Early
Years
Davy Crockett was born on August 17, 1786, in eastern
Tennessee. He spent his childhood in the backwoods of
Tennessee and had only one hundred days of schooling. Davy
spent a great deal of time learning to hunt and became a
very skilled hunter. By the age of 12 he had developed a
very good aim with his rifle. Davy hunted bears and raccoons
for clothing. On his hunting trips he took two companions,
his dogs Chief and Blazer. As a boy Davy's father taught him
the importance of being generous, and doing the best he
could at everything he did. These lessons stayed with him
all his life.
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Middle
Years
As a young man Crockett married a girl named Polly
Finley. They had two boys, John and William. Davy taught
them to hunt and they enjoyed as much as he did. Crockett
was hardly ever home though because he was always
volunteering to fight in Indian wars. These wars were
between white settlers and the Indians. Davy helped the
settlers protect themselves from the attacks of angry
Indians, but he also helped protect the peaceful Indians
from the warring ones.
After the war was over Davy returned home to his house
on the New Purchase, a piece of land the government had just
recently bought. Davy's wife Polly died while he was
fighting the Indians, so he remarried a woman named
Elizabeth Patton. In 1825 Davy ran for the U.S. House of
Representatives and he lost. He ran again in 1827 and won
and he served until 1831. In 1831 he lost his seat and he
also lost in 1835. Davy said disgusted,"You can go to hell,
but I'm goin' to Texas" and went back to fighting.
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Fame
Crockett and his rifle "Old Betsy" went to Texas to help
the Texans fight for freedom from Mexican rule. Crockett was
killed by Mexican soldiers at the famous, Battle of the
Alamo, March 6, 1836. Crockett became a legendary figure
because of his bravery, his generosity and all he did for
other people. Remember the Alamo and Remember Davy
Crockett.
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References
Stanley, Laurence. Davy Crockett:
Young Pioneer. New Jersey: Troll, 1983.
Adler, David. A Picture Book of Davy
Crockett. New York: Holiday House, 1995.
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