Since there was such a flurry of historical googling over that last post, here's a picture of the man responsible for part of that fervor, George Rogers Clark. When I was at his home along the Ohio River in Kentucky I discovered there were no actual portraits done of him as a younger man. But artist John Buxton believes he might have looked like this. This painting was commissioned by the Clark County Historical Society of Springfield, Ohio and conveys Clark as he may have looked the summer of 1780 at 27 1/2 years of age.*"His iron will, strong passions, audacious courage, and magnificent physique soon made him a leader among his frontier neighbors." www.nndb.com/people
Aside from Daniel Boone and George Washington I can't think of a better hero. And I believe, had I been a colonial belle, he would have set my fan to fluttering:)
An interesting side note is that this George is the brother to the famous William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. No shortage of heroes in that family!
Do you have any heroes, past or present, imaginary or otherwise?
*www.buxtonart.com
He is indeed larger than life. And his brother a famous hero,too. He sounds like a remarkable man.
ReplyDeleteOne of my real life hero sorts is mountain man/explorer/preacher Jedediah Strong Smith who helped open up the west. I also have a thing for scientist Michael Farraday. My husband is my real hero and very handsome!
The imaginary hero that I just think is near perfect is Sully of the Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman series (did I just admit that for all the world to know?).
Carla, I think there are a million people just like us who think Sully is A-OK:) That was one popular show. I'm still trying to find the episode of their wedding!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe I just admitted that either!
I love that you listed your husband. I would have to list mine, too. People have told me how much Ian on TFD's cover looks like him. But I think Randy is handsomer:)
Now I must check out Jedediah and Michael Farraday! Fun!
Laura, that is neat that Randy looks like Ian. We are surely blessed to have handsome hero hubbys!
ReplyDeleteI've been watching Dr. Quinn on the Gospel network for the last year or so. It's on twice a day. Their wedding episode is one of my favorites (I have it stored on my DVR). The series is so well written, I've actually learned alot from it. And not just what makes a good hero.
Hey Laura! I started reading TFD last night. I got into the third chapter before I had call it quits and get some much needed sleep. I don't want to spoil anything for your blog readers who haven't read the book but I'll simply say that I was hooked after the first page-and-a-half!
ReplyDeleteMy husband saw the cover and your last name and wanted to know if he was related to you. His mother's maiden name is Frantz and she was born in Illinois. I told him I didn't think there was a close relation but one never knows.
Heroes. Hmmm. The image you posted is pretty alluring. I do like a broad-shouldered coloniel boy myself!
Bless you, Britt, for ordering my book and reading! I actually prayed for you this morning as you've been on my mind:) I'm so glad you're among my readers. I pray the book blesses you!! It's more historical fiction than romance but the romance really heats up in the last half:)
ReplyDeleteFascinating that your husband's mom is a Frantz! My husband's family originally were Swiss Menonnites who came to PA in 1730. There were 3 brothers who immigrated to America by the interesting names of Christian, Balzer, and I can't remember the third. Randy's dad was born in Ohio and then moved to Washington State. I've not heard of any Illinois kin but will check. He does have a genealogy around here somewhere!
Anyway, happy reading! Hope Lael hooks you:)
Carla, You've given me hope that I can actually find the wedding episode. Bet I could even order for Christmas:) That's my kind of a gift!
ReplyDeleteCarla, The Jedediah Smith River here in Oregon is one my favorite rivers. We have a lot of places named after him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you ladies about Sully, and you've made me want to see DQMW again. It's been ages.
The historical figures I'd call heroes were men like Levi Coffin, an early Quaker abolitionist and "founder of the earliest known scheme to transport fugitives (slaves) across hundreds of miles of unfriendly territory to safety in the free states." Quoted from Bound for Canaan, by Fergus Bordewich.
Coffin is my inspiration for one of the main story threads in my novel KINDRED.
Lori,
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting name, Levi Coffin! Strong-sounding and intriguing. Will have to look him up. Love all this history talk! Glad Carla and I've found another DQMW fan:) They should really make more series like these. Even my husband liked it though he'd be the last to confess. Love how we weave heroes into our writing.
Oh, Carla, your Michael Farrady is quite interesting. And very handsome for the time period!
Laura, I'm glad we have another fan of DQMW. I really wish they'd make more of those kind of series, as well. You can buy the whole series on DVD, I actually would love to get it. And, yes, Michael Faraday was a very handsome man. I've thought of writing about him, we'll see. So much to write, so little time.
ReplyDeleteLori, That is so neat to have the Jedediah Smith things near you. I just learned about him recently ~ fascinating. He's another one that I'd love to write about.
Levi Coffin is in my family tree and I wrote a little about him on my genealogy blog: http://tiny.cc/levicoffin
Carla,
ReplyDeleteHaving Coffin kin is quite cool!! I also remember you're related to William Bradford from a post blog post. I need to check your link for more info - I sometimes forget you are a prolific blogger as I love a certain one of them, Writing to Distraction:) Oh to be computer savvy like you...
The only thing I can come up with that is slightly historically interesting is that my family, father's side, were among the signers of the Magna Carta. My mother's family in Ky and Virginia is what I based TFD on.
Love all this history talk! Ideas like these lead to all sorts of story ideas.
Bless you for such fascinating comments! Now off to your genealogy blog...
LOL -- glad to see that there are other DQMW fans out there. The show is going strong in reruns where I live.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the same picture I found of George Rogers Clark when I googled him, Laura. I didn't realize that it wasn't an actual portrait portrait. :-) I like it lots better than his post-sawed-off leg one. LOL.
I'm kind of envious of all you history buffs' heroworshipping. I love to read historical novels and have been known to do a bit of research for my own scribblings, but I've never embraced a real life hero as mine. Perhaps they just don't hold a candle to the ones you've all conjured up in your imaginations. Here's some of my fictional ones and the list is growing with every book I read!
Captain Jack (who apparently didn't die of smallpox as I imagined)
Marshal Wyatt Caradon (The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander)
Drew O'Connor (A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist)
Josef Kaestner ( The Carousel Painter)
Glad to see it's the same George, Kav. You are so very right - the post-amp portrait is ghastly! In fact I wondered at the time, and still do, why the museum curators or whomever allowed it as it just seems to desecrate his memory. I can't tell you how awful he looks in that particular one.
ReplyDeleteI love your list! Have to admit seeing CJ at the top made me smile:) I need to check out those other heroes you mentioned as I know many, many people would agree with you! Gist, Miller, and Alexander are very popular authors.