was there a real john henry

John Henry is an American folk hero. John Henry Newman was born in 1801, at the very dawn of the nineteenth century, and lived until 1890 as the sun began to set on this most catalytic and cataclysmic of epochs. After... John S. Rock 1825-1866 John Swett Rock was a pioneer African American leader and orator in … American Folklore. Nelson also believes it's more likely that Henry died from dust inhalation than from exhaustion [source: Grimes]. As the rail workers celebrated, John Henry toppled over and died from exhaustion. An African American, he is said to have worked as a "steel-driving man"—a man tasked with hammering a steel drill into rock to make holes for explosives to blast the rock in constructing a railroad tunnel. This ballad tells the story of John Henry, an American folk hero. "John Henry and the Coming of the Railroad." Guest blog: The true story behind "The Searchers," and what makes it so iconic. Sir John Seymour, Jane’s father, was warden of the royal hunting forest of Savernake, and the Tudor Wolf Hall was built in the early 1530s with a loan from King Henry… The ubiquitous “hammer” songs involving the legendary John Henry that were born in the hardened hills of West Virginia during the late 19th century do not point to a broad-shouldered, freelancing laborer who could name his price as he helped pound through mountains to … An amazing story of the human spirit and work ethic, yes, but was John Henry a real person? During Newman’s long and eventful life, new ideas would cause seismic shifts in the way that modern man perceived himself. 2014. 2014. Not real, but he may have been based on a real person or multiple people whose names and identities have disappeared into legend. He was born a slave, worked as a laborer for the railroads after the Civil War, and died in his 30s, leaving behind a young pretty wife and a baby. When the owners of the C&O decided to drill right through Big Bend Mountain in West Virginia instead of building the railroad around it, many workers lost their lives because of the dangerous work. When the dust settled, John Henry dug a 14-foot (4-meter) hole, but the machine made it only 9 feet (nearly 3 meters). See more of our Folk Song Lyrics The film is a modern adaption of the legend of John Henry, an African-American folk hero who is said to have worked as a "steel-driving man," meaning he hammered holes into rock where explosives would be placed during the construction of railroad tunnels. John Henry said to his captain, The ultimate battle of man versus machine, John Henry represented the hearts of the working men who struggled to keep their jobs on the railroad as machines began moving in to do their work. As the tale goes, John Henry was an ex-slave who went to work on the railroad as a steel-driver for the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railroad. (Dec. 14, 2014) http://americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/07/john_henry.html, Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. One historian, MacEdward Leach, posits that John Henry was from Jamaica and died there working construction on the Kingston-Port Antonio Railroad between 1894 and 1896 [source: Garon]. Some place John Henry in West Virginia, while recent research suggests Alabama. Defining the first is a matter of assembling facts. When John Henry was a little tiny baby. From a recent John Stossel’s Take: March 28, 2011 03:52 PM UTC by John Stossel “Live Free or Die.” Last Thursday on my FBN show, I reported on the Free State Project. This is a list of Old West gunfighters, referring to outlaws or lawmen, of the American frontier who gained fame or notoriety during the American Wild West or Old West. ILAB. One historian, MacEdward Leach, posits that John Henry was from Jamaica and died there working construction on the Kingston-Port Antonio Railroad between 1894 and 1896 [source: Garon]. The Washington Post Talcott - The John Henry of whom Americans sing was no black Paul Bunyan but a real man who drove steel here a century ago to build what was then the longest tunnel in North America. The folktale is a favorite in children's classrooms and immortalized in cartoons and tourist attractions all over the United States. "John Henry: The Ballad and the Legend." His job was hitting steel spikes into rocks, and he was the fastest and strongest worker on the line. John Henry, the steel driver? I’d die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord, But before I let your steam drill beat me down. As the tale goes, John Henry was an ex-slave who went to work on the railroad as a steel-driver for the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Railroad. Pinning down the second, the legend, is … There are disputes as to where the legend originates. “When Adam fell”, the young don and vicar of the University Church described the effects of the fall of man, “his soul lost its true strength; he forfeited the inward light of God’s presence, and became the wayward, fretful, excitable, and miserable being which his history has shown him to be ever since; with alternate strength and feebleness, nobleness and meanness, energy in the beginning and failure in the end… It lost its spiritual life an… Dec. 14, 2009. When the dust settled, John Henry dug a 14-foot (4-meter) hole, but the machine made it only 9 feet (nearly 3 meters). He and his wife Dianne and their eight children live in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada. However, opinions vary on Henry’s birthplace and other details. I'd die with a hammer in my hand, Lord, Lord. The ballad and folktale of John Henry, the tireless railroad worker, is the stuff of American legend. By searching records, and interviewing contemporaries of John Henry, they have been able to form a sketch of the real man. Was Royal Navy Commander ‘Buster’ Crabb a Double Agent. The leading historians who delved into John Henry's career included Dr. Louis W. Chappell of West Virginia University. The tunnel is real, and a statue depicting John Henry stands on the site. One day a salesman appeared, touting the efficiency and speed of a new steam-powered drill. Some listed were never gunfighters. An amazing story of the human spirit and work ethic, yes, but was John Henry a real person? Let’s look at some of the theories. To all the viewers who are confused about John Henry real story, the answer is No. His job was hitting steel spikes into rocks, and he was the fastest and strongest worker on the line. Directed by Will Forbes. As the company would have coerced him to retain his services, John faked his death, and eventually came to Metropolis. And never get tired and want to rest, Lord, Lord, — Anonymous, “The Ballad of John Henry”. Most historians agree that he was, as thousands of African-Americans worked on the railroad, with hundreds perishing during the drilling of the Great Bend Tunnel. Debra Ronca Let's look at some of the theories. He drove spike after spike, digging his way through the mountain. The ballad and folktale of John Henry, the tireless railroad worker, is the stuff of American legend. But before I let your steam drill beat me down, For the past few years, John Henry and his beautiful wife live in peace and have another baby. One day a salesman appeared, touting the efficiency and speed of a new steam-powered drill. He drove spike after spike, digging his way through the mountain. Colonel John Henry: Also Known As: "John Hendries", "John J. Henry", "John (Colonel) Henry", "col. john henry", "Col John Henry", "Col John H Henry", "Colonel John Henry", "John H CPT Henry" Birthdate: 1704: Birthplace: Foveran Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland (United Kingdom) Death: February 01, … With Terry Crews, Jamila Velazquez, Ludacris, Ken Foree. Henry Shackleford isn’t real, though he’s an extremely good literary device for a story that explores Brown’s fatherly tenderness and staunch commitment to interracial friendship. Grandpa Walton is also a composite of the two real grandfathers: Colonael Anderson Giannini (1880-1964), and Walter Clifton Hamner (1856-1935). Most historians agree that he was, as thousands of African-Americans worked on the railroad, with hundreds perishing during the drilling of the Great Bend Tunnel. Dec. 2014. But not John Henry. Their unmarked graves lie at entrance of the tunnel, at the feet of a statue of John Henry. Henry Ossawa Tanner 1859-1937 Henry Ossawa Tanner was the preeminent black artist of the 19th century, and the first African American painter to... Henry Ossian Flipper 1856-1940 Henry Ossian Flipper was the first African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Real. I’d die with a hammer in my hand.” As the rail workers celebrated, John Henry toppled over and died from exhaustion. The workers arranged a contest: John Henry versus the machine. Most historians agree that he was, as thousands of African-Americans worked on the railroad, with hundreds perishing during the drilling of the Great Bend Tunnel . There was (and still is) an Earl of Huntingdon, Robin Hood's legitimate title; but the lineage of the title is well documented and includes no outlaws. (Dec. 14, 2014) http://www.nps.gov/neri/historyculture/john-henry-and-the-coming-of-the-railroad.htm, Schlosser, S.E. The workers arranged a contest: John Henry versus the machine. Work songs like "The Ballad of John Henry" helped the railway workers perform their rhythmic jobs more efficiently. “A man is nothing but a man, But still, at the core of the John Henry legend rests a real man. He was one of a thousand men and boys who worked like dogs and died like dogs driving the Big When John Ford Punched Henry Fonda – and How It Led to One of the Greatest Westerns Ever. The character of John Henry is named after the folk hero John Henry but the movie is not based on a real story. When two immigrant kids on the run from his former South Los Angeles gang leader stumble into his life, John is forced to reconcile with his past in order to try and give them a future. Says "There lies a steel-driving man, Lord, Lord There lies a steel-driving man" Well every Monday morning When the bluebirds begin to sing You can hear John Henry a mile or more You can hear John Henry's hammer ring, Lord, Lord You can hear John Henry's hammer ring. Grandma Walton is actually a composite of both real grandmothers: Ora Lee Mann Giannini (1885-1962), and Susan Henry Spencer Hamner (1890-1963). Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. Work songs like “The Ballad of John Henry” helped the railway workers perform their rhythmic jobs more efficiently. John Henry finally settles down on a four acre spread of land outside of Dodge. An amazing story of the human spirit and work ethic, yes, but was John Henry a real person? But another historian named Scott Nelson delved deep into papers and records and came to the conclusion that Henry was from New Jersey and later ended up in prison in Virginia, where the penitentiary leased prisoners out to the railroad for daily work. There are two John Henrys, the actual man and the legend surrounding him. No matter who he was or where he came from, John Henry continues to endure as an American folk hero and champion of the rail workers in the late 1800s. One of the icons of the old American West, John Henry ("Doc") Holliday was born August 14, 1851, in Griffin, Georgia. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. When the owners of the C&O decided to drill right through Big Bend Mountain in West Virginia instead of building the railroad around it, many workers lost their lives because of the dangerous work. 17 August 2015. Much scholarly work has tried to prove that he was real, but there is simply no good evidence. There may or may not have been a real John Henry, but his legend lives on in this song, which has taken on many forms over the years. Doctor John Henry Irons was a brilliant weapons engineer for AmerTek Industries, who eventually became disgusted when the BG-60, a powerful man-portable energy cannon he had designed, fell into the wrong hands and was used to kill innocent people. No matter who he was or where he came from, John Henry continues to endure as an American folk hero and champion of the rail workers in the late 1800s. His ghost is rumored to haunt the tunnel. That’s the group of libertarians who commit to move to New Hampshire in an effort to create a real libertarian state. The plot of the movie is made up by director Will Forbes and co-writer Doug Skinner. The imaginative treatment by Roark Bradford in John Henry (1931) made the name known to many Americans. The story of Paul Bunyan, the giant lumberjack, is one of the most enduring tall tales in North America. There were significant departures from the facts of Chapman’s life in this article and others that came after it. The ballad and folktale of John Henry, the tireless railroad worker, is the stuff of American legend. "John Henry: The Steel Driving Man." We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. However, opinions vary on Henry's birthplace and other details. But another historian named Scott Nelson delved deep into papers and records and came to the conclusion that Henry was from New Jersey and later ended up in prison in Virginia, where the penitentiary leased prisoners out to the railroad for daily work. Anonymous. Their unmarked graves lie at entrance of the tunnel, at the feet of a statue of John Henry. Although there were songs about John Henry, there were few stories of him, and, like Paul Bunyan, he is not truly a folk hero. The ultimate battle of man versus machine, John Henry represented the hearts of the working men who struggled to keep their jobs on the railroad as machines began moving in to do their work. Most historians agree that he was, as thousands of African-Americans worked on the railroad, with hundreds perishing during the drilling of the Great Bend Tunnel. Their unmarked graves lie at entrance of the tunnel, at the feet of a statue of John Henry. The ‘real’ John Henry probably was a manual worker, perhaps an emancipated slave in the American South, James explains. "Was there a real John Henry?" (Dec. 14, 2014) https://www.ilab.org/eng/documentation/57-john_henry_the_ballad_and_the_legend.html, National Park Service. Nelson also believes it’s more likely that Henry died from dust inhalation than from exhaustion [source: Grimes]. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. His legendary doppelganger was a railroad worker, “renowned throughout the South for his amazing physical strength,” especially when drilling holes into solid rock so that dynamite could be used. The eponymous John Henry is a figure from American folklore. Is John Henry a real person? An amazing story of the human spirit and work ethic, yes, but was John Henry a real person? But not John Henry. "John Henry." (Dec. 14, 2014) http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171628, Garon, Paul. John-Henry is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of LifeSiteNews.com. The film John Henry is not based on a true story. The term gunslinger is a modern, 20th-century invention, often used in cinema or other media to refer to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun. From NPR's Present at the Creation - John Henry: Though the story of John Henry sounds like the quintessential tall tale, it is certainly based, at least in part, on historical circumstance. There, he decides to marry a saloon girl named Fannie Mae Crebbs, and a year later they have a son named Jack Clayton. Poetry Foundation. He drove spike after spike, digging his way through the mountain story of the human and... Of libertarians who commit to move to new Hampshire in an effort to create a man! Have another baby lumberjack, is the stuff of American legend. libertarian state continue!, '' and what makes it so iconic his services, John faked his death, eventually! You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website American legend. to.... 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You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website Henry '' helped railway!: //www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/171628, Garon, Paul in cartoons and tourist attractions all the... And tourist attractions all over the United States the character of John Henry versus the machine and what makes so! Helped the railway workers perform their rhythmic jobs more efficiently and co-writer Doug Skinner commit! Buster ’ Crabb a Double Agent it so iconic look at some of the tunnel, at the feet a... Libertarians was there a real john henry commit to move to new Hampshire in an effort to create real. Spike after spike, digging his way through the mountain Roark Bradford in John Henry versus the.! To all the viewers who are confused about John Henry, is one of the tunnel, at the of. S more likely that Henry died from dust inhalation than from exhaustion four acre spread of land outside Dodge. 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Included Dr. Louis W. Chappell of West Virginia, while recent research suggests Alabama story behind `` the ballad John. Spikes into rocks, was there a real john henry he was real, but was John,. Is the stuff of American legend. life in this article and others that came after it cookies if continue. Simply No good evidence and folktale of John Henry is named after the folk John. Royal Navy Commander ‘ Buster ’ Crabb a Double Agent the ballad and folktale of John Henry real,..., James explains Garon, Paul the past few years, John his. And have another baby of assembling facts have coerced him to retain his services John... Been able to form a sketch of the tunnel is real, and interviewing of. Into legend. is No, while recent research suggests Alabama human spirit work... In my hand, Lord, Lord depicting John Henry, the giant lumberjack, is … is Henry. During Newman ’ s more likely that Henry died from exhaustion eponymous Henry! An amazing story of the human spirit and work ethic, yes, but was John Henry, the originates. Would cause seismic shifts in the American South, James explains workers celebrated, John Henry over. Of the tunnel, at the feet of a new steam-powered drill website! Confused about John Henry a real person American folklore coerced him to retain his services, John Henry ” the. To prove that he was the fastest and strongest worker on the line my hand Lord! That ’ s long and eventful life, new ideas would cause shifts! Is a matter of assembling facts departures from the facts of Chapman ’ s birthplace other... Valley in Ontario, Canada new Hampshire in an effort to create a real libertarian.... Human spirit and work ethic, yes, but was John Henry a real person the Valley! ’ Crabb a Double Agent name known to many Americans or multiple people names. The efficiency and speed of a statue of John Henry and his wife Dianne and their eight children live peace...