Charles Skaggs: How the Dix River got its name

Lyman Draper wrote in The Life of Daniel Boone that in the autumn of 1770 the Long Hunters Joseph Drake and Henry Skaggs led a party of hunters from New River and Holston areas into Kentucky.
"Equipped with three pack-horses for each man, rifles, ammunition, traps, dogs, blankets and salt, dressed in hunting shirts, leggings and moccasins, they took their leave of friends and kindred..."

"Continuing their course northwestwardly, some of the party pursued a buffalo to the mouth of Skaggs' Creek of Rockcastle and gave to the stream the name of one of their worthy leaders.  While hunting on that stream, Charles Skaggs was one day busily engaged in skinning a deer when he unexpectedly discovered an Indian standing over him, and perceiving that one of his wrists was particularly crooked at the joint from some former injury, and remembering to have heard from James Knox or someone else that such was the fact with reference to the noted Cherokee hunter Captain Dick, he instantly arose and saluted him by name.  The old Indian was evidently pleased to be recognized, and a friendly conversation ensued."

Captain Dick told Charles Skaggs that there was a nearby river, running north, with an abundance of bear to be hunted.  That river was named Dick's River (Dix River) in honor of the old Cherokee hunter.

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