About this episode

This episode tells the story of Captain William Asher, a key figure in early Tennessee settlements and the American Revolution whose contributions have been overlooked.

The early settlements along the Watauga and Holston Rivers in what’s now Tennessee were the very beginning of "The Wild West." While names like Daniel Boone, John Sevier, and William Bean filled the history books, another man was standing right beside them at nearly every major turning point—yet his story has been lost to time. In this episode, suggested by one of our listeners, Steve and Rod tell the story of Captain William Asher. One of the first to arrive in the Watauga settlement, Captain Asher served as a Patriot in the American Revolution, fought the Chickamauga, established fortified stations on the frontier and guided surveyors as they headed west, only to meet a sudden, tragic end while hunting deer near his home at Bean Station. If you like our stories, make sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening!

People in this episode

Hosts: Steve Gilly, Rod Mullins

Topics covered

• frontier life
• American history
• settlements
• Captain William Asher
• Watauga settlement
• Patriotism
• tragedy

Keywords

• Captain William Asher
• Watauga settlement
• American Revolution
• frontier life
• Tennessee history
• Daniel Boone
• John Sevier
• Chickamauga

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Tennessee, Watauga River, Holston River

More episodes of Stories of Appalachia

• 47 Years a Hermit: The Strange Afterlife of William Hewitt · July 17, 2026 · 16 min
• The Untamable Monster Well of 1894: Big Moses · July 10, 2026 · 15 min
• The Devil in the Mountains- The Story of Vincent "Clawhammer" Witcher · July 3, 2026 · 32 min
• Appalachia's Forgotten Uprising: Claypool's Rebellion · June 19, 2026 · 16 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stories of Appalachia podcast page.