I was born in a small village in upstate New York near the Otsquagan Creek called Starkville. In May of 1779, Starkville was originally named Camp Creek. Being raised in a fourteen room old farm house built around 1870, where I was surrounded by history of the American Revolution. Being the 9th. generation of Robert Flint the pioneer who settled near Cherry Valley in 1749, I became interested in my long line of ancestors who fought during the French and Indian War, and the American Revolution, and through out the Mohawk Valley at an early age. After I graduated from Owen D. Young school in Van Hornesville in 1968, I needed to fill my urge to travel, so I joined the Navy in 1968, and did two tours in Viet Nam on a minesweeper, and saw the South Pacific, and many countries. Nearly ten years ago, I had re-located my ancestors Ancient Burial grounds, and restored this forgotten cemetery. It was here while restoring this Ancient Burial grounds on a hot summer day when suddenly a cold rush of air engulfed my entire body. I felt the presence of my ancestor Robert Flint, and he told me to write about his life, and his sons lives. That evening I sat at my computer and the story poured out of my mind, and soul. I began writing about my ancestors in my first book, 'The Life and Times of Robert Flint the Pioneer.' When I was writing 'Keeper of the Waters,'. I visited Kanatsiohareke, pronounced Ga-na-jo-ha-lay, or known as the "The Clean Pot," it is situated on the ancient site known as Mohawk Bear Clan Village. A community was re-established in 1993 by a small group of traditional Mohawk people in the Mohawk Valley, the homeland of their ancestors. It was here while being guided upon the ancient grounds that the same cold breeze passed through my body on another hot summer's day, my gracious host Kay, just smiled and said to me, "I know the feeling!" I now belive in reincarnation, and that I was once here so long ago. I also have felt this same feeling at the Battle of Oriskany, as I have written about this experience on my web pages, Battle of Oriskany. There have been many places in the Mohawk Valley that when I visit I feel the same cold breeze surround me, and I have accepted this as a gift, and after these 'feelings,' my passion for writing grows about this time in history, and doing research for my next book. I enjoy going to the Mohawk Valley where it is deep in colonial history, and do book signings, and visit the many historical places. I have lived in many states over the years, but now I have found my final home, an 1870 tavern/weigh station nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina where time has forgotten, and where I'll keep writing my historical books. It is here that while walking my property, and on occasions feel the same cold breeze, and a new story comes into my head to write about. I now just smile when this happens, and accept it, and knowing my ancestor Robert Flint the Pioneer is at my side.
Early History of Starkville
In April of 1791, an expedition was planned for the Mohawk Valley. One expedition was to follow the Otsquagan Creek from Fort Plain to where Starkville is located now. It was named Camp Creek where two companies of infantry would begin building a corduroy road on the Wa-ont-ha Indian trail that followed the creek to the present village of Van Hornesville. Lieutenant Van Horne was in charge of this back breaking job to build this road for the artillery. There was an old trail that was very steep, that went over the hill to Springfield. But this would be too steep for the artillery, so they had to find, and build another route to Otsego Lake. Day by day they cut the thick forest, and laid their corduroy road to Van Hornesville. From here they had to go near Mud Lake, and the swamps. I have been told that this small, but beautiful un-touched lake has no solid bottom. I'm sure they had a very tough time moving the heavy supplies around, and through what firm ground they could find near this lake. While these hard working men were building this road to Otsego Lake, another road was being built from Canajoharie to Otsego Lake, some twenty miles over land, where they as well had to build a corduroy road to transport some 230 bateaux, and tons of supplies for General Sullivan's six thousand soldiers for this major expedition for destroying Johnson's, and Brants Indian and Tories villages in the Tioga, and Chemung area, near the present day Elmira. By the end of June both roads were completed, and at the edge of Otsego Lake they combined this large army, and would put their 200 bateaux into deep blue lakes waters, and oar some ten miles to the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Their work was not completed yet. Here they had to build a huge earthen dam near a very old beaver dam to build up the height at the rivers mouth, so they could launch their bateaux freely down the Susquehanna.
Author at Big Ivy River
I'm proud to introduce a new interesting link to my web site. I raise Guinea birds as a hobby, and to keep the ticks, and insects away from my mountain home, and garden. I came across their web site, and is great. They have everything you wanted to know about raising Guineas, and the fine people who have set this up are fantastic. I'm very happy to have them on board, and I hope many of you who have, or wanting to raise Guineas click on their site, and enjoy it as I do daily. David Burton Flint
Guinea Fowl International
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