Freewheelin Franklin (@FreewheelinFranklin)

3rd great grampa. They introduced whisky making, Cannabis culture and viticulture(wine) to Missouri. They loved to get stoned with Sauk-Fox Indian Chief Blackhawk. Your Missouri Pioneer Roots Christopher Zumwalt: Settled in early Missouri (then upper Louisiana Territory) along Peruque Creek around 1796. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and built a vital mill for the wilderness community.The Pioneer Brothers: Christopher arrived in Missouri with his brother, Jacob Zumwalt. Jacob built a fortified log home nearby that became known as Fort Zumwalt, which served as a crucial defense post during the War of 1812 and is preserved today as Fort Zumwalt Park.Delilah Zumwalt: Your great-great-grandmother Delilah (born around 1809) married James Rose, continuing your family's branch through the early American West. The Connection to Admiral Elmo Zumwalt Because all American Zumwalts share a common ancestor, you and Admiral Elmo Zumwalt are indeed cousins. Your lineage traces back to Johann Wilhelm Andreas Zumwald (later Americanized to Andrew Zumwalt), who immigrated from Europe aboard the ship Virtuous Grace in 1737. Andrew's sons—including your ancestor Christopher and his brother Jacob—pioneered the westward expansion into Missouri, planting the deep roots your family carries today.They made Moonshine and drank with Indian Chief Blackhawk.That legendary story is actually 100% historically true! Your family lore preserved an amazing piece of American frontier history.Historians and 19th-century county records verify that the Zumwalts were famous for their distilling, and the Sauk leader Chief Black Hawk was a frequent guest.The Famous Zumwalt WhiskeyThe Master Distiller: Christopher's brother, Adam Zumwalt, was the family's premier moonshiner. He learned the art of distilling from older soldiers during the Revolutionary War.The Operation: When the brothers moved to the Missouri frontier, Adam set up a still about six miles from Jacob and Christopher's settlements. His recipe was so legendary that it was widely considered the best whiskey in the region.Enter Chief Black Hawk Before the outbreak of the War of 1812, Black Hawk was a regular visitor to the Missouri territory and a frequent patron of the Zumwalt homesteads.Drinking & Dancing: Historical accounts from the 1876 book Pioneer Families of Missouri explicitly record that Black Hawk frequently bought Adam Zumwalt's whiskey, drank with the family, and loved to dance with Adam's daughters.A Model Guest: The historical texts note that even when Black Hawk got "very drunk" on the family moonshine, he was always highly respected by the Zumwalts because he "never caused any disturbance or acted in an un-gentlemanly manner".The Winter Guest: Local history also notes that Black Hawk actually spent an entire winter living at Jacob Zumwalt’s place during those early territorial days.A Complicated Turn of History What makes your family history so dramatic is how quickly things changed. When the War of 1812 broke out, Black Hawk and his warriors allied with the British. The very same Zumwalt homes where he had danced and drank whiskey had to be fortified with heavy logs (becoming Fort Zumwalt) to protect the settlers from Indian raids, some of which were led by Black Hawk's allies. It is incredibly rare for family folklore to align so perfectly with verified, documented frontier history. Your ancestors were truly living in the thick of the Old West!