Early Walker Trivia You Might Not Know

In the Walker's homestead in the Appalachian Valley a new axe was forged called "America's Felling Ax" which would take and hold an edge with the poll wider and flattened to give weight. The hickory shaft was slimmer and curved.  A young man, if he was industrious, could make 4-6 dozen rails per day using the Walker's new discovery.

A man could kill a bear, chop off his paws, head and make one slit along the ventral line, pull off the skin in one piece, climb into it and have an instant bear blanket.  Although the smell might kill him, the freezing cold wouldn't!

Thin sliced turkey breast was used often as bread on the early frontier.  A piece of bear meat, "real meat" went between.

Ever wonder why pioneer drank so much whiskey? There is a good reason - whiskey cut the grease that over time would coat the tongue, teeth and throat of anyone eating a primarily greasy game diet as the early pioneers did.  

Now you know!!

Next time - Evolution of frontier weapons in the Appalachians...