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The legend of John Henry is based on a real person, but the details of his life have been embellished over time. John Henry was likely a steel driver who worked on the railroads in the late 19th century, known for his strength and skill. While the specifics of his feats may be exaggerated, there is historical evidence to suggest that a man named John Henry did exist.
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FranProbably not. There are no contemporary accounts of the race between man and machine that made John Henry famous. There were many black men driving steel for the railroads in the 1870s, and that name was common. One researcher found a person who claimed to have witnessed the contest at Leeds, Alabama, but that interview occurred 50 years after the song had been written. Another has found there was a Big Bend Tunnel (featured in the earliest versions of the song), a steam drill, and a man named John Henry, during the construction at Talcott, West Virginia. Another believes it could not have taken place at Big Bend, but it may have been at nearby Lewis Tunnel.
First of all,he had the competition in West Virginia.Second,John Henry is a real man.Well,was.He died.My music teacher tells me and my class that he was a real man and that competition was real.
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When was John Henry Steel Drivin man born?
A lot of legends but no concrete evidence. If John Henry was a real person, definitive documentation doesn't exist or hasn't been found. Please see the link below for the complete story.
When did John Henry Nicholson die?
John Henry Nicholson died in 1923.
When did Henry John Boddington die?
Henry John Boddington died in 1865.
When did John Henry Rogers die?
John Henry Rogers died in 1911.
When did John Henry Weber die?
John Henry Weber died in 1859.
