Freedom west of the Mississippi early 1800's

[Brow Tine]

I’m reading a book right now based on the adventures of a frontiersman in the early 1800’s
His description of what Freedom was back then.

Freedom.
For a man or a women to be able to live as they saw fit without harming others, to be able to put food on the table through there own efforts with gun or hoe, to be able to fabricate their own clothing and construct their own homes without having to rely on anyone else, to be totally self sufficient, seemed to be the ideal way of living.

It sure would be nice to be able to visit those times….

[Bowhunters]

I love those books about the old frontiersmen, trappers, fur traders, etc.

When I was in the military I ended up getting sent to Alaska for some training and when I got some free time I found a book store at a highway rest stop.

They had an excellent selection of those types of books and I bought one about the old time explorers and trappers/fur traders, it was full of stories about living in the old wood cabins, setting out trap lines, bear attacks, etc. and it was great reading.

[ironhead]

I would like to be able to make a vistit for a day or year or so, to some of my ancestors villages. Now that would be very educational, particularly on the changes to the landscapes.

[odie269]

sounds like something from a william w johnstone book.

[buckbuster92]

That was the American Dream...I wish it was still that way. life would be much better if the lazy people starved and the industrious hardworking people flourished. if the government didn't put food on the table of the moocher, and everyone from the ditch-digger to the businessman had a chance to succeed.

[Brow Tine]

It was from the "Wilderness" series by David Thompson

[oldzimm]

Those probably were some shining times, the only problem was life expectancy was thirty five years for a mountain man. Thirty five years with seventy five years worth of gusto.

[Bucknut]

It's a bit lazier than reading, but have you ever seen the movie Jeremiah Johnson. What an awsome flick. I can't help but watch it everytime it's on. It was a harsh way of life, but it must have been something.

[Brow Tine]

Yep it a great movie. I have seen it more time than I can count.
Old Robert Redford did a great job

[oldzimm]

I was surfing the net on the topic of mountain men and I might of been wrong about their life expectancy being 35 years. Some researchers started digging up records on I think around 600 of them and found their avg. life span was 68 years of age, and only 11% died a violent death.