There were hundreds of hunters and Indian fighters like Mansker, Wetzel, Kenton, and Brady; there were scores of commonwealth founders like Logan, Todd, Floyd, and Harrod; there were many adventurous land speculators like Henderson; there were even plenty of commanders like Shelby and Campbell.

These were all men of mark; some of them exercised a powerful and honorable influence on the course of events in the west.

Above them rise four greater figures, fit to be called not merely State or local, but national heroes.

Clark, Sevier, Robertson, and Boon are emphatically American worthies.

They were men of might in their day, born to sway the minds of others, helpful in shaping the destiny of the continent.