Daniel Boone may never have set foot in the Illinois county that bears his name, but his tradition of blazing new trails is certainly honored here. Boone County has been the home of Native American legends, a Major League Baseball player, a Miss America and a cross-dressing Civil War soldier. And don't forget Hairbreadth Harry, "King of the Hobos," who wrote poetry, walked backward and bathed in gasoline. Enjoy the best of Mike Doyle's historical columns as he introduces the fascinating folk of this "garden on the prairie," where some of the tallest tales are true.

Mike Doyle teaches high school journalism and social studies in Belvidere, Illinois. He is a member of the Boone County Historical Society and served six years as a museum board member, one as vice-president. Mike is a National Board Certified Teacher in social studies and is a member of the Journalism Education Association. He has conducted sessions on writing and reporting at local, regional and national conventions. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he majored in geography and minored in history. He received his master of arts in teaching and leadership from St. Xavier University in Chicago.