Life and Adventures of Charles Baptiste Ariel, Famous Trapper of Pennsylvania's North Mountain Country

by Henry Wharton Shoemaker

Henry Wharton Shoemaker (1880–1958) was a prominent American folklorist, historian, diplomat, writer, publisher, and conservationist.

Shoemaker writes:
"AMONG the French settlers in the vicinity of Asylum were Charles Baptiste Ariel and James Laporte, wolf hunters of the Cevennes Mountains in Southern France. Whether they were brought to the wilderness home of the aristocratic French exiles for the purpose of keeping down possible incursions of these beasts or gravitated to this favorite calling, is not definitely known. At any rate, they were soon noted for their exploits among the fierce denizens of the North Mountain forests."

21 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2016

About the author

Henry Wharton Shoemaker (February 24, 1880 – July 14, 1958) was a prominent American folklorist, historian, diplomat, writer, publisher, and conservationist.

Shoemaker was born in New York City, but was closely associated with Pennsylvania, where he spent summers in childhood and took up residence later in life. His father, Henry Francis Shoemaker (1845–1918), was a railroad magnate, investment banker, and close confidante of future Senator and Vice Presidential candidate Charles W. Fairbanks. His mother, Blanche Quiggle, was the sole daughter of railroad magnate and diplomat Col. James W. Quiggle of Philadelphia and Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. He attended the E. D. Lyons Classical School and Columbia University. He then served in the military and attained the rank of Colonel. Attracted to foreign service, he worked in European embassies before returning home to enter a brokerage venture with his brother William. His brother died in an elevator accident, and Henry closed the brokerage.