Oct. 10, 2012 —
Daniel Boone is a legendary figure in Kentucky history and folklore.
According to local author Daryl Skaggs, however, his family may have actually been more influential than Boone in originally settling Kentucky.
In his new non-fiction book, “Be Safe and Keep Your Powder Dry”, Skaggs highlights several adventures featuring his ancestor, Henry Skaggs – a long hunter who often traveled with Boone and other famous contemporaries.
“The Skaggs family was one of the first families in the state. This book is about the early days of Eastern Kentucky,” said Skaggs.
The book features chapters that include stories of Henry Skaggs and his involvement with figures like Daniel Boone and also the Harpe Brothers, commonly referred to as America’s original serial killers.
Skaggs continued:
“When the long hunters came out of Virginia into Kentucky, they tried to find a natural gap through the mountains. Eventually, they found the Cumberland Gap and the area now known as Breaks Interstate Park. Both of those areas were originally discovered by the Skaggs family.”
In another chapter, Skaggs describes what, according to him, are never before seen family archives that give a detailed account of the events surrounding the abduction of Jenny Wiley and her eventual rescue at the hands of Henry.
"The Indians came back down into Virginia looking for Lydia Skaggs and took Jenny Wiley by mistake. The whole story is in the book,” Skaggs said of the tale.
Copies of “Be Safe and Keep Your Powder Dry” are digitally available for $9.99 at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon online retailers.
Hard copies of the book are available for $15 by contacting Skaggs directly at (606) 286-2879.
Joe Lewis can be reached at jlewis@journal-times.com or by telephone at 286-4201.
Local News
Local author writes of untold frontier tales
- Local News
-
-
Action Tires and Services to host grand opening celebration
-
School board requests review of student discipline policies
The Carter County Board of Education spent considerable time discussing the district’s discipline policies Monday night following last week's cricket incident at East Carter High School.
-
East cricket prank leads to public outcry
As many as 10,000 crickets were released by a group of students at East Carter High School last Thursday morning and, by Friday, seven seniors had received disciplinary action.
-
Carter businesses honored
The 16th Annual Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards were presented during a ceremony on Thursday, May 16, at Advance Memorial United Methodist Church in Flatwoods.
-
AT&T to hire 140 workers at East Park
For the next few months, AT&T officials have announced they will hire 20 people per month until they have filled 140 customer-service positions at the East Park Call Center in the industrial park between Grayson and Ashland.
-
Grayson’s wet-dry vote first in 42 years
Grayson voters last went to the polls in a local option election 42 years ago on Tuesday, July 2, 1971, according to official records in the office of Carter County Clerk Mike Johnston.
-
Library building to be acquired this week
If all goes as planned this week, the Carter County Public Library will be the proud owner of the former Houck Furniture building as the new home of its Grayson branch.
-
The closing bell: Hundreds say goodbye to Carter school
It was a hot, bittersweet evening Saturday as former students, teachers, and administrators gathered to say farewell to the old Carter school building.
-
Grayson City Council approves mobile command unit
Grayson City Council met in regular session last Tuesday to consider a proposal from its Emergency Management staff to create a mobile command post.
-
Olive Hill Chamber event a success
Blue skies, good food and warm spirits marked the occasion Saturday as the Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce held its annual spring mixer.
- More Local News Headlines
-
