Category Archives: American History

Essays on American history

Reflections on Daniel Boone, American Frontiersman, and John Filson, his First Biographer

Posted on February 12, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

John Filson, in his 1784 portrait of “The Adventures of Col. Daniel Boon” appended to The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke, declared that “curiosity is natural to the soul of man.” With these words Filson sparked the beginning … Continue reading →

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Tecumseh: A Reflection

Posted on February 11, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

When I wish to find out about a person from the past, the first thing I look for, to wrap my mind around so that I feel like I might know this person, is an image, a portrait or photograph. … Continue reading →

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New in Historical Fantasy Fiction: The Search for the Bronze Amulet

Posted on February 7, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

The Search for the Bronze Amulet is historical fantasy fiction, the story of a young Congregational minister (Jonathan Tucker, called Tuck) after the American Revolution who takes a position as pastor to impoverished fishers and their wives on the Isles … Continue reading →

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Richard Hooker’s Laws of the Ecclesiastical Polity and the Postmodern Episcopal Church

Posted on February 6, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

My wife comes from a family of New England Episcopalians. She is a cradle Episcopalian. We were married in the Episcopal Church. I converted to Episcopalianism and its parent belief, Anglicanism. However, with all of this tradition and important life … Continue reading →

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Captain John Smith was an Anglican Missionary—-WHAT?!

Posted on February 6, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

Captain John Smith was arguably the greatest of the English explorers, discoverers, and colonists of America. He was as well the first American historian. His human and natural histories include: A True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents of Noate … Continue reading →

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Donald Trump and American Politics

Posted on February 4, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

For two hundred and thirty-seven years, American politics has been vitriolic, even more so in the twenty-first century, where anybody anytime anywhere can post or speak their mind in online media, television, the news, &c, making nonsensical accusations of misogyny, … Continue reading →

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Christian Missionaries–Books to Read

Posted on January 23, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

I am a historian, and one of my favorite topics to write on is the Christian missionary experience in America.I have just reissued on Amazon a book about Baptist missionaries in America, particularly in Oklahoma: “Marking the Jesus Road: Bacone … Continue reading →

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Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe: An American Character

Posted on January 23, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

Philip Marlowe, as presented in Raymond Chandler’s novels, especially The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye, and Farewell, My Lovely, presents a distinctly American character.Marlow has a personal moral code. It does not seem to be based on anything—authority, scripture, law—besides … Continue reading →

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Robert Hamilton, Baptist Missionary, and the Jesus Road

Posted on January 21, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

Robert Hamilton, a friend and associate of Mary P. Jayne and Joseph S. Murrow, was one of the first missionaries sent by the American Baptist Home Mission Society to western Oklahoma; Hamilton worked with the Cheyenne and Arapaho people from … Continue reading →

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Mary P. Jayne, Baptist Missionary, and the Jesus Road

Posted on January 21, 2026 by theamericanplutarch

Mary P. Jayne was long-time Baptist missionary to the American Indians, particularly the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Pawnee. She dedicated her life to directing American Indians, particularly in Oklahoma, along the Jesus Road. Jayne grew up in Iowa in the Baptist … Continue reading →

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