"We
must not be afraid to follow the truth, wherever it may lead." -- Thomas
Jefferson
The
Real Johnny Appleseed John Chapman is best known by his famous nickname and his
life long passion for planting apple trees. But his horticulture skills were aptly
applied during the War of 1812 where his knowledge of herbal medicines became
of great use. Retiring a hero, he set out across the Ohio Valley planting apple
trees and preaching the Bible.
The
longest inaugural address by a U.S. President was given by William Henry Harrison.
It was one hour and forty-five minutes long during an intense snowstorm. One month
later he died of pneumonia.
Tecumseh's
Curse was first placed on William Henry Harrison who slaughtered the Shawnee at
Tippecanoe. Tecumseh, considered a prophet by his people, pronounced that every
President elected in a year with a "0" in it would die. Harrison died
one month after his election. Since then Lincoln (1860), Garfield (1880), McKinley
(1900), Harding (1920), F.D. Roosevelt (1940), Kennedy (1960), have all died in
office. Ronald Regan broke Tecumseh's curse, although he was shot and came very
close. (interesting fiction,....maybe)
After
escaping slavery herself, Harriet Tubman made 19 trips back to the South and freed
over 300 people, in spite of a $40,000, (A lot of money in those days), bounty
for her capture. This slight woman considered it her "Father's business",
and faced incredible danger with undaunted courage and deep commitment to prayer.
James
Madison was the only president to face enemy gunfire WHILE IN OFFICE. When the
British invaded and burned Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812, Madison personally
took command of a battery of artillery, exercising his authority as commander-in-chief
Thomas
Nast drew his inspiration for The Republican as Elephants and the Democrats as
donkeys from a fable about a Jackass who disguised himself as a tiger and frightened
the other animals. The characters were meant to be degrading to both, the Republicans
as the frightened elephants who were cowering from their principles and the Democrats
who were pretending to be so fierce. Nast also gave us our depictions of Santa
Claus and Uncle Sam.
Days
of Thanksgiving were celebrated all over Colonies in the 1700's for various reasons,
such as military victories, abundant harvests, or significant State events. However,
these occasions were often celebrated not by a day of feasting but by a day of
fasting.
The Trail of Tears refers to the forced exile of the Cherokee Indians under the
"Indian Removal Act" of 1830. It forced 17,000 Cherokee's from their
lands in Georgia to reservations in Oklahoma, many having to walk barefoot. 4000
died of disease, hunger, and cold along the way.
Rufus
Porter, the founder of Scientific American, once proposed building propeller driven
balloons to sail west on the Oregon trail. He got as far as signing up 200 people
for the endeavor, but his steam powered balloon where unstable and fortunately
never got off the ground.
Originally
from the Dutch, "Olle Korrect" the term "OK" was popularized
by supporters of Martin Van Buren, who was from Kinderhook, NY and nicknamed "Old
Kinderhook".
You
may think frisbees were invented in the 1960's, but the Children on the Oregon
Trail threw frisbee-like devices over 100 years earlier. But they weren't made
of plastic--they were made of buffalo dung. Buffalo dung was also
used for campfires since the plains had little firewood and the dung made an excellent
odorless fire.
Little Known American History Facts! 
The
Real Johnny Appleseed John Chapman is best known by his famous nickname and his
life long passion for planting apple trees. But his horticulture skills were aptly
applied during the War of 1812 where his knowledge of herbal medicines became
of great use. Retiring a hero, he set out across the Ohio Valley planting apple
trees and preaching the Bible. 
The
longest inaugural address by a U.S. President was given by William Henry Harrison.
It was one hour and forty-five minutes long during an intense snowstorm. One month
later he died of pneumonia. 
Tecumseh's
Curse was first placed on William Henry Harrison who slaughtered the Shawnee at
Tippecanoe. Tecumseh, considered a prophet by his people, pronounced that every
President elected in a year with a "0" in it would die. Harrison died
one month after his election. Since then Lincoln (1860), Garfield (1880), McKinley
(1900), Harding (1920), F.D. Roosevelt (1940), Kennedy (1960), have all died in
office. Ronald Regan broke Tecumseh's curse, although he was shot and came very
close. (interesting fiction,....maybe)
After
escaping slavery herself, Harriet Tubman made 19 trips back to the South and freed
over 300 people, in spite of a $40,000, (A lot of money in those days), bounty
for her capture. This slight woman considered it her "Father's business",
and faced incredible danger with undaunted courage and deep commitment to prayer.
James
Madison was the only president to face enemy gunfire WHILE IN OFFICE. When the
British invaded and burned Washington, D.C. in the War of 1812, Madison personally
took command of a battery of artillery, exercising his authority as commander-in-chief
Thomas
Nast drew his inspiration for The Republican as Elephants and the Democrats as
donkeys from a fable about a Jackass who disguised himself as a tiger and frightened
the other animals. The characters were meant to be degrading to both, the Republicans
as the frightened elephants who were cowering from their principles and the Democrats
who were pretending to be so fierce. Nast also gave us our depictions of Santa
Claus and Uncle Sam. 
Days
of Thanksgiving were celebrated all over Colonies in the 1700's for various reasons,
such as military victories, abundant harvests, or significant State events. However,
these occasions were often celebrated not by a day of feasting but by a day of
fasting. 
The Trail of Tears refers to the forced exile of the Cherokee Indians under the
"Indian Removal Act" of 1830. It forced 17,000 Cherokee's from their
lands in Georgia to reservations in Oklahoma, many having to walk barefoot. 4000
died of disease, hunger, and cold along the way.
Rufus
Porter, the founder of Scientific American, once proposed building propeller driven
balloons to sail west on the Oregon trail. He got as far as signing up 200 people
for the endeavor, but his steam powered balloon where unstable and fortunately
never got off the ground. 
Originally
from the Dutch, "Olle Korrect" the term "OK" was popularized
by supporters of Martin Van Buren, who was from Kinderhook, NY and nicknamed "Old
Kinderhook".
You
may think frisbees were invented in the 1960's, but the Children on the Oregon
Trail threw frisbee-like devices over 100 years earlier. But they weren't made
of plastic--they were made of buffalo dung. Buffalo dung was also
used for campfires since the plains had little firewood and the dung made an excellent
odorless fire. 
