My blogs

About me

Location	United States
Introduction	I am ninety years old and worked for the US Forest Service for just over 26 years in western Oregon. My chief hobby upon retiring was genealogy. While I was involved in twelve years of genealogy I encountered an 1884 book titled "Rangers and Pioneers of Texas" written by A.J. Sowell. The author included some information about his family history and had included a paragraph that stated his grandfather made a knife for Jim Bowie. After reading this I had the feeling that it was basically a true story because in my genealogical work I had encountered similar stories that often ended up being basically true... that there are some elements of truth in what the author remembers. But those basic truths have to be supported by evidence. This blog is to inform people of what I've come to believe is the true story of the Bowie knife and to counter all of the nonsense that has been written about James Bowie and the Bowie knife. Please begin with my first entry on March 16, 2009.

Location

United States

Introduction

I am ninety years old and worked for the US Forest Service for just over 26 years in western Oregon. My chief hobby upon retiring was genealogy. While I was involved in twelve years of genealogy I encountered an 1884 book titled "Rangers and Pioneers of Texas" written by A.J. Sowell. The author included some information about his family history and had included a paragraph that stated his grandfather made a knife for Jim Bowie. After reading this I had the feeling that it was basically a true story because in my genealogical work I had encountered similar stories that often ended up being basically true... that there are some elements of truth in what the author remembers. But those basic truths have to be supported by evidence. This blog is to inform people of what I've come to believe is the true story of the Bowie knife and to counter all of the nonsense that has been written about James Bowie and the Bowie knife. Please begin with my first entry on March 16, 2009.