attempting to capture the elusive dream of a better life for all. And so, not surprisingly, his single mission in life eventually became that of public service: to provide affordable land prices to the very pioneers who had first ventured west , while burying their friends and family along the way , and who had scratched into the land a foothold for the civilization that would follow.

Historian Richard B. Hauck, is one of many scholars who eloquently reminds us that, “the biography of Crockett is not the history of an institution builder, conqueror, king, or president, instead, this is a story of a common man who fought with uncommon style. In his role as a lone dissenter taking large personal risks, Crockett displayed the qualities Americans identify as those values, which distinguish the frontier individualist. These values are the seeds of his legend, and it is Crockett’s legend which is the epic that engaged his audience.”

Military Career in Lawrence County , Most historians marvel how opportunity often found David Crockett for most of his political stations in life, rather than he seeking them. Crockett completed his military career with General Andrew Jackson’s army in the Creek War as a fourth Sergeant, and in 1816 he was elected as a Lieutenant in Franklin County’s 32nd Militia regiment. In 1818, nominations for the important offices of commanding the 57th Regiment of Militia were about to be held in Lawrence County and a prominent farmer named Matthews (who was also the militia captain) invited David to run for the second highest position of major while he would run for the commandant’s rank of colonel. After Crockett finally accepted the offer he discovered that the whole thing was a ruse , that it was Matthew’s own son who was running as Crockett’s opponent. Immediately, the race for colonel became very interesting and unpredictable as Crockett decided to take on the senior Matthews himself and not bother with the son.

In straightforward fashion, David decided to inform the electorate of the ploy: “he then made a speech, and informed the people that I was his opponent. I mounted up for a speech too. I told the people that cause of my opposing him, remarking that as I had the whole family to run against any way, I was determined to levy on the head of the mess. When the time for the election came, his son was opposed by another man for major and he and daddy were both badly beaten.”

The duties of the Colonel of any militia regiment (according to state militia laws) was to make sure the battalion was properly drilled, equipped, and organized in the unlikely case it was called into action.

Although Colonel Crockett was responsible for maintaining the regiment and keeping its records, we have very little idea how this business was actually conducted. Just the same, the illustrious Colonel from the “cane” would proudly carry his militia title throughout his remaining years.