Monthly Archives: March 2022

Spirits in Mooney Basin

In 1929, English author Montague James offered five key features of ghost stories:  They offer the pretense of truth, a “pleasing” sense of terror, they avoid bloodshed and sex, they avoid trying to explain the mechanism, and they offer a … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, NATIVES | 7 Comments

The Ringtail Panther

Martin Van Buren Palmer (later, Parmer) (1778-1850) was born in Charlotte County, Virginia.  In 1798, he moved to Tennessee, settling in Dickson County where he superintended the Montgomery-Bell Iron Works.  During the War of 1812, Parmer served as a commissioned … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, LONE STAR, NATIVES, POLITICIANS, REVOLUTION | 7 Comments

Olive Oatman Fairchild

Background Joseph Smith Jr. (1805 – 1844) was an American religious leader and founder of Mormonism and the Latter Day Saints movement.  Smith was born in Vermont, but by 1817, he had moved with his family to Western New York, which was … Continue reading

Posted in FRONTIER, HISTORY, INDENTURE & SLAVERY, LONE STAR, NATIVES, RELIGION, THE LADIES | 7 Comments