His nickname is Davy Crockett. Davy grew up in Tennessee. He did not have much schooling, but he did know how to drive cattle. David's father hired him to Jacob Siler so that Davy could earn some money. Siler tried to detain Davy by force after he was done working but Davy escaped by walking seven miles knee deep in snow.
Davy also liked to play hooky. One time he did not go to school and ran away to escape his father’s punishment. He was gone for almost three years. When David was about fifteen he reunited with his family and paid off his father’s debts.
In the October of 1805, Davy took out a license to marry Margaret Elder of Dandridge, Tennessee, but was jilted by her. Instead, he married Marry (Polly) Finley in 1806. Polly had two sons and one daughter, John Wesley, William, and Margaret. Polly died the summer after she gave birth to Margaret, even though she appeared to be in good health. Before the end of the summer David married Elizabeth Patton, a widow who had two children (George and Margaret Ann). David almost died of malaria and astonished his family with his “resurrection.”
Davy’s military career started in 1813. He fought in the Creek Indian War under Major Gibson. He mostly fought in the Tennessee Militia. He also fought in the battle of the Alamo where Texas was fighting for independence. He was a very well trained soldier, though he died in the battle of the Alamo.
Davy was also a very political man. Elizabeth, his second wife, encouraged him to inter politics. In his first debate he confused his opponent by memorizing what the opponent was going to say and using it against him. Davy became a court referee of Lawrence County, Tennessee in 1818. He was also elected to the State Legislature of Tennessee in 1821 and then reelected in 1823. Crockett was elected to Congress in 1827 and then the House of Representatives in late 1827. Davy was a very fine politician.
I always thought that Davy Crockett was what the backwoods legends portrayed him to be. A big, bad, bear hunter, Indian killer, and soldier. But he was really more than that. He was a family man, father, and political man. David Crockett played a remarkable role in our country’s history. I think that he was even more interesting than the great Daniel Boone. David was a significant American hero.
