Anyone who has a love for American history, knows the name Daniel Boone, or Dan’l, Boone. Far fewer people know the name “Squire Boone,” Daniel’s brother. On the first day of May 1769, Daniel and five other men set out from North Carolina to penetrate unchartered wilderness of Kentucky. The summer was spent exploring and hunting after which four of the company returned home. Daniel and a man named John Steward chose to stay behind. While enjoying the bounties of the Lord’s goodness they were captured by Indians, but after some time they were able to escape. About that time Squire Boone and another man trekked into the area and serendipitously discovered Daniel and Steward. Soon after that John Steward was killed by Indians and Squire’s companion returned home, leaving the two brothers to face the winter alone. Daniel and Squire continued to explore the area, returning to North Carolina several times before building a fort and settlement which they called Boonesborough.
Historians debate whether or not Squire was an ordained Baptist minister, but William Cathcart in his Baptist Encyclopedia has articles on both of the brothers. Cathcart says that Squire joined the Baptist Church on the Yadkin River and began preaching before he left for Kentucky. He also informs us that Squire’s son and his grandson became Kentucky Baptist preachers. Also, it is accepted as fact that on this day in 1776, Squire Boone officiated at the first wedding between two white people in what became the State of Kentucky.